Table Of Contents
The Details
| Rating | 85 |
| Style |
Bourbon American Whiskey Whiskey |
| Produced In |
Tennessee United States |
| ABV | 52% |
| Availability | Limited |
| Price | $120.00 |
| Reviewed By | |
| Review Updated | 2024-02-26 |
High N' Wicked No. 8 ‘The Jury’ Bourbon Review
High N’ Wicked is a non-distilling producer/bottler of a range of international spirits, notably Irish and American whiskeys. Today, we’re looking at “The Jury,” a cask strength bourbon finished in ex-Tinta Negra Madeira casks. Unlike a number of similar producers, High N’ Wicked is quite forthcoming with information regarding its releases. Though the exact origin of “The Jury” is undisclosed, the brand provides quite a few clues right on the bottle.
First, this is a well-aged, column-still Tennessee bourbon: 14 years of primary aging in #4 char barrels, and an additional 12 months in the ex-Madeira casks. The mash bill — 84 percent corn, 8 percent rye, and 8 percent malted barley — is a common one from George Dickel, which is the likely (but again, unconfirmed) origin of the base bourbon. The barrel entry proof was 115, and “The Jury” is bottled at a cask strength of 104 proof.
Let’s see how it tastes, shall we?
High N' Wicked No. 8 "The Jury": Stats and Availability
High N’ Wicked’s “The Jury” retails for $120, though some online outlets have it listed for about $30-$40 more.
High N' Wicked No. 8 "The Jury" Bourbon Review
As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.
Nose
My first perception is of some immediately recognizable George Dickel minerality, though it’s not overpowering after a first sniff. Oak tannins and leather are up next. Just under that lies a variety of both toasted and sweet nutty elements: black walnuts, pecans, peanut brittle, and darkly roasted almonds.
It takes a third trip to the glass, but eventually stone fruit and red grape notes come out to play. Grape and peanut are two scents one rarely finds in the same whiskey, and here, they play fairly nicely together after an initial delay in placing them. A barely noticeable — but still there! — earthy and sulfur note bookends the nose.
Palate
Surprisingly, the mouth leads with creamy peanut butter, which quickly falls away to dark stone fruit, most notably plum. There’s light baking spice and a touch of oak, but neither dominates; rather, they seem to remind the drinker of the whiskey’s age instead of making their own, unique statements. In addition, they back up the more pronounced flavors just enough to elevate them.
Around the midpalate, the fruit and nuts are joined by something a bit savory, like a semi-sweet barbecue sauce and damp earthiness. My tongue is pulled a bit between sweet and salty, causing a small amount of discord — but it’s more head scratching than unpleasant. I’m searching for more in the way of distinct flavors, but they’re few and far between. High N’ Wicked’s “The Jury” doesn’t boast the most complex palate. What it does, it does decently well, especially toward the front of the mouth.
Overall, the palate is reminiscent of both a peanut-forward George Dickel Bottled-in-Bond and rich plum wine. It’s a fascinating combo that, while not delicious in all spots, is both novel and intriguing.
Finish
Plum wine lingers in the palate for around four or five seconds, then gives way to peanut butter. After that, however, the finish ends fairly abruptly, those fascinating flavor combos losing steam rapidly.
High N' Wicked No. 8 "The Jury" Bourbon Rating
85/100
Recap
I’m a big fan of non-distilling producers that disclose as much info as possible about their bottlings, and High N’ Wicked certainly comes close to that mark. “The Jury” takes a big swing that results in interesting flavor combinations we rarely see in aged American spirits. However, it’s difficult to ignore the possibility that the cask finish — certainly far from a total miss — is compensating for less-than-stellar bourbon.
I’ll be interested to see what else the brand sources and releases over the coming year. While “The Jury” won’t make any top lists for me, it suggests High N’ Wicked isn’t afraid to shoot for the stars. Consider my interest piqued.
Related Reads
Learn About Bourbon
Related High N' Wicked Reviews
High N' Wicked ‘Saints And Scholars II’ 19 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey:
This rare and exclusive 19-year-old single malt from High N' Wicked was bottled from one of five single barrels of various proofs. The nose ...
High N' Wicked Singular Limited Release No. 6 ‘The Judge’:
A limited-edition release comprising 14-year-old Tennessee whiskey, "The Judge" was finished in Tokaji sweet wine casks for six months. ...
Related Bourbon Reviews
W. L. Weller 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey:
Gone are the days when Buffalo Trace's Weller line presented an easy-to-find, affordable alternative to Pappy. Regardless, both lines are ...
Wilderness Trail 10 Year Wheated Bourbon Single Barrel:
When it began distilling in 2013, Wilderness Trail Distillery was the tiniest of upstarts, producing around one barrel of whiskey per day. ...
Featured Bourbon Articles
How the ‘Cigar Batch’ Became a Bourbon Industry Sensation:
Whiskey collectors can't seem to get enough of the cigar batch, which has become a recent staple offering from several bourbon companies.
How Heaven Hill Bounced Back From Disaster to Become One of the Most Successful Bourbon Brands in America:
After a devastating fire, Heaven Hill bounced back and is now one of the most successful bourbon brands in the country. Here's how.
For OnlyFans Creators, Private Whiskey Groups Are Rife With Opportunity:
Over the last year or so, an explosion of OnlyFans creators have started posting in Facebook's private whiskey groups.
The Mount Rushmore of Bourbon, According to 7 Whiskey Experts:
VinePair tapped seven of American whiskey's most experienced sippers to discover which bottles are on their personal Mount Rushmores.
