Warbringer Mesquite Smoked Bourbon Review
In-Depth Review
If you thought that Conor McGregor was the only former UFC fighter with a whisky brand under his belt – you’d be wrong. Welcome to Warbringer Mesquite Smoked Bourbon – the brainchild of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett. Produced and bottled at Sespe Creek Distillery in Oxnard California – Burnett has promised a unique offering to market with his line of Warbringer whisky. Named in tribute to his nickname in the ring “Warmaster”, Barnett participates in every level of production and has tailored this whisky to reflect his big, bold personality. Distilled using mesquite smoked corn and malted rye, the website promises “a beast of bourbon” and lots of smoke. Bottled at 49% ABV, finished in sherry casks, and coming from Batch #8, this bottle typically runs around $50 near me. So, let’s dive in and see if this former UFC fighter held any punches with his namesake bourbon.
Age: Non-Age Stated
ABV: 49%
Cask: Finished in sherry casks
MSRP: $55
Distillery Name: Sespe Creek Distillery
Review Date: 8/20/24
Color: Classic Caramel
Nose: On first whiff – this nose is HUGE with lots of smoke and spice. It’s meaty, full of ash and dirty ,thick smoke. Like freshly burned wood, you can smell all that mesquite coming straight out of the glass. The mesquite overpowers most of the other flavors and mingling with a strange chemical aroma that is a mixture of iodine and Lysol. This nose is not for the faint of heart – if you’re not careful it will happily slap your sense of smell around.
Palate: On the first sip, a strange and unique flavor immediately jumps out – smokey Pop Rocks and coke. It has a sweet cola notes combined with a heavy effervescence on the tongue that reminds me of the popping sensation of the childhood candy. There’s still a lot of rich, deep smoke, but after a few sips it finally settles down and gives way to sweet cream, rye spice, and toasted walnuts.
Finish: Long finish that is still characterized by more of that Pop Rocks sensation that dances on the tip of the tongue. Softer wood and more vanilla peak through before leaving a lingering taste of iodine and ash.
Final Thoughts: It’s hard to deny that Warbringer Mesquite Bourbon is one seriously weird pour. The nose immediately put me off to its rowdy, rash, in your face personality and it never recovered. Drinking Warbringer is like drinking Pop Rocks recovered from a burned-out house. Or like the BBQ you had for lunch. While drinking this, I had completely forgotten there was any sherry finishing at all here – with the smoke completely overwhelming any of the nuance. It might be great on a cold night, sitting around a campfire, (or imagining that’s where you are) cause that’s exactly where Warbringer Mesquite Smoked Bourbon will take you.
