Quick Sips: Mellow Corn & The Balvenie 21yr Portwood

by Tobin Sharp

A tale of two liquors... Mellow Corn from Heaven Hill is simple and straightforward, with notes of sweet popcorn and butter with a touch of wood and vanilla--this gives an insight into what corn adds to Bourbon (which is 51% corn) and at $11.99/750ml is a steal.  It's also 100 proof (though you can't tell from sipping it... balanced, sweet and tasty).

The Balvenie 21yr Portwood (86pf) has many layers going on with sherry notes and raisins, sweet honey, white pepper and oak in both nose and palate which is unctuous and oily with a clean uplifting finish... I would almost think of categorizing this one as a dessert whiskey but wouldn't want to limit it to just that; it can stand alone at just about any time for any reason with dessert, a cigar, company or none of the above except the whiskey.  So good!

Chances to sample and/or re-sample products like these are usually an everyday occurence between our spirits, wine and beer departments (as well as gourmet sodas & mixers, food division and Smoke Shack).  It's a chance for us to either try a new product or refresh our palate so we can pass the word on and the reps know that something fresh on our palates tends to be fresh in our minds.  The Balvenie 21 Portwood has been on my radar for a while-- it is a stunning whiskey and one I would recommend over and over (and have and will!).  Their entire lineup is strong (like the 14yr Caribbean Cask or 12yr Double Wood [personal faves, natch]) but this 21yr is a treat.

While I'm very familiar with Heaven Hill, I hadn't tried their Mellow Corn before-- I figured it would be sweet and tasty and it was-- but even better than I thought it might be; at 100 proof it's amazingly easy to sip.  I will be adding a bottle to my home collection as this will make for a nice winter warmer when it's wet and cold out (we're in California so take our definition of 'cold' with a bag of salt).  It will be at home with its cousins (Henry McKenna, Bernheim, Evan Williams and Larceny) already resting in my closet(s).

We hope to put more of these "Quick Sips" up as we taste.  Cheers!