Oak and Eden (Spire Select)
Overall Score: 6.25/10
Overall Value: 3.5/5
Distillery: Sourced from an undisclosed distillery(ies)
Classification: Bourbon Finished With an American Oak Spiral
Company: Oak & Eden
Release Date: 2023
Proof: 114
Age: NAS
Color: Amber
MSRP: $45 (2023)
Mashbill: Undisclosed
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose for the Oak and Eden whiskey greets you with sweet red fruits and a good deal of proof. As you take more time with the glass, you'll pick up maple syrup, chocolate, Tootsie Roll, brown sugar, and oak. The fruity and woody notes are also complemented by hints of cedar and campfire smoke. The nose is easily the best part of this pour.
The taste shows a bit of youth, with occasional bursts of classic bourbon flavors like caramel and dark sweetness. However, it’s not entirely consistent. The oak spiral added to the bottle plays a major role in shaping the flavor profile, introducing strong woodiness and a dry cherry note, but the overall effect is a bit underwhelming. A light and oily mouthfeel coats the palate well, though the wood takes center stage.
The finish brings more campfire smoke than oak, followed by dark fruits with a fig-like taste and a hint of rye spice. The proof lingers on, drying out the palate and numbing the tongue slightly, but it doesn’t leave a strong impression.
Oak and Eden bourbon is a unique concept with its in-bottle oak spiral, but the results feel more gimmicky than groundbreaking. While there are some interesting elements, particularly in the nose and finish, it doesn't stand out among bourbons at its $45 MSRP. For a weekend sipper, it’s easy to drink, but at this price point, there are more exciting options available.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 6.5/10
Value: 3.5/5
THE NOSE:
The nose is dark and fruity with a cherry profile. Mostly sweet, but I also get secondary woody notes.
A bit of oak, but I’d actually say it’s more cedar. I also get a bit of campfire smoke.
THE TASTE:
Good mouth-feel, light and oily but coats the mouth very well. Very woody and the main flavor is certainly oak.
I do still get a bit of the cherry, but the sweetness has been replaced with a dryness. I do get a small amount of a mouth-numbing effect.
THE FINISH:
The campfire smoke actually makes more of an appearance than the oak.
The dark fruit makes a secondary appearance in a figgy type of vibe.
I also really get some more rye spice profiles.
BUY OR PASS?
If I wasn't sitting and intentionally reviewing this pour I do think this would be a very easy-to-drink weekend whiskey.
However, it doesn’t really do anything that exciting and there are other solid bourbon options at this price point.
The Hunter Says
Score: 6/10
Value: 3.5/5
THE NOSE:
The first thing that hits you is sweet red fruits and a noticeable amount of proof.
As you keep sniffing, you start to pick up hints of maple syrup, chocolate, Tootsie Roll, brown sugar, and oak.
The nose is definitely the best part of this pour.
THE TASTE:
The taste comes across as a bit young. If you get a particularly good sip, you'll catch some classic dark sweet bourbon notes like caramel, but it’s not consistent.
The spiral they add to the bottle seems to be doing a lot of the flavor work, but the result is somewhat underwhelming.
THE FINISH:
There's not much to the finish.
The proof definitely hangs around, drying out the palate and numbing the tongue a bit.
BUY OR PASS?
The spiral addition in Oak and Eden feels more like a gimmick to me. It does affect the whiskey, but not in a way that really stands out.
For $45 MSRP, it’s hard to be too critical, but I probably wouldn’t buy another bottle.
