OKI Reserve (Batch 1)
Overall Score: 6.5/10
Overall Value: 3/5
Distillery: MGP
Classification: Blended Bourbon
Company: O.K.I. Bourbon
Release Date: June 2022
Proof: 100
Age: Blend of Years
Color: Maple Syrup
MSRP: $75 (2024)
Mashbill:
Low Rye Bourbon: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
High Rye Bourbon: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Rye Whiskey: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Corn Whiskey: 81% Corn, 15% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Light Whiskey: 99% Corn, 1% Malted Barley
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose on the OKI Reserve is a blend of sweet cherry, reminiscent of cherry cola, and a hint of pine or cedar, typical of traditional rye spiciness. There's a mellow sweetness akin to vanilla extract, suggesting a more complex pour. Bright red fruits and oak transition to darker, leathery notes, evoking a s’more without the marshmallow and a hint of a classic rickhouse.
The mouthfeel is light with an oily viscosity. Woodiness dominates, featuring a combination of oak, pine, and cedar. The sweetness is subtle, with a slight alcohol profile that brings a small burn and numbing sensation. The flavor leans towards chocolate, coffee, and leather rather than sweeter notes like butterscotch and caramel.
The finish highlights rye spice flavors, giving it a more rye-like character. Cherry becomes the dominant flavor, lingering with a decent length. Sweetness reemerges, evoking the s’more flavor minus the marshmallow, but the finish could be longer for a more satisfying experience.
OKI Reserve’s transparency about its blend is commendable, featuring a mix that’s intriguing yet a bit chaotic. The rye flavors are prominent, making it feel more like a rye than a bourbon at times. While the price of $75 MSRP isn't the highest, the complexity falls short of expectations. For those who appreciate rye-forward bourbons, it might be worth trying, but it may not stand out in the broader MGP offerings.
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
THE NOSE:
The nose reminds me of sweet cherry, very similar to cherry cola. I do get a bit of a pine or cedar that reminds me of traditional rye spiciness.
The sweetness that runs through it is on the mellow side, and similar to smelling an open bottle of vanilla extract.
The nose hints that this will be a more complex pour.
THE TASTE:
The mouthfeel has a light oil viscosity to it. The woodiness is the main thing I notice on the palate, but it’s not just straight oak.
It’s like a combination of oak, pine, and cedar. I don’t get much sweetness but I also wouldn’t describe the palate as dry.
Towards the end, there is a small burn and numbing sensation, along with a slight alcohol profile.
THE FINISH:
Surprisingly on the finish a lot of those rye spice-type flavors really pop out. It feels more rye than bourbon, at least to me.
I would describe the main flavor as cherry, that’s what really sits in the mouth.
It does have a decently long finish!
BUY OR PASS?
The transparency about what is in the bottle is great! The blend seems a bit chaotic, and there are a lot of Rye flavors that really come through.
The Hunter Says
Score: 6.5/10
Value: 3/5
THE NOSE:
The nose starts with bright red fruits and oak, then shifts to darker, leathery notes.
It’s like a s’more without the marshmallow and has a hint of the Buffalo Trace rickhouse.
The red fruits return, reminding me a lot of the memorable nose of Elmer T. Lee.
THE TASTE:
The taste follows a standard bourbon profile but leans more towards the darker side of the spectrum.
It doesn’t hit the sweet notes of butterscotch and caramel but instead focuses on chocolate, coffee, and leather.
This is the weakest part of the experience for me.
THE FINISH:
The sweetness makes a comeback in the finish. I get the s’more flavor minus the marshmallow. The finish is nice, but I wish it were longer.
If you take your time and let some air pass through your nose and mouth, you’ll get more of that caramel sweetness.
BUY OR PASS?
I appreciate a brand that gives you transparency, and having the exact blend on the bottle is a nice touch. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do a lot for me.
I hoped that OKI’s choice to blend would result in a more impressive outcome. At $75, while not the highest price point, I’m looking for a bit more complexity.
