Star anise | Cardamom | Mint | Holiday spice cake | Sassafras tea concentrate | Molasses | Dried orange rind | Warm & inviting | Incredibly herbal

Syrup | Root beer | Cinnamon spice | Spiced honey | Cola | Rye spice | Spiced cherry | Thick mouthfeel

Spiced cola syrup | Oak | Honey | Baking spices | Lingering herbal flavors

Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Batch 045: Kola Infused “merges the nostalgic flavors of 19th- and 20th-century American cola with the complementary depth of high malt bourbon.” A non-traditional whiskey (technically, this is a whiskey specialty) that the company labels a bourbon liqueur, this release is limited to only seven barrels.

In order to produce this whiskey, Chattanooga blended four unique mashbills encompassing a total of eight distinct grains and infused it with a blend of 10 all-natural ingredients, including kola nut, citrus peel, dried cherries, sarsaparilla, vanilla, cinnamon, marshmallow root, ginger, mace, and cardamom. This infusion is followed by Chattanooga Whiskey Co. adding real cane sugar to the mix. States Founding Distiller Grant McCracken, “Before cola became a global phenomenon, it was brewed in apothecaries and soda fountains across the American South. But it was in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where cola truly fizzed to life: Chattanooga made cola portable, put it in a bottle, and turned it into a legacy. This Experimental Batch is a throwback to that time – when all-natural infusions (including those with real kola nut) were the norm.”

For those expecting a slightly non-traditional pour, buckle up, because Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Batch 045: Kola Infused is anything but. The name of the game with this whiskey is “what is that flavor note?” as the sip will have you pulling out various new flavor notes at a rapid pace. With a focus on herbal flavors, the sip does a great job of invoking a soda fountain glass of cola, while still allowing a few more traditional bourbon notes to peek through. The aroma is fantastic, and like cola, it delivers a syrupy, thick mouthfeel. Ending on a nice blend of cola and traditional bourbon notes, the sip rides out on a wave of lingering herbal flavors. If you don’t like herbal liqueurs or you’re looking for a more traditional pour, this whiskey isn’t for you. However, if you like things on the weird and wild side, you’re going to love this latest experimental batch from Chattanooga Whiskey.