Vanilla | Caramel | Oak | Faint cinnamon stick | Light

Vanilla | Gentle rye spice | Lightly charred oak | Green peppercorn | Thin mouthfeel

Cinnamon spice | Faint rye spice | Touch of leather | Oak | Vanilla bean

Located almost as far west as you can travel in New York State, about 45 miles southwest of Buffalo and only minutes from the southern shores of Lake Erie, Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing claims the title of New York’s first combination distillery, brewery, and winery. We last reviewed Five & 20’s first batch of their standard bourbon in 2021. Since then, the company has kept the bourbon at 2 years, while only slightly raising the asking price.

With more time under their belt, Five & 20 has evolved its standard bourbon in some ways, yet it’s still constrained by the limited barrel aging. The bourbon starts with a more neutral aroma, with classic light scents. The palate delivers vanilla, gentle rye spice, and lightly charred oak; however, the mouthfeel is thinner, which is surprising considering its 90 proof. The finish picks up the slack, delivering cinnamon and faint rye spice along with oak and vanilla bean. While the graininess we found in their bourbon a few years ago has dissipated, the bourbon could still benefit from a few years of aging to allow its flavors to mature and build up more depth.