Grain | Burnt oak | Charred corn | Light malt | Campfire smoke | Kentucky Cream Pulled Candy | Cinnamon spice | Hints of youth, but really intriguing

Sweet oak | Light rye spice | Earthy | Green peppercorn | Grilled peaches | Vanilla bean | Nice balance of sweet & earthy flavors

Chewy oak | Dry leather | Tobacco leaf | Warming heat | Smoked wood chips | Chewy lingering finish

MB Roland Distillery, located in Pembroke, Kentucky is known for being a “grain to glass” craft distillery. The company bottles all of their whiskeys over 100 proof, which includes their Dark Fired Bourbon offering which is bottled between 105-115 proof.

In order to create their Dark Fired Bourbon, MB Roland uses a surprising amount of dark fired corn as a flavoring grain. The company states that this results in an “unrivaled smoky bourbon.” The end result has the desired effect, as the presence of smoke makes a noticeable impact in the opening and ending of the sip. Compared to the company’s standard bourbon, Dark Fired Bourbon still contains some of the sweet notes, however, they’re tempered by more prominent earthy notes along with hints of smoke and char throughout. While at times it can be a little bit overwhelming, overall Dark Fired Bourbon is a nice contrast to their standard offering and will please those looking for a more unique pour.

The bottle being reviewed is from batch #25 and is number 297 of 300.