Red fruits | Stone fruits | Hay | Oak | Muted vanilla | Light grain | Fruit forward | Irish whiskey influence

Light malt | Dry oak | Touch of baking chocolate | Mixed nuts | Vanilla | Light stone fruit | Light peppercorn spice | Gentle rye bread | Earthy

Dry oak | Light rye spice | Baking chocolate | Vanilla bean | Dry bread | White peppercorn | Dry heat

The Unified Belt is the fifth release under the Puncher’s Chance brand by Wolf Spirit, out of Eugene, Oregon. The company states that “The Unified Belt is the first cross-category whiskey blend.” The three-whiskey blend brings together a 4 and 14 year Kentucky straight bourbon and a 4 year Irish whiskey. While bourbon and Irish whiskey blends are starting to crop up in the marketplace, it’s the additional 15 months of finishing the 14 year bourbon in first-fill Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso Sherry casks that help set this whiskey apart.

The unique blend of three distinct whiskeys in Puncher’s Chance The Unified Belt comes across as both cohesive and individualized throughout the sip. Opening with a mix of red and stone fruits, the finished 14 year bourbon comingles with the Irish whiskey component, which adds distinct hay and grain notes. The midpoint sees the 14 year bourbon take more of a back seat as the Irish and rye whiskey step forward, delivering a more earthy and slightly spiced array of flavors. These components carry over to the finish, which ends the sip on lighter, drier notes and rides a gentle dry heat for a medium-length amount of time. Overall, this is a really interesting whiskey that is able to deliver a cohesive blend yet still highlight its individual components. Its price is high, but for those who are fans of American and Irish whiskeys, this affords the opportunity to combine the best of both worlds.