Caramel apple | Honey | Red raspberry | Cherry | Plum | Vanilla

Brown sugar | Cherry | Raspberry | Black cherry | Sweet vanilla

Dry seasoned oak | Cigar wrapper | Leather | Stewed cherry

The Row 94 whiskey brand was created by country music star Dierks Bentley. Owner of Whiskey Row bars, post-COVID, the singer felt like it was the right time to launch his own whiskey brand. Whiskey and country music are no strangers, and his latest album features a song titled “Well Well Whiskey.” Row 94 Broken Branches coincides with the launch of his new album, which is also titled Brown Branches. The bourbon is once again sourced from Green River Distilling Co., which is also a part-owner of the brand. For Bentley’s latest release, it’s a 5 year old bourbon aged with toasted oak staves that had been seasoned for 24 months.

The bourbon opens with a surprisingly potent aroma for its proof. Big scents of caramel apple and honey combine with red raspberry, cherry, and plum to an enjoyable result. The palate carries over the red fruits and combines them with brown sugar and vanilla, resulting in a very sweet and fruity palate. The finish starkly contrasts this by introducing dry seasoned oak, cigar wrapper, and leather, with a light lingering stewed cherry note.

The standard Row 94 Bourbon is a straightforward drinker that skews spicy and is very much a Green River bourbon. We’ve seen many companies move towards stave finishing over the past couple of years, but few have been as sweet and fruity as this. That may turn some off, but many enjoy a sweeter bourbon, and thankfully, the finish helps to reel in the sweetness to find a decent balance by the end. While stave finishing and celebrity-backed whiskeys can be a turn-off for some, Row 94 Broken Branches manages to get a lot right, which many will have a great time with. Unfortunately, only 1,500 bottles were produced, and its $100 price tag may deter people from obtaining this enjoyable whiskey.