Musician Eric Church and businessman Raj Alva created the Whiskey JYPSI brand. The two describe themselves as “serious whiskey enthusiasts but not yet experts in making it,” and as a result, chose whiskey maker Ari Sussman, who is also known for his role in making Three Chord Bourbon. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Whiskey JYPSI does not distill its own whiskeys; instead, it sources whiskeys from various distilleries and further ages, blends, and in some cases, finishes them.

‍‍Tribute Double Barreled Bourbon is Whiskey JYPSI’s fourth whiskey, following Legacy and Explorer whiskeys, which were released in 2023 and 2024, respectively. According to Sussman, “Instead of using commodity grains from large commercial farming operations for efficiency, the company contracted with small family farms willing to grow more flavorful, varietal-stated grains specifically intended for making whiskey. These sustainably raised grains for Tribute include a variety of the once-sacred Cherokee White Corn."

‍‍Whisky JYPSI Tribute undergoes a secondary aging process, where the whiskey is proofed down before finishing. After aging for 4 years, it’s re-barreled for an additional 3-6 months of aging.

‍‍Whiskey JYPSI Tribute was introduced to the market in March 2025 and is an ongoing product.

The whiskey is light but present. Caramel and baked apple coalesce with an unexpected hint of orange zest. Layers of white pepper and baking spices on the back end give the aroma a boost, amplifying its intensity to a higher degree.

Baked apple and a hint of citrus form over a sweet, familiar base of caramel and toasted oak. There’s a slight nuttiness to it, and brown sugar joins alongside light white pepper spice. It’s mellow but still flavorful, with a buttery mouthfeel.

A delicate wave of spice washes over fruit notes that include green grape and crisp apple. Hints of caramel and graham cracker linger, with tapering spice notes retreating evenly as the flavors fade. It’s a satisfying conclusion that maintains an even composure from start to finish, with a focus on delivering a smooth sip that’s nuanced and flavorful at the same time.

Whiskey JYPSI Tribute features varietal grains, which is a trend we are seeing across the whiskey space, including estate distilleries and even large distilleries, such as Heaven Hill’s Grain to Glass Bourbon. Tribute also combines distillate from two states, Kentucky and Tennessee, which is unlike many bourbons but is a growing trend nonetheless, as it joins the ranks of whiskeys that include well-known brands that focus on blending, such as Barrell Bourbon and Pursuit United.

However, the most unique aspect of Whiskey JYPSI Tribute is the process used to proof it down. Between its first and second barrel, water is added to proof the whiskey down before it’s finished for 3-6 months. When water is added to whiskey to proof it down, molecular-level interactions occur, impacting flavor and aroma compounds. Greg Metze, former long-time master distiller at MGP’s Ross & Squibb Distillery and subsequently Old Elk Distillery, implemented a slow proofing process for Old Elk’s Slow Cut Blended Straight Bourbon. The concept was to minimize the impact of those interactions so that the whiskey would retain them, thereby enhancing the final product. Whether or not Old Elk was the first is rarely discussed, but they were the first to promote a product that featured it. Recently, we have seen greater attention given to how a particular whiskey is proofed.

In Whiskey JYPSI’s case, a similar goal is not necessarily promoted; however, the impact of introducing water to proof the bourbon down and then finish it has likely contributed to its smooth, buttery mouthfeel. Combined with a nuanced flavor profile, it’s a bourbon that will appeal to many.

Whiskey JYPSI Tribute is the lowest cost bourbon in the brand’s portfolio, clearly aimed at a larger audience given its lower proof and affordable price point. While whiskey enthusiasts will not necessarily gravitate towards an 86 proof bourbon, Whiskey JYPSI Tribute offers qualities that make it worthy of a wider range of consumers’ attention. Its flavor profile isn’t a quintessential Kentucky bourbon one, though Kentucky is one of the source states in the blend, instead adding a twist of fruit and spice that takes it just far enough outside the traditional boundaries to make consumers take note.

On the technical side, you could consider double-barreled bourbons like Woodford Reserve Double Oaked ($45) or Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel ($50) to be comparables, but each has a different spin. On the blended side, Pursuit United Triple Mash Bourbon ($40) and Sweeten’s Cove Kennessee ($50) combine both Kentucky and Tennessee distillate. Still, each takes a different direction, with Pursuit United adding Finger Lakes Distilling distillate to the blend and Sweeten’s Cove finishing with toasted sugar maple wood. Taking the grain element into consideration adds an additional layer, as estate distilleries are going all-in on grain attributes.

But Whiskey JYPSI Tribute is also a very smooth bourbon, which is a term I try to avoid when describing whiskeys, but is the trigger word that comes up in nearly every conversation I have with casual drinkers. For many, the measure of a good bourbon is how smooth it is, and there is one bourbon that comes up as a favorite in these conversations quite a bit: Basil Hayden Bourbon. At $50 for the premium-feeling mainstay from Jim Beam, it’s a popular choice among casual drinkers but far too thin as it feels watered down at its 80 proof when you consider the enthusiast cohort. For me, Whiskey JYPSI Tribute offers a better option that actually appeals to both sides of that coin, with a sip that is light and smooth, but still flavorful and memorable. For consumers interested in a smooth pour, Whiskey JYPSI Tribute is a great option at $45.

Whiskey JYPSI is a brand that is best described as “by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts.” Tribute is an interesting new direction as a result, because it’s aimed at a wider audience, which presents a dichotomy for the brand. Tribute dials down the proof and clearly aims at drinkability and widespread appeal, but retains attributes that enthusiasts are more likely to care about. Combining whiskeys from multiple states, using varietal grains, double barreling, and an uncommon proofing down process before it’s finished in the second barrel may not be transformational, but combined, they highlight the fact that the whiskey’s curators pay attention to details. This attention ultimately pays off, as the final product is a satisfyingly smooth bourbon offered at an affordable price.