Great Lakes Dirty Helen Barrel Proof Bourbon

A bourbon with a name like Dirty Helen naturally comes with a story. Helen Cromwell was a legendary Milwaukee character, loved by some and reviled by others, but certainly never someone who went unnoticed. Great Lakes Distillery decided that only a robust barrel strength bourbon could properly honour her reputation.

Dirty Helen Barrel Proof Bourbon is produced entirely in Milwaukee using Wisconsin grown grain. Its mash bill consists of 67% corn, 22% malted barley and 11% rye. That relatively high proportion of malt is unusual for bourbon and contributes to its pronounced toasted grain character. The whiskey matures in new charred American oak barrels before being bottled without reducing it down in strength. This release comes in at 57.1%, or 114.2 proof.

The result is a powerful Straight Bourbon Whiskey where toasted malt, vanilla, caramel and heavily charred oak sit comfortably alongside one another. The higher strength provides plenty of concentration and texture while still allowing grain, spice and nutty notes to show through. A muscular bourbon, certainly, but one with plenty of character behind the power.