Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon Whiskey
Smoke Wagon · MGP of Indiana (sourced), bottled by Aaron Chepenik / Nevada H&C Distilling
Smoke Wagon's Uncut Unfiltered is a masterclass in big bourbon done right. The cask-strength proof amplifies rather than overwhelms, revealing layers that lower-proof bottlings often flatten. At its price, this is one of the best values in American whiskey.
Nose
Immediate rush of caramel and charred oak, followed by dark cherry and a wave of brown spices — cinnamon bark and clove. Underneath, there's a ribbon of butterscotch and toasted pecan that anchors the higher notes.
Palate
Full-bodied and viscous without being syrupy. Corn sweetness gives way to leather and tobacco, while a secondary wave of vanilla and maple syrup coats the mid-palate. The proof is present but well-integrated, generating warmth rather than burn.
Finish
Long and layered, with charred oak, cocoa, and a persistent rye spice that keeps the sweetness honest. A faint echo of dried cherry lingers at the edges.
- Mash Bill
- Approximately 21% rye, 75% corn, 4% malted barley (MGP bourbon mash bill)
- Barrel Type
- New charred American white oak
- Bottled in Bond
- No
- Single Barrel
- No
- Wheated
- No
Cocktail Suggestion
Desert Heat Old Fashioned — 2 oz Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered · 0.25 oz demerara syrup · 2 dashes Angostura bitters · 1 dash black walnut bitters · Stir over a large ice cube, express an orange peel and garnish.
Food Pairing
Smoked brisket with a pepper bark crust
Aaron Chepenik built Smoke Wagon in Las Vegas by hand-selecting exceptional MGP barrels, proving that great curation is its own form of craft.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Jura 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Jura
Jura 10 is an island malt that sidesteps the peat-bomb stereotype entirely. Its restraint is its strength — a whisky shaped by geography rather than process, tasting of the rain and wind that batter its remote island home. Ideal as a gateway to island Scotch.
Noah's Mill Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
Noah's Mill
Noah's Mill is barrel-proof bourbon without apology. Its intensity rewards patience — a splash of water opens the caramel and softens the leather into something rich and contemplative. A serious sipper for those who want their bourbon to push back.
Crossbill Highland Dry Gin
Crossbill
Crossbill is a gin that refuses to compromise on juniper. Using only Scottish juniper berries and rosehip, it delivers one of the most juniper-forward profiles available — a gin built for G&T purists and Martini devotees who want the pine to sing. It tastes like the Scottish Highlands in a glass.
Rhum Clément Select Barrel Rhum Agricole
Clément
Clément Select Barrel is an excellent entry point into aged agricole rhum. The barrel aging tames the raw grassy intensity without erasing it, creating a spirit that bridges the gap between agricole purists and aged rum lovers. At its price, it's one of the best values in the category.
Noah's Mill Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
Noah's Mill
Noah's Mill is barrel-proof bourbon without apology. Its intensity rewards patience — a splash of water opens the caramel and softens the leather into something rich and contemplative. A serious sipper for those who want their bourbon to push back.
Benchmark Top Floor Bourbon Whiskey
Benchmark
This is not a bourbon that demands your attention — it earns it by being unpretentious. Buffalo Trace's value-tier offering uses the same distillery pedigree at a fraction of the price, making it an ideal daily pour or cocktail backbone.
New Riff Balboa Rye Bourbon
New Riff
A bourbon that earns its complexity through friction rather than finesse — the rare high-rye bourbon that tastes engineered for tension, then rewards patience with genuine grace.
Yellowstone Hand Picked Collection Single Barrel Bourbon 2023 Release
Yellowstone
This hand-picked single barrel delivers the kind of concentrated, oak-driven bourbon that rewards patience. It's not subtle, but it's disciplined — the heavy char never overwhelms the underlying grain character. A strong pour for anyone who wants their bourbon to carry some weight.