Style: Lincoln County processed whiskey
Age: 4-6 years
Proof: 90 (45% ABV)
Region: Wilkesboro, North Carolina

In an industry dominated by legacy brands that can trace their distilling history back generations, it can be hard for newer brands to compete. So when a bottle like The Reverend comes out of nowhere with this kind of story affixed to it, drinkers take notice.

Distilled by the Call Family Distillers in North Carolina, The Reverend is named after their ancestor, Daniel Call, a Lutheran minister who, according to the press materials, was a mentor to both Jasper “Jack” Daniel and a friend to Nathan “Uncle Nearest” Green.

Historically, that puts Reverend Call right there with Daniel and Green around the development of the Lincoln County process. This process of charcoal filtering whiskey is, other than geography, the factor that differentiates Tennessee whiskey, like Jack Daniel’s, from a Kentucky bourbon.

This whiskey has a mash bill of 76% corn, 19% rye and 5% malted barley, but The Reverend is not technically a bourbon — it’s aged partially in reused, bourbon casks, so it can’t legally be labeled as a bourbon. In the spirit of Reverend Call, his descendants made this whiskey using the Lincoln County process of filtering the whiskey with maple charcoal. So this whiskey has a fun story behind it, but does the flavor stack up to the historical pedigree The Reverend so proudly flaunts?

Tasting notes

Right away the nose on this whiskey is very sweet and dessert-like. Creamy vanilla, maple, and orchard fruit dominate the nose with a hint of cinnamon. On the palate, notes of red apple, orange peel, and vanilla cream lead the charge with a pop of clove and black pepper at the end. All very pleasing, but the mouthfeel is a little thin, which is to be expected at 90 proof. The finish is a bit on the shorter end, but leaves an aftertaste of caramel and brown sugar.

Final thoughts

Look, there’s no way for me to verify the historical claims about this whiskey. I can say for sure, though, that it’s a very pleasing pour. It presents almost like a liquid apple cobbler, with flavors of creamy baked fruit, caramelized sugar, and just a pinch of baking spice. It’s not likely to astound the most hardcore and obsessive whiskey nerds, but that’s not what The Reverend is aspiring to.

This is an affordable, approachable whiskey that hits all of the right notes. It’s an easy sipper and works surprisingly well in an Old Fashioned cocktail, but also wouldn’t be out of place in a “shot and a beer” combo either. And I would also be remiss if I didn’t point out the brilliantly conceptualized and executed label. I hope the Call family sent whoever designed it a case of The Reverend.