As temperatures drop, I find my palate shifting towards malt whiskey and maltier bourbons. My wife’s maiden name is Floyd, and when we saw Three Floyds Bubblegumhead Malt Whiskey, we knew we had to give it a try - after all - it’s for the blog.
It’s Not Normal
The Three Floyds (fromMunster, Indiana) are more widely known for their lineup of craft beers. In 2017, though, they quietly began distilling under the Three Floyds Distilling Company moniker, producing whiskeys, gins, rums, and aquavits.
From humble beginnings, founder Nick Floyd (and a few hundred dollars) took a five-barrel Frankenstine wok-burner-fired brew kettle, Swiss cheese fementers, and an old Canfield’s Cola tank and began brewing his “not normal” ales and lagers in 1996 in Hammond, Indiana.
Outgrowing their property, the business relocated down the road to Munster, Indiana in 2001. As operations continue to expand, Three Floyds products are available in 19 states across the Midwest and East Coast.
The Tasting
The tall bottle comes adorned with multiple caricature sketches along with full disclosure on a black label with gold print. This whiskey uses similar ingredients to the Three Floyds signature Gumballhead American wheat pale ale.
The product is Bottled-in-Bond (The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 applies to all whiskeys - not just bourbon). To comply, the product must be::
From a single type of spirit
Produced in the same distilling season by the same distiller at the same distillery
Aged for at least 4 years - which, this product carries a 4-year age statement
Unadultered (may be filtered and proofed down)
Proofed with pure water to exactly 100-proof
Labeled with the registered distillery number (DSP-IN-21042) and labeled with the real name of the distillery or a trade name (“Three Floyds Distilling Company”).
The mash bill is 75% barley malt, 22% malted white wheat, and 3% munich malt. We are told to expect aromas of vanilla, marshmallow, and honey which carry through to smoked harmonious flavors of toffee, caramel, and warming spices.
Color: Sun dried hay with small legs displayed inside my Glencairn glass.
Nose: Honey-forward, with vanilla, graham cracker and white chocolate. There is also a toasted note - like a toasted marshmallow.
Palate: Smooth and slightly creamy, with vanilla, malted grains, gentle spice, and smoked wood. This does sip incredibly smooth.
Finish: Medium with vanilla and smoky spice.
Overall: This was an interesting pour - in a very good way. Kudos to Three Floyds for delivering a Bottled-in-Bond product! It was crisp, malty, and slightly smoky - everything I was expecting. I will say that my palate does steer towards some sweeter malt whiskeys. Woodford Reserve’s Malt Whiskey is hard to beat with its significant allocation of corn in the mash bill that adds sweetness and has a full-rounded s’more flavor, with graham cracker, chocolate, and toasted marshmallow.
Similar to the Woodford Reserve Five-Malt Stouted Whiskey and the New Riff Maltster Bourbon, this whiskey does lean towards a stout beer. MSRP was $50 at my local Hy-Vee store. I was glad to have tried it. I’ll continue to see what other whiskeys Three Floyds delivers.