Classification: Straight Bourbon

Company: CJS Beverage Corp.

Distillery: MGP

Release Date: October 2020

Proof: 104

Age: 5 Years

Mashbill: 75% Corn, 20.5% Rye, and 4.5% Malted Barley

Color: Light Bronze

Oak | Big grain | Vanilla | Toasted marshmallow | Slight ethanol tingle

Green pepper | Rye spice | Noticeable oak | Toasted brown sugar | Caramel | Underlying corn throughout | Punchy spice mixed with sweeter flavors

Oak | Corn bake | Dry leather | White peppercorns | Touch of brown sugar | Pleasant way to end the sip

Bourbon War 5 Year represents the second release in a 9 year vertical series. We first visited the series in our review of Bourbon War 4 Year which launched the vertical series off to a good start. The 5 year version of the series delivers a similar drinking experience that also has some noticeable differences. The base is similar, however the slight increase of proof to 106 pulls forward more of the spice in the palate along with highlighting more of the grain overall. While some years will slightly edge out others, this continues to be a fun series to explore the impact that time has on bourbon.