Dancing Goat 8 Year Corn Whiskey Spanish Oak Finish
Review by: Raygun
This was a strange one. 100% corn whiskey from MGP, aged 8 years with part of that a finish in Spanish oak. Not had anything quite like it before. Reviewed from a sample. Notes from initial blind tasting, with additions in italics a couple of days later after reveal. Rested about 15 minutes.
Distillery: MGP.
Bottler: Dancing Goat.
Region: Indiana.
ABV: 59.4%. Cask strength.
Age: 8 years. Finished for some of that in Spanish oak.
Cask type: Assuming virgin (American) oak for the initial maturation, then a finish in Spanish oak.
Price: Don’t know.
Color: 1.6 Mahogany. Natural Color.
Nose: Smells bourbon-y. Some butterscotch and brioche. Iced tea. But there’s also a fruity scent coming, like apples and maybe peach. It’s nice. It is peachy, though more like a peach gummy or peach iced tea than a fresh peach. I pick up more caramel too.
Palate: Hmm, is this bourbon? Maybe. There’s some caramel and pastry. But the fruit flavor is still throwing me. Some cherry, yes, but the apple flavor just isn’t bourbon-like. Iced lemon tea. Brown sugar. Good hit of oak. Not thin, but also not a huge blast of alcohol. Don’t notice the apple so much. More caramel iced tea.
Finish: A hint of chocolate to make things even more confusing. Caramel, cherries, oak. Now starting to taste more like bourbon again. The little bit of lemon pokes out. Pretty strong oak, but doesn’t get bitter. Brown sugar. French toast.
Guess: While it appeared to veer from bourbon territory at times, I don’t have a better guess. Definitely not scotch and I don’t get rum vibes from it either. Brandy is a possibility, but seems more like bourbon than anything else. Doesn’t taste like barrel proof; more like around 55%. Wouldn’t be surprised if there’s an unusual finish.
Conclusion: I still have very little clue what it is, but I like it. Brings something different to the table, and it’s very enjoyable. Has that quality of making me want to keep taking another sip, and that’s always a good sign. Pretty sweet, but it works well here.
Post-reveal thoughts: Yeah, there was no way I was going to guess this. Never had anything from Dancing Goat and I had no idea this product existed. Was slightly low on the ABV, but overall didn’t do too badly. Would never have guessed it would taste like it does on paper. What a fun one to try blind.
Final Score: 82.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 
