The Story

Who remembers Jimmy Hoffa? Well, Two James Distillery out of Detroit does.

Hoffa’s mob-related escapades as the President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is deep rooted in Detroit history. Jimmy Riddle Hoffa’s last known location was at the Machas Red Fox restaurant in Dearborn, MI in 1975. It is believed he was the victim of a mafia hit, but no one knows for sure. His final resting place is still unknown and to this day, enthusiasts and government entities are still digging and searching throughout Michigan. If you have the time, his life story is worth the read.

Cutting to the chase – and the reason we are here – whiskey. Two James decided to pay homage to this unsolved mystery with their J.Riddle Peated Bourbon release. This bottle, like others in their lineup, has a uniquely crafted design with the Two James logo stamped on the back. The label artwork is also well done with images of Hoffa’s teamster logo and a red fox which represents the restaurant of his last known location. It’s one of those bottles that pulls you in simply because it’s unique and nice to look at.

Inside, Two James went with a 91 proof, two grain mashbill consisting of 79% Michigan Corn and 21% Scottish barley. It was aged in 53 gallon new American oak barrels. As most enthusiasts know, a typical bourbon mashbill consists of three grains: Corn, Rye and Malted Barley. Usually malted barley is in small percentages (on average 4%-12%) and is included for its alcohol producing enzymes. Although barley is more of a supporting grain, it still leaves its signature on the whiskey. The most common flavors barley contributes are the nutty and smoky notes. That smokiness is something you would expect out of a scotch whisky, not typical in most bourbons.

Kevin and I are rookies when it comes to Scotch, so we were interested to see how this recipe would fare with our sweet-loving, bourbon palates.

Nose

Syrupy maple sweetness, cereal grain, malt, smoke and slight alcohol.

Palate

Malty Scotch notes and sweetness up front and a slight spice mid palate.

Finish

Leather, tobacco and small amounts of baking spice.

Verdict

After tasting this bottle, the phrase “gateway whiskey” comes to mind. Whether you’re a Scotch drinker exploring the bourbon world or bourbon lover wanting to give scotch a try, this bottle has something for both of you. The sweetness of a bourbon and the malty, smoke of a Scotch come together nicely.

We feel the value of the whiskey inside ranges from $50-$60 and is priced right at $55 MSRP.

From its bottle design and label to the balanced whiskey inside this is an easy buy for us.

Overall we’re rating J. Riddle Peated Bourbon Whiskey from Two James Spirits a 7.7 out of 10.

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Cheers friends!