Burnside Canned Cocktails at 12% ABV a little bit sneaky for a sweet-tasting be — the question is whether it delivers on its promise. I sat down with a pour to find out.
Nose
and it hits it pretty hard. The more I drank, the more it all amounted to a very sweet, ambient floral citrus assault on my palate. It wouldnt surprise me if folks with a different set of preferences than mine enjoy this on a hot day, but I didnt finish the can. The flavor from the bourbon is hiding waaayyyy in the background of this one, making the 12% ABV a little bit sneaky for a sweet-tasting beverage. Eastside Distilling Bourbon Cola Canned Cocktail (image via Eastside Distilling) Tasting Notes: Burnside Bourbon Cola Before my first sip, I noted the vanilla sweet, earthy-herbal aroma that accompanies a good bourbon and cola. What I tasted was just slightly under-balanced, with the sweet vanillas of the bourbon cutting through relatively unassertive cola to take full control on the palate. There is a hint of bitterness in the middle of the palate transitioning to a finish of more vanillas and spices that add up to the rich custard-y flavors I want from this genre of mixed drink. In general, I prefer my whiskey neat but here I felt that the mixer was not taking up enough space to justify its presence and wanted more of it. Not necessarily more cola by volume, just a stronger flavor. I wouldnt send this back at the bar by any means, but wouldnt order another unless it was happy hour. Final Thoughts: These are both totally fine options if youre after a pre-made cocktail, but Im beginning to feel like the whole canned cocktail concept is lost on me. At least when it comes to whiskey drinks. More often than not, I come away with the sense that I couldve just mixed my own cocktail to better suit my preference. Burnsides range of bourbons is, in my experience, quite good so Id suggest that the better move is to just pick up a bottle (I very much enjoyed my last bottle of the Goose Hollow RSV) and do some experiments to find the right proportions with your own favorite cola or lemonade.
Palate
Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by Whiskeyful or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
The Bottom Line
Burnside Canned Cocktails is worth a try if it crosses your path. It may not redefine the category, but it has enough going on to keep things interesting.
