Store Picks: MB Roland Single Barrel –Total Wine Pick – Barrel A4C22-14C
Pick Information - This offering was chosen by the barrel selection team at Total Wine in Louisville, Kentucky. This barrel was picked in person at the MB Roland distillery and they chose barrel A4C22-14C, which offers a mash bill of 78% white corn, 17% rye, and 5% malted barley. This is MB Roland’s own distillate and not sourced. I am reviewing bottle 30 of 99. This pick is 107 proof and was aged 2 years and is unfiltered.
Color – Deep amber. Much darker than expected for a 2-year-old.
Nose – Heavy, heavy stone fruit and currant / prune. I get a slight hint of chocolate but mainly the heavy fruit.
Palate – Stone fruit and prune come through on the palate as well. I get a hint of coffee in there as well. The youth of the bourbon starts to show itself as the alcohol burn hits but is not off putting. Nice coating mouthfeel.
Finish - Short finish with not a lot there. The fruit remains on the finish. For 107 proof it is very smooth.
Wallet – This bottle retails at $38.99 at the store which is probably a bit high for the age of the bourbon. If MB Roland had offered this as a four year and maybe BiB then the price tag would be a little more in line. That tag will not break most bourbon lovers but for the age and flavor profile you get, this bottle leans to the negative side of return on investment. I am a big fan of supporting craft and smaller distilleries so I still encourage you to grab one bottle.
Head to Head – With a small, start-up distillery like MB Roland, there is really no direct comparison with another of their products. I will say that I enjoyed this 2-year-old pick more than some off the shelf, popular offerings by the larger distillers.
Bourbon Wes says – I think overall when you consider what this is, a bourbon aged only two years from a new distillery, it is a nice offering. It is not harsh like is expected so the age is not apparent if you don’t know how old it is before drinking. I look forward to big things from MB Roland in the near future.
Rating (tasting notes + price point + uniqueness) – I would rate this store pick a 5 out of 10.
Wes Hardin
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Ratings System: 1-2 – Would not suggest to anyone. Literally not drinkable neat.
3-5 - Solid pour but not considered special. Would not purchase second bottle
6-8 - Excellent pour. Robust, interesting, and different compared to regular offering.
9-10 - Outstanding. Hunt for multiple bottles. On par with allocated releases.