Bachelor on the Cheap

By Mike Thayer

The latest flavored whiskey offering from Bird Dog

It's been awhile since I've done a flavored whiskey review, not since April in fact!

But with the celebration of America's Birthday this weekend, I picked up a bottle of the latest offering from Bird Dog, their new honey flavored whiskey.

Here's the description from their website:  Introducing the latest addition to our family of Most Awarded Flavored Whiskies: Bird Dog Honey Flavored Whiskey. Crafted by infusing sweet, golden honey with our Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, it’s bottled at 80 proof. Bird Dog Honey Whiskey features delicious honey notes complemented with hints of wood char and light spice for a flawless finish. Whether you drink it neat or mix it up in one of our custom cocktails, Bird Dog Honey is a sweet way to sip.

I'm a Bird Dog fan, they've got a nice variety of flavored whiskeys and having tried honey whiskeys from other makers and enjoying them, I was looking forward to Bird Dog's version.

As I always do when sampling, I tried the whiskey neat, on the rocks and in a chilled shot.  When opening the bottle you do get a nice subtle whiff of honey, it's a pleasant nose and not overly fragrant which is a good thing.  An overly fragrant flavoring usually indicates too much flavoring or perhaps a whiskey that is too sweet.  You want the flavoring to compliment the whiskey, not overpower it.  With a nice golden-amber color, the whiskey has a nice swirl to it, but in the neat sample, I did find the honey to be a bit medicinal in flavor, the balance doesn't seem quite right.  It is an 80 proof, most flavored whiskeys are 70 proof, but in comparing this honey flavored whiskey to others I've had, this one comes up a bit short.  The saving grace however is it has a really nice finish with the light spice note combined with the classic, Bird Dog Whiskey warmth gently pleasuring your throat.

This is not one of Bird Dog's finer flavored whiskeys.  It's good, but not great.  Best served on the rocks and costing me $16.99, I'm giving Bird Dog Honey Flavored Whiskey 3 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars.  While reasonably priced, it's not a repeat honey flavored buy, I'd rather enjoy Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey or better yet Wild Turkey American Honey.  And if I'm going to stick with the Bird Dog lineup, Praline, Chocolate and Blackberry are my favorites.

Related:  Drink Review: Jim Beam Honey Whiskey (3 stars)

Related:  Drink Review: Jesse James Honey Whiskey

Related:  Whiskey Review: Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey (4 stars)

Related: Drink Review: Wild Turkey American Honey (5 stars)