Sipsy
Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey 2023 draws inspiration from a historic American whiskey style while applying modern restraint to grain selection, fermentation, and maturation. Rather than replicating the past, this release interprets it through deliberate production choices that emphasize balance, texture, and continuity.
The mash bill incorporates a thoughtful combination of grains chosen for both structure and aromatic contribution. Fermentation is guided to preserve grain character, allowing sweetness and spice to develop naturally rather than through aggressive extraction. Maturation takes place in a varied barrel program, selected to frame the whiskey rather than dominate it, with oak influence introduced gradually to maintain composure.
On the palate, the whiskey opens with layered grain sweetness and warm baking spice, followed by subtle caramel and soft oak. The texture is rounded and cohesive, with a mid-palate that remains grounded and focused. The finish carries gentle warmth and spice, lingering without excess weight. Shenk’s 2023 reflects a measured approach to historical whiskey, defined by discipline and integration rather than intensity.
