A couple months back I reviewed the 6-year-old James E Pepper Bourbon, today we’re digging into their standard release, the James E Pepper 1776 Bourbon. Non chill-filtered and bottled at 100 proof, this is a bourbon that brings a lot to the table for a relatively low price.
Sourced from MGP, like all their other whiskeys and aged for a minimum of three years, one more than their rye whiskeys, it’s about as standard of bourbon you can get on paper. Though what doesn’t translate from paper is just how good this “standard bourbon” is in practice.
James E Pepper 1776 Bourbon Review: Details and Tasting Notes
In James E. Pepper’s Words: James E Pepper 1776 Bourbon
100 Proof – Not Chill-Filtered – Over 38% Rye in the Mash Bill. Rich Bourbon Sweetness & Rye Spice; vanilla, honey, cloves, & chocolate. Neat, over ice, or in a proper Old Fashioned, this whiskey rocks
James E Pepper 1776 Bourbon price, ABV, age and other details
Region: Indiana, USA
Distiller: MGP
Bottler: James E Pepper
Mash Bill: 57% Corn, 39% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 3 Years
ABV: 50%
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Price: $26*
James E Pepper 1776 Bourbon Tasting Notes
EYE
Amber
NOSE
Cocoa, roasted corn, cinnamon, nuts, marmalade, spice and bits of strawberry candy, vanilla and oak.
PALATE
Nuts, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, roasted corn, jammy citrus and bits of fruit, char, menthol and oak coming through.
FINISH
Medium – Buttery corn, caramel, vanilla, spice and oak.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good balance, medium body and a bit thin and light on the feel.
James E Pepper 1776 Bourbon Review: OVERALL
For being a 3-year-old high-rye bourbon it seems to have far more dark sweets that anything else. Both the oak and the spice level on this are low and it ends up coming across, on both the aroma and palate, as a sweet nutty bourbon. There is a touch more oak and spice on the palate than the aroma, but not by a huge margin.
It has a nice MGP bourbon profile and is better than most craft bourbons of a similar age. As a sipper it’s decent and easy and as a cocktail mixer it packs a punch. It’s also relatively cheap so it’s not a bad choice to have on your bar for when friends come over or you wanna whip up a quick and tasty Old Fashioned.
SCORE: 84/100 (B)
*Disclosure: This James E Pepper 1776 Bourbon was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
James E Pepper 1776 Bourbon Review 26
James E Pepper 1776 Bourbon Review Summary
James E Pepper 1776 Bourbon is a decent whiskey at a decent price point that works well neat or in a cocktail.
Overall
- Nose - 83
- Palate - 86
- Finish - 84
- Balance, Body & Feel - 84
User Review
( votes)( review)
Help me out Josh, I have gotten more interested in bourbon the last 5 years but I am still a naivete. Just read the review for the James E. Pepper 1776 bourbon…I thought one of the requirements to be considered bourbon is that it had to be aged a minimum of four years?
Hey Mark,
Happy to help. Bourbon has no age requirement. A distilled mash of 51%+ corn can be aged in a new charred oak container (barrel) for 1 second and it would be a bourbon. To be a Straight Bourbon it must be aged for at least 2 years and not have any additives other than water and it must carry an age statement if aged less than 4 years. Once the Bourbon is over 4 years it doesn’t require an age statement. Hope that makes more sense. If you want to see the full regulations check out this post https://thewhiskeyjug.com/whiskey/ttb-standards-of-identity-for-whiskey-in-plain-english/
Cheers!
Many thanks Josh!
Great review, I’m drinking this down in Australia.
I think it’s an amazing Bourbon, it runs into $84 Aussie here and cheap bourbons are around $45 here. But wow for that price it’s fantastic value.
I have WLW & Pappys in my Bourbon Collection and this Pepper 1776 would have to be the best bang for buck bourbon I have ever had!
If I was in the US I would be buying cases.
Regards Gary
Sounds like you have quite the collection going, awesome! That WLW is one of my all time faves (all releases), but have to agree with this being a great value. Thanks for sharing, cheers!
Acurate review My forst taste. explorer. . I delude myself that I can read alot in a label. so I bought this ….THen, wentto your review. . I agree with everything you said, and I enjoyed this Bourbon alot. The fact that it is reasonably priced makes it high on my list of BOurbons to be loyal to.! . . Has all the right dark Flavors, all the right bite, without seeming cheap”. And gets me where I wanna be as fast as a Moonshiner’s flat head Ford V-8, ona two-lane blacktop , new moon sunday mornin’. GOOD STUFF!!
Thanks for sharing Jay, cheers!
Great value bourbon!
One of my favorite bourbons under $50. Might be in my top 10 at any price point.
Cheers Ben!
Thanks for the review Josh. I’ve seen it around. I’ll have to give a go sometime soon. 100 proof, NCF and affordable. Checks a lot of boxes! Have a great holiday.
That it does, cheers Bryce!