Better Man Distilling - Grand Optimist Bourbon

A NOTE FROM THE DISTILLER

I wanted our flagship bourbon to showcase the terroir of the Great South Bay and the unique salty sea air that it imparts on our barrels. To do so, we made a bourbon with 70% corn 10% rye and 20% malted barley in order to bring out chocolate and espresso notes that complement the caramel and vanilla that is traditionally found in bourbon. With that touch of salinity that comes from being aged right on the coast, this bourbon is everything we love about salty and sweet.
The addition of heritage grains to the mash bill also sets this bourbon apart within its category. Before American agriculture created one mono-crop of yellow dent corn, farmers were using a variety of species. We decided to look past the standard of using yellow corn in bourbon and focus on these now rare heritage grains. Using these other species creates a more complex profile while also celebrating the natural bounty of New York State.