Union Horse Distilling Co. Rolling Standard
Overall Score: 6.5/10
Overall Value: 1.75/5
Distillery: Union Horse Distilling Co.
Classification: Four Grain Whiskey
Company: Union Horse Distilling Co.
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 92
Age: 18-Months
Mashbill: Undisclosed
Color: Chestnut
MSRP: $28 | 375ml (2026)
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose on this Union Horse Distilling Co. Rolling Standard smells like cracking open a Vanilla Coke. There’s a noticeable sweetness up front, layered with vanilla crème and a touch of graham cracker. Underneath that, though, it leans heavily into pipe tobacco and even a bit of paper or leather. There’s also a slight youthful alcohol note and a faint dry-erase marker quality that hints at its young age. It’s not harsh, but you can tell this is a young whiskey.
The mouthfeel on the palate is light and slightly drying. It doesn’t coat the palate in a rich way, but it’s not thin either. Flavor-wise, we get dark chocolate with orange filling—the kind you’d find in a mixed chocolate box. There’s also a grain-forward character throughout the sip. Honey and graham cracker show up most consistently, with light caramel and butterscotch appearing on certain pulls.
The finish begins lightly sweet, then quickly turns back toward leather and pipe tobacco. Dark chocolate lingers, along with that subtle dry marker note. Surprisingly, there’s a decent amount of burn going down the throat for only 92 proof. That part stands out more than it probably should.
At just 18 months old and without the “Straight Whiskey” designation on the label, it’s reasonable to assume something may have been added for color or flavor. The dark hue and developed flavor profile certainly feel mature for the age.
That said, it doesn’t drink artificial. In fact, whoever worked on this seems to understand how to make young whiskey more approachable. It genuinely tastes closer to an aged whiskey than an obvious flavored spirit, which is impressive for something this young.
Where it struggles is value. For only 375ml it’s tough to justify for experienced whiskey drinkers. However, if you enjoy supporting local distilleries or want to explore a four grain profile that leans sweet and tobacco-forward, it’s not bad. It’s just not something we’d consistently reach for at full price.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
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Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 6.5/10
Value: 1.5/5
THE NOSE:
The nose smells like opening a vanilla coke.
I can pick up a bit of the youthy alcohol notes here, but it’s honestly not bad.
THE TASTE:
The mouthfeel is light but has a bit of a drying effect.
The palate reminds me of a dark chocolate with orange filling from a chocolate box. Which were never really my favorite.
THE FINISH:
More of the dark chocolate profile is present with a bit of a sweetness coming through.
I do get a bit of that dry erase marker flavor which I think hints at the youthyness of the whiskey.
BUY OR PASS?
This is a strange bottle. From the label it’s only 18 months old and it doesn't carry the “Straight Whiskey” moniker so it’s likely there are some additives present. It’s hard to knock local distilleries for providing options but it also doesn't feel like a true representation of their product for a true whiskey enthusiast.
That said, they really did a good job making this taste like an aged whiskey rather than an obvious flavored whiskey.
The Hunter Says
Score: 6.5/10
Value: 2/5
THE NOSE:
This one leans heavy into pipe tobacco and paper.
There is a bit of sweetness underneath it all, mostly a vanilla crème note, but the tobacco character is clearly the star.
THE TASTE:
The palate is pretty basic. It sits lightly in the mouth with a noticeable grain-forward profile.
There’s a general sweetness that keeps it from feeling harsh. I pick up graham cracker and honey most often, and on a few sips
I get hints of light caramel and butterscotch.
THE FINISH:
The finish starts off lightly sweet, but then it quickly slides back into leather and pipe tobacco.
There’s also a surprising amount of burn going down the throat, especially for something that’s only 92 proof.
That part really caught me off guard.
BUY OR PASS?
Overall, the lack of “straight bourbon” on the label, combined with the dark color for an 18-month whiskey, tells me something was likely added to improve both the look and flavor. That said, it doesn’t drink artificial at all.
It actually seems like someone here understands how to make young whiskey more drinkable. Unfortunately, it still doesn’t raise the quality enough to justify the price. It’s not bad—but it’s not something I’d reach for again.
