From celebrating the great outdoors to focusing on the fragile bounties of the Wild West, Laws Whiskey House and Wyoming Whiskey are two brands featuring the best of the great American homeland. Laws Whiskey HHouse’sFour Grain Straight Bourbon is the first edition of the Denver-based distiller’s “Headwater Series,” launched to raise awareness and funds for CColorado’svital rivers. All sales of this bourbon will go toward conservation programs leading the cause.

Wyoming Whiskey is no newcomer to environmentally inspired releases. The brand is releasing the fourth edition of its National Parks series, this one honoring Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park and benefiting the park’s conservation organization, Yellowstone Forever.

In addition to supporting admirable causes, these bourbons represent special additions to the market – not only as collectibles but for quality as extraordinary as their inspirations. They represent authentic win-win whiskies you won’t want to miss

Tasting Notes

Laws Whiskey House Headwater Series Four Grain Bourbon

The mash bill behind this special edition is 60% corn and 10% each heirloom wheat, heirloom rye, and heirloom malted barley. The water used is sourced directly from the Colorado River at the base of the Rocky Mountains and it has an age statement of four to seven years. I’m always pleased to see wheat in bourbon, especially within a four-grain like this, and I was not disappointed!

The 100 proof is most evident on the nose. Behind the heat, though, lies a well-rounded character offering vanilla, toasted nuts, and caramel. The nuttiness of the wheat comes through more on the palate with an almond sweetness balanced by sharp spice and a silky, soft, buttery mouthfeel. The finish is long and full of peppery rye spice, encouraged and sustained by the ABV. Overall, this is a balanced bourbon that delivers in every department. It’s not the most astonishing, but it’s a sound, well-crafted whiskey with no frills.

Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No.4

Wyoming Whiskey’s homage to its own Yellowstone National Park blends more than 70 barrels, each aged at least five years. The mash bill is 68% corn, 20% rye, and 12% malted barley. Appearance-wise, this looks quite light for a minimum five-year bourbon, but its flavor and depth more than offset its appearance.

Something unique about this bourbon is noticeable immediately in the nose. Aromas of lemon, coconut, and caramelized sugar are elegant and gentle, leading to flavor notes of fresh vanilla, rich caramel, and brown butter. These decadent notes are held in check, though, as more lemon notes and grassy herbs yield a distinct dryness that cuts through the creaminess. The finish is short and crisp, a suitable end to a fascinating, complex, and graceful pour.

Final Thoughts

These bourbons are above-average whiskeys and are well worth the purchase, considering their quality and cause. Of the two, though, I prefer Wyoming Whiskey’s National Parks No. 4. Having read that it blends 70 different barrels, I was surprised by its balance and cohesiveness. I found non-traditional notes in this bourbon that made it noticeably different and truly incomparable.