Taste Test: Is Eric Church’s New Whiskey JYPSI Tribute Bourbon a Hit?

Eric Church performs during Concert for Carolina on Oct. 26, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Country music star Eric Church has expanded his Whiskey JYPSI lineup with the release of Tribute Double Barreled Bourbon, a double-oaked, 86-proof bourbon aged at least four years.

Priced at $44.99, the whiskey is now available online and in select liquor stores. Tribute is the fourth release from Whiskey JYPSI, which Church co-founded with entrepreneur Raj Alva under Outsiders Spirits in 2020. Following the award-winning Legacy and Explorer releases, Tribute is positioned as a more accessible, everyday bourbon.

“This is a whiskey with a price point and a flavor profile everybody can enjoy, but with the same high-quality approach we’ve taken with our other whiskeys,” Church said in a new release. “And that’s what we were looking for with Tribute.”

Church and his team emphasize their use of sustainably sourced grains, including Cherokee White Corn from small family farms. Whiskey JYPSI whiskey maker Ari Sussman said the company specifically avoids mass-market commodity grains in favor of higher-quality ingredients.

Alva noted that many brands avoid using grains from small communities and local farmers since it’s more timely and expensive, but JYPSI believes it’s worth it.

“With Tribute, we’re also honoring and working with small communities and local farmers to make this whiskey… I’m from Appalachia, so I love the small-town and artisanal element,” Church said. “And it’s those points of differentiation that, to me, make a major difference with people who drink whiskey.”

How Good Is Eric Church’s Whiskey JYPSI Tribute Bourbon?

We had the chance to taste and review Tribute, and while it has some enjoyable qualities, it doesn’t match the high bar set by JYPSI’s previous whiskeys. (Read our full review here)

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Light, sweet, and nutty, with a standout banana walnut muffin note, vanilla, and a touch of blueberry jam.

Palate: Butterscotch pudding, cherry, char, almonds, and a touch of smoked meat. It’s pleasant but not overly complex, with a savory note tying it together.

Finish: Short to medium, with ash, minerality, banana pudding, slivered almonds, and some youthful heat.

Overall: Tribute undergoes a double-barreling process, where the whiskey is aged in charred new American Oak barrels for at least four years, then re-barreled for an additional three to six months in fresh American Oak. While this technique enhances the flavor in some regards, the low proof leaves the finish feeling somewhat underwhelming.

While Whiskey JYPSI’s Tribute is an easy-drinking pour, it falls a bit short compared to the brand’s premium releases — which, to be fair, is to be expected from an everyday bottle vs. a top-shelf product. Still, we’ve seen other brands (Barrell Craft Spirits comes to mind) handle that transition with more grace.

All in all, JYPSI is still an outstanding brand, and Batch 2 of its Legacy Series is quite possibly the best celebrity whiskey of all time. We still adore Church’s brand, this release just doesn’t reach the high bar it’s set with previous bottlings.