Dirty Helen Barrel Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Great Lakes Distillery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is made with a mash bill of 69% corn, 19% barley and 12% rye using Wisconsin-grown grain. It is aged in new charred oak barrels and bottled at barrel strength, typically ranging from 113 to 128.2 proof. A 750 ml bottle generally retails for around $50–60.
According to the brand, it features vanilla and corn on the nose, with a robust palate of charred oak, roasted malt and sweet corn.
The first sip hits you with a delightful combination of oak, citrus, and smooth vanilla peaking though at the end. The burn is coming from the barrel strength, which makes it a bit hotter on the palette, but also allows some of those flavors to shine brighter.