We don't have an opportunity to taste many flavored whiskies, but it's always fun and interesting to see how one brand compares over another. Flavored whiskey is great for the novice whiskey drinker who wants to try whiskey without getting the familiar burn or "hug" from the bottle. It is also fantastic in festive and summertime cocktails and for creating your own signature drink. This is Firefly Distillery Steel Feathers Blackberry Whiskey and it is definitely one of the better flavored whiskey offerings we have tasted in a very long time.
Jim Irvin and Scott Newitt are the co-founders of Firefly Distillery, bringing their experience from years working in the wine business to a venture that included not only traditional distilled spirits like whiskey, rum, gin and moonshine, but also ready-to-drink cocktails. The Steel Feathers Blackberry Whiskey is a selection from their Tom and Huck Distillers series and it features "good ol' southern charm in a bottle". That's our moniker for this whiskey, not theirs.
Unlike many other flavored whiskey on the market, this one actually has real berries in the flavoring. The folks who brought you sweet tea vodka (yes, it's them!) have this blackberry whiskey dialed in. Light auburn/chestnut color with a cloud of mystique at first glance. The nose isn't a fruit bomb, which we like. It is more subtle at first, suggesting this would be tasty not only in a cocktail, but also enjoyed over rocks on a hot summer evening. There are some vanilla and carmel syrup notes as well. On the palate is a distinct but restrained blackberry taste with vanilla, baking spices and graham cracker. It's really a very well made flavored whiskey. We gave a shot at this recipe. Keep in mind, we are not mixologists!
- 2 ounces of Firefly Steel Feathers Blackberry Whiskey
- 3 ounces of ginger ale
- 1/2 lime
- 1 sugar cube
- Serve over ice
But you really can't beat mixing this with some semi-sweet lemonade. Tone down the sugar in the lemonade to get a better taste of the whiskey. Add a sprig of mint and you're all set!
ABV: 35.0% (70 proof)
Distillery: Firefly Distillery
Suggested retail price: $24.99
Drink The Bottles score: 87/100
We compared Steel Feathers against the new Crown Royal Blackberry Whiskey in this four minute video below. They are both 70 proof and the results were clear from the start. Crown Royal does not live up to the hype! If you want a quality flavored whiskey, search from Steel Feathers from Firefly Distillery.
Check out the head-to-head blackberry whiskey review.
