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Sierra Norte Native Oaxacan Yellow Corn
Sierra Norte

Sierra Norte Native Oaxacan Yellow Corn

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17 ratings

We publish a score at 30 ratings.

88 critic score

Whiskey World Whisky Oaxaca No age statement 45% ABV

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About this bottle

Sierra Norte is a collection of Oaxacan whiskeys from Douglas French, founder of Scorpion Mezcal, highlighting native Oaxacan corn varieties. This is a single barrel bottling featuring yellow corn, with a mash bill consisting of 85% corn and 15% malted barley. It is aged in French oak and released on a single barrel basis.

How it tastes

Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.

Sweet 55
Rich 50
Oily 40
Spicy 40
Tart 35
Herbal 35
Fruity 30

Reviews

Showing the most detailed of 7 parsed reviews.

Leo Grigsby 3.5

This whiskey, in one word, is funky. It's not necessarily a bad thing, though. It has notes of a hay barn, ethyl alcohol, cornbread, a hint of chocolate-dipped banana, and a suggestion of agave nectar. It's sweet to the taste, yet vegetal, with a dusky raw element, like dark unrefined corn syrup. The spice is reminiscent of ancho chilies that prickle the tongue like a cactus, but simultaneously warms the palate comfortably, adding to the intrigue. A beaded skirt, like the fringed dress of a Mexican Hat Dancer, forms in the glass, preceding legs that fall as quickly as the dancer's steps in the performance's crescendo. It's syrupy on the tongue with a rather full mouthfeel. The finish has notes of apple skins and wild cherry sanded candy drops alongside Grape Nuts or All-Bran cereal, plus a final hint of oak. Certainly interesting! Aroma: 6 Taste: 6 Body: 8 Finish: 7

Blanca Parson 3.5

As expected from a whiskey made mostly from corn, there's a lot of buttery popcorn. The finish is quite short. Enjoyable for a moment, but it leaves little impression. It lacks significant flaws but also fails to create lasting memories. I prefer other corn whiskeys over this one.

Nelda Falk 3.3

Roasted corn, butter, and vanilla on the nose, followed by a smooth palate. The medium finish has a touch of buttery corn and a subtle peppery spice.

Leah Yi 3.3

It resembles a good moonshine, just with a lower ABV and a bit smoother. Corn is forward as expected, it's sweet, and the finish is clean.

Thurman Fine 2.5

Good value for the cost, with a sweet and sour profile, quickly becoming warm, followed by a pleasant fruity finish. Well executed.

Jerry Sawyer 3.0

A faint huitlacoche aroma, then corn dominates throughout. A well-made corn whiskey.

1 more reviews were collected for this bottle. The longest ones are shown first.

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