Judson & Moore Bourbon 750ML is a 94-proof (47% ABV) craft bourbon whiskey distilled, barreled, and bottled in Chicago, Illinois. This rye-forward expression earned a Gold medal at the Bartender Spirits Awards, a meaningful nod for a young urban distillery competing in a crowded bourbon field.Quick Facts: ABV: 47% (94 Proof) | Origin: Chicago, Illinois | Aged 2 Years | Distillery: Judson & Moore DistilleryProduction & HeritageJudson & Moore operates out of Chicago, where the team distills, barrels, and bottles every expression in-house. The bourbon uses a mashbill of 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% malted barley — a noticeably higher rye percentage than most standard bourbons, which typically run closer to 10-15% rye. The whiskey is made with Lake Michigan water drawn through Chicago's municipal system and aged for two years in charred barrels crafted from Minnesota white oak. Co-founder Moore specifically sources cold-climate oak because the tighter wood grain yields more vanillin and sweetness during maturation, a detail that meaningfully shapes the final spirit.Tasting NotesAroma: The nose opens with cherry pie sweetness that quickly gives way to a dusty, earthy layer — think sawdust or wet clay. Underneath, there are hints of mint and vanilla, with the 94-proof strength delivering a noticeable warmth.Taste: The palate leads with lemon zest and a pleasant grain sweetness from the corn, but the elevated rye content pushes the mid-palate into spicier territory. Smoked cedar emerges as the defining mid-palate note, accompanied by a savory, almost charred quality. Wood influence is prominent for a two-year-old whiskey, a testament to the tight-grained Minnesota oak.Finish: The finish is medium in length with lingering wood spice, a faint char note, and residual warmth from the higher proof. A gentle sweetness rounds out the close, keeping it from drying out entirely.How to Drink Judson & Moore BourbonAt 94 proof, this bourbon has enough backbone for neat sipping but benefits from a few drops of water to open up the sweeter cherry and vanilla notes beneath the spice. It also stands up well in cocktails where its rye-forward character can shine. Try it in an Old Fashioned, where the smoked cedar notes complement a sugar cube and Angostura bitters. It works nicely in a Boulevardier, as the spicy rye backbone holds its own against Campari and sweet vermouth. A Whiskey Sour is another strong choice — the lemon brightness already present in the spirit harmonizes naturally with fresh citrus juice.Best For Supporting a craft-focused home bar built around independent distilleries Exploring regional American whiskey outside traditional Kentucky and Tennessee production Cocktail mixing where a spicier, rye-forward bourbon profile is preferred Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who values provenance and small-batch production Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does Judson & Moore Bourbon taste like? It leans spicier and less sweet than typical bourbons, with prominent smoked cedar, cherry pie, lemon, and wood notes driven by its 20% rye mashbill and Minnesota white oak aging.How does Judson & Moore Bourbon compare to other craft bourbons? Its higher-than-average rye content (20%) and use of cold-climate Minnesota white oak give it a spicier, more wood-forward profile than many craft bourbons aged for a similar period, which tend to emphasize corn sweetness.Is Judson & Moore Bourbon good for cocktails? Yes — the 94-proof strength and rye-heavy spice cut through mixers and modifiers easily, making it a reliable choice for stirred and shaken whiskey cocktails.Where is Judson & Moore Bourbon made? It is distilled, barreled, and bottled at the Judson & Moore Distillery in Chicago, Illinois, using Lake Michigan water and regional grains.What foods pair well with Judson & Moore Bourbon? Smoked brisket or pulled pork echoes the cedar smoke notes. Sharp cheddar cheese matches the spice. Cherry cobbler mirrors the fruit on the nose. Grilled corn plays well against the grain sweetness. Dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage complements the wood and char character.What sizes does Judson & Moore Bourbon come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle.Is Judson & Moore Bourbon worth the price? It positions as a craft-tier bourbon from a small urban distillery with hands-on production and specialty barrel sourcing, placing it in the premium craft segment where provenance and process are central to the value proposition.Why Judson & Moore Bourbon?What separates this bourbon from the pack is a deliberate set of choices that go beyond marketing — cold-climate Minnesota white oak barrels for tighter grain and more vanillin extraction, a 20% rye mashbill that tilts the flavor away from generic corn sweetness, and Lake Michigan water as the distillation base. The Gold medal at the Bartender Spirits Awards validates those choices in a blind evaluation context. For drinkers interested in how terroir and raw material sourcing shape American whiskey outside the traditional bourbon belt, Judson & Moore represents a genuinely different point of reference rooted in the urban Midwest.
