Overview: Cyrus Noble bourbon offers a wallet-friendly entry point without compromising quality for the discerning drinker. Distilled in Kentucky, the spirit carries historical roots from San Francisco’s Gold Rush era.
The Full Story
Mashed experts identified 11 affordable whiskey brands, with Cyrus Noble standing out as an iconic mention within the list. H. Joseph Ehrmann of Elixir Whiskey Saloon recommends it for potent libations and spirit-forward drinks like the Old Fashioned. The brand returned to market in 2011 after a hiatus.
The price tag doesn’t necessarily reflect its quality versus other solid bottles. A 750-milliliter number typically costs $35 to $40, depending on store and location. Those well-versed in whiskey often don’t mind paying a premium for a stellar product, but Cyrus Noble presents an alternative that maintains value.
Production & Profile
The bottle features a 78% corn mashbill, exceeding the minimum requirement by U.S. law. According to the brand, it boasts aromas of brown butter, warm almonds, raisins, toasted cinnamon, and apple cider vinegar. In terms of taste, it leads with notes of dried apple and cinnamon roll, followed by a bready, nutty palate with maple undertones.
Experts note it has some herbaceous nuance without being too sweet, along with a warming, nutty, almost spiced flavor. Choosing bourbon over rye for drinks like Old Fashioneds and Manhattans makes for a mellower, more rounded sipping experience.
Brand & Industry History
Kalman, Charles, and Samuel Haas were German immigrants who opened a wholesale grocery in Gold Rush-era SF in 1851. 20 years later, after they’d become essential to the boomtown, Ernest Reuben Lilienthal created Cyrus Noble. It quickly became a bar and saloon favorite, and the Lilienthal family eventually sold the whiskey brand to the Haas brothers, to whom they were connected by marriage.
What This Means
Of the bourbon suggestions, Evan Williams, Maker’s Mark, Four Roses, Old Forester, Wild Turkey, and James E. Pepper made the cut. Prices vary, but Evan Williams is generally the cheapest option at about $17 a bottle. James E. Pepper’s is on par with Cyrus Noble at $36, while the rest range from $28 to $32.
Consumer Takeaway
Cyrus Noble can work in any of these cocktails, like the Boulevardier, fancy free, mint julep, or Man O’ War. If you prefer tart whiskey drinks, go the route of a whiskey sour or brown derby. Ehrmann stressed that it can be served solo as well.
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