Doc Swinson’s Blender’s Cut Bourbon Whiskey
Doc Swinson's Blender's Cut Bourbon Whiskey is bottled straight from the cask at 115 proof (57.5% ABV) in a 750mL bottle — no finishing casks, no dilution to speak of, just the whiskey the Alter Ego line starts from. It's a blend of two MGP straight bourbons aged a minimum of 5 years in new American white oak (mash bills 60% corn/36% rye/4% malted barley and 75% corn/21% rye/4% malted barley), blended and bottled in Ferndale, Washington. Head blender Jesse Parker developed it after late-night warehouse tastings kept revealing that the base bourbon — before any finishing — deserved a bottle of its own. Order online at Del Mesa Liquor for San Diego delivery or pickup.
- Proof / ABV: 115 proof / 57.5% ABV (cask strength)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: minimum 5 years in new American white oak
- Origin: distilled in Indiana (MGP); blended and bottled in Ferndale, Washington
- Production: unfinished blend — the same base whiskey that becomes Alter Ego Triple Cask before finishing
The Whiskey Before the Finish
Most finished whiskeys never show you their starting point. Blender's Cut does: this is the exact Doc Swinson's bourbon blend that gets sent into Oloroso, Pedro Ximenez, and Cognac casks to become Alter Ego Triple Cask — released here unadorned at barrel proof because Parker felt it needed so little water he might as well add none. It earned "High Rye Whiskey of the Year" at Tales of the Cocktail in 2022, and for students of the Alter Ego line it's the control sample: taste it next to the Triple Cask and you can read exactly what the finishing casks contribute.
Tasting Notes
Stone fruits, vanilla, pecans, oak, and fresh cream on the nose lead to a palate of apricots, brown sugar, peanuts, and toasted almond over charred oak, with dark chocolate-covered cherries in the late middle. The official summary is honest: a rich, full-bodied bourbon that clings to the tongue.
How to Enjoy
Neat first, then a splash of water to tease out the apricot and vanilla — 115 proof has plenty to give. It makes a powerhouse Old Fashioned with an orange twist. Explore the finished versions in our bourbon whiskey collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Blender's Cut?
The unfinished base blend — the same MGP bourbon whiskey that Doc Swinson's sends into sherry and Cognac casks for the Alter Ego Triple Cask — bottled at 115 proof without finishing.
How old is Doc Swinson's Blender's Cut?
A minimum of 5 years in new American white oak.
Has it won awards?
Yes — "High Rye Whiskey of the Year," Tales of the Cocktail, 2022.
Want the uncut starting point of the Alter Ego line? Order Blender's Cut online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA, today.