🥃 Crittenden Cut Above – The Mississippi Bourbon That Went Legit

Nov 7

Crittenden Cut Above – The Mississippi Bourbon That Went Legit

Welcome back to Tortured Bourbon, where Heather and B sip, argue, and philosophize their way through the most interesting (and occasionally most obscure) bottles in the bourbon world.

This week, we’re heading south — way south — to Kiln, Mississippi, a place known for moonshine, hard work, and family tradition. The bottle on our table today doesn’t come from a billion-dollar Kentucky operation or a fancy glass palace in Tennessee. Nope. It’s straight from Crittenden Distillery, a small-batch, family-run operation that proves craft bourbon can thrive anywhere passion and patience collide.

⚒️ The Story of Crittenden Distillery

Founded in 2015 by father-and-son duo James and Matt Crittenden, this Mississippi bourbon brand carries a legacy that stretches far beyond its legal paperwork.

The Crittenden family name is tied to Kiln’s long and colorful history of backwoods stills and moonshine runs. But instead of staying underground, they decided to go legit — turning family knowledge into formal craftsmanship.

Their goal was simple: build something real, sustainable, and rooted in Southern flavor. The result? Small runs of high-proof, corn-forward bourbon that highlight local grain, extended barrel aging, and true Southern character.

Enter the Delta Brown Water Boys

Every bourbon legend needs a supporting cast, and for Crittenden that comes in the form of the Delta Brown Water Boys — a crew of four Mississippi friends whose shared love of bourbon, brotherhood, and Bloody Marys turned into a unique partnership.

They first made waves with a homemade Bloody Mary mix perfected after a boys’ trip gone right. That experiment eventually led to a collaboration with Crittenden, where they hand-selected a few choice barrels for custom releases.

All three of today’s bottles — Baby Doll, Double Oak, and Harvest Batch — are Delta Brown Water Boys barrel picks, each with its own personality, proof, and story.

🥃 The Lineup

1️⃣ Crittenden Cut Above “Baby Doll” – Cognac Finish

Age: 4 years
Proof: 110.82
Mash Bill: 72% corn, 17% rye, 11% malted barley
Finish: Cognac cask

Baby Doll opens soft and elegant. The Cognac finish adds a hint of fruit and floral sweetness over a warm bourbon backbone. Expect caramel, light oak, spice, and subtle fruit that make this small-town pour drink like it’s traveled the world.

2️⃣ Crittenden Cut Above Single Barrel Double Oak

Age: 5 years
Proof: 121.5
Mash Bill: same as Baby Doll

The Double Oak doubles down on everything we love — more char, more caramel, more depth. Toasted oak layers draw out notes of brown sugar, roasted vanilla, and smoky sweetness.

This one drinks bold, confident, and unapologetically Southern — a perfect reflection of Mississippi bourbon craftsmanship.

3️⃣ Crittenden Cut Above “Harvest Batch”

Age: 6 years
Proof: 115.8
Mash Bill: same as above

The Harvest Batch is autumn in a bottle.

Nose: cinnamon spice, toasted oak, and fall fruit.

Palate: tart apple, caramel, and warm baking spice.

Finish: long, earthy, sweet, with a lingering dried-fruit note.

It’s the kind of bourbon that makes you reach for a flannel and a campfire.

💬 Katie’s Corner

Katie dives into the nosing and tasting with her usual precision — part detective, part philosopher, part chaos. With little official information online, she and B call it as they taste it, from spice bombs to sugar rushes.

It’s pure Tortured Bourbon energy: unscripted, authentic, and just the right amount of ridiculous.🐓 Final Pour & Rankings

We wrap each pour with our official Tortured Bourbon Rating System:

🥇 Cock of the Walk – elite, rare pour

🥈 Hush Your Mouth – rich, refined, dangerously sippable

🥉 That Dog Will Hunt – reliable daily drinker

💬 Bless Your Heart – fine mixer, better in cocktails

🚫 Piddlin’ – forgettable

No spoilers here — you’ll have to watch the episode to find out which pour strutted away with the top spot.

🔥 Final Thoughts

Crittenden Distillery might not have Kentucky’s marketing budget, but they’ve got something better — soul.

Each bottle in the Cut Above series proves that Mississippi can produce real, complex, and downright delicious bourbon. From the family legacy to the barrel picks, it’s proof that craft doesn’t need credentials; it needs character.

This is small-batch bourbon done right: bold, balanced, and built on roots.

Until next time, y’all… cheers! 🥃