🥃 Indiana Undercover – Pt. 1: MGP-Sourced Bourbon Showdown
Same DNA, Totally Different Bourbons?
In this episode of Tortured Bourbon, we kick off Part 1 of our two-part deep dive into the mysterious world of MGP-sourced bourbon—a behind-the-scenes look at three bottles that all come from the same distillery in Indiana, yet taste wildly different.
Yep, we’re talking about the now-legendary Midwest Grain Products (MGP) distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana—a quiet powerhouse whose barrels fuel some of the most talked-about bourbons on the market.
Whether you’re a seasoned bourbon lover or just getting started, this episode explores one of the most important (and misunderstood) forces in American whiskey: sourced bourbon.
🔍 What Is MGP?
MGP Ingredients (formerly known as Seagram’s) is a massive contract distillery in Indiana known for producing high-rye bourbon and 95% rye whiskey. Many “craft” or “celebrity” whiskey brands don’t actually distill their own spirit—they buy it from MGP and then bottle, brand, or finish it themselves.
So when you see “Distilled in Indiana” on the back of your bottle?
That’s MGP.
But here’s the big question:
If it all comes from the same place, does it all taste the same?
Let’s find out.
🧪 The Lineup – Three Bourbons, One Source
1. Clyde May’s Single Barrel
🏭 Distilled at MGP
💥 105 Proof
🧬 Mash Bill: 75% Corn / 21% Rye / 4% Malted Barley
💵 MSRP: ~$55
📝 Tasting Notes: Caramel, leather, citrus, soft rye spice
📣 Heather’s Take: “A solid pick with classic rye-forward notes. Good value.”
2. Brother’s Bond Cask Strength
🏭 Sourced from MGP
💥 Approx. 115 Proof
🧬 Mash Bill: Estimated 65% Corn / 22% Rye / 13% Barley
💵 MSRP: ~$85
📝 Tasting Notes: Sweet oak, caramel, leather, a little celebrity polish
🌟 Fun Fact: Founded by Ian Somerhalder & Paul Wesley (The Vampire Diaries)
📣 B’s Take: “More marketing than complexity, but decent pour at cask strength.”
3. Circle City Single Barrel Series
🏭 Distilled at MGP
💥 114.6 Proof (Barrel Proof)
🧬 Mash Bill: 75% Corn / 21% Rye / 4% Malted Barley
💵 MSRP: ~$70
📝 Tasting Notes: Brown sugar, oak char, warm spice
📣 Katie’s Take: “Bold and spicy—this one surprised all of us.”
🥃 The Big Takeaway
All three bourbons came from the same distillery, but they couldn’t be more different in the glass.
Why?
Because how you pick, bottle, and blend MGP juice matters. Whether it’s celebrity branding (Brother’s Bond), traditional single barrel (Clyde May’s), or small-batch craft selections (Circle City) — what happens after the barrel leaves Indiana is what defines the final flavor.
So yeah, “sourced” doesn’t mean boring. It means… it depends.
🧠 Bourbon Nerd Notes – Why This Matters
Transparency: MGP doesn’t hide what it is—but brands often do.
Blending vs Barrel Picks: Some expressions are masterfully finished; others are dumped and labeled.
Consumer Power: Knowing where your bourbon comes from lets you decide if the price matches the pour.
🥈 Rankings from the Show
From our tasting table (and lots of debate), here’s how we ranked the three bottles:
Circle City – Most complex, most surprising
Clyde May’s – Solid all-around performer
Brother’s Bond – Smooth, but overhyped and overpriced
Let us know your ranking in the comments over on the YouTube video!
🔜 What’s Coming in Part 2?
You didn’t think we’d stop at three, did you?
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we bring in three more MGP-sourced bourbons—different blends, different finishes, different personalities.
We’ll wrap it all up in a grand finale showdown across all six bottles.
Subscribe on YouTube and follow us on socials so you don’t miss it!
👥 Meet the Tortured Bourbon Team
Heather – Master of shade, Swiftie scholar, and our Gen Z-to-Millennial translator.
B – Bourbon nerd with a guitar problem. Thinks everything is a ’90s reference.
Katie – Resident Aussie and palate queen. Off-camera, on-point, and mercilessly accurate.
