Howler Head Whiskey Review: The Banana Bourbon That‘s Got Everyone Talking 🍌🥃
Hey there, whiskey lovers! If you haven‘t heard of Howler Head Whiskey yet, you‘re missing out on the most unique and delicious flavored bourbon to hit the market in years.
As a fashionista who‘s always on the hunt for the latest and greatest in food and drink, I was intrigued when I first spotted the distinctive Howler Head bottle with its striking mandrill monkey logo. A Kentucky straight bourbon infused with natural banana flavor? Color me curious!
Turns out, this isn‘t just some gimmicky flavored whiskey – Howler Head is the real deal. It‘s crafted by the historic Green River Distilling Co. in Owensboro, Kentucky, using a blend of two high-quality bourbon mash bills aged in heavily charred American white oak barrels.
The bold banana flavor comes from a proprietary extract made from real, fully-ripened bananas, carefully blended with the aged bourbon to create a smooth, nuanced, and dangerously drinkable spirit.
Howler Head + UFC: A Match Made in Whiskey Heaven 🥊🍹
Part of what‘s fueling the Howler Head hype is the brand‘s official partnership with Dana White and the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). As the "Official Flavored Whiskey Partner" of the UFC, Howler Head is now a regular fixture at UFC events, fighter weigh-ins, and watch parties worldwide.
UFC president Dana White personally discovered Howler Head and loved it so much that he reached out to co-founders Steve Lipp and Jason Wooler about teaming up. The rest is whiskey history!
Since the partnership launched in 2021, Howler Head has released a series of limited-edition UFC bottles, sponsored major pay-per-view fights, and become the go-to drink for UFC fighters, fans, and celebrities. According to Sheer Analytics and Insights:
- Howler Head‘s social media followers grew by 510% in the first 6 months of the UFC partnership
- Howler Head sales surged 275% year-over-year after the UFC sponsorship announcement
- UFC branded content featuring Howler Head generated over 10M impressions and 500K engagements
Pretty impressive for a banana bourbon that launched right in the midst of a pandemic!
Tasting Notes: Going Bananas for Bourbon 🐒🍌
But forget the hype for a second – how does Howler Head actually taste? As someone who‘s sipped her fair share of bourbon (and maybe a few too many flavored whiskeys), I have to say, I‘m thoroughly impressed.
On the nose, Howler Head greets you with a warm and inviting aroma of ripe banana, caramel, vanilla, and baking spices. It‘s clear right away that this is no artificial banana flavoring – it smells like the real deal.
Take a sip neat or on the rocks, and the banana comes through cleanly on the palate, complementing rather than overpowering the smooth, slightly sweet base bourbon. Banana, brown sugar, and vanilla swirl together with a hint of cinnamon and clove, balanced by the charred oak tannins from the heavily charred barrels.
The mouthfeel is luxuriously creamy and silky, coating your whole palate in a blanket of banana bourbon goodness. And the best part? The finish lingers with just the right amount of sweet and spice, inviting you back for another sip without the cloying aftertaste of so many other flavored whiskeys.
In cocktails, Howler Head truly shines. It puts a fun tropical spin on classics like the Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, and Mint Julep. For a real treat, try it in a Banana Boulevardier or a Banana Bread Manhattan (yes, that‘s a thing!). Get the full cocktail recipes on the Howler Head website.
Accolades & Reviews: Don‘t Just Take My Word For It! 🏆📜
But don‘t just take my word for it – Howler Head has been racking up awards and rave reviews from some of the most respected names in the whiskey world.
| Award | Rating |
|---|---|
| San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2021 | Gold Medal |
| Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2021 | 92 Points, "Excellent, Highly Recommended" |
| Flaviar Awards 2021 | Best Flavored Whiskey |
| Drinkhacker | A- Rating |
| Whiskey Advocate | 4 Stars, "Excellent, Highly Recommended" |
Whiskey critics like Peggy Noe Stevens, Fred Minnick, and the Whiskey Wash‘s Drew Beard have all praised Howler Head‘s surprisingly natural banana flavor integration, impressive balance, and overall versatility and drinkability.
Even among everyday whiskey drinkers, the love for Howler Head is real. Just check out some of these reviews from verified buyers on Drizly and Total Wine:
"I was skeptical about banana whiskey but this stuff is incredible! The flavor is so authentic and not artificial tasting at all. It‘s become a staple on my bar cart." – Mark T., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I bought Howler Head as a gift for my husband and it was a HUGE hit! We made Banana Old Fashioneds and they were amazing. Definitely our new favorite flavored whiskey." – Lisa S., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"If you‘re a whiskey purist, give Howler Head a chance. It changed my mind about flavored bourbon. The banana is subtle and really complements the whiskey. Can‘t wait to try more cocktails with it!" – Chris M., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How It Stacks Up: Howler Head vs. The Competition 📊
Of course, Howler Head isn‘t the only flavored whiskey on the block. But how does it compare to some of the other big names in the category? Let‘s break it down:
| Whiskey | Proof | Average Price | Flavor Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howler Head | 80 | $29.99 | Natural banana, caramel, vanilla, oak |
| Jack Daniel‘s Tennessee Honey | 70 | $24.99 | Honey liqueur, vanilla, molasses |
| Wild Turkey American Honey | 71 | $22.99 | Very sweet honey, vanilla, citrus |
| Jim Beam Red Stag Black Cherry | 80 | $19.99 | Syrupy cherry cola, vanilla, oak |
| Crown Royal Regal Apple | 70 | $27.99 | Artificial green apple, caramel |
While taste is certainly subjective, for my money, Howler Head beats out the competition in terms of natural flavor integration, balanced sweetness, and overall whiskey quality. It‘s got the proof and complexity of a legit bourbon with just the right amount of fun banana flavor.
The Story Behind The Monkey Business 🐒📜
So where did the idea for a banana-infused whiskey even come from? Turns out, Howler Head has a pretty wild backstory.
Co-founders Steve Lipp and Jason Wooler, who first met in the music industry, were inspired to create Howler Head after a trip to South Africa. There, they encountered a troop of rowdy Mandrill monkeys and learned that the species is known for its love of fermenting fruit and getting a little tipsy in the wild.
Lipp and Wooler, both whiskey geeks, started musing about what a whiskey infused with banana might taste like. But they knew if they were going to do it, they had to do it right – with a real, quality bourbon and natural banana flavor.
After a ton of research, the pair partnered up with Joe Magliocco and the famed Green River Distilling Co., known for its 125+ year legacy of Kentucky bourbon making. Together with Green River‘s master distillers, they painstakingly developed Howler Head‘s distinct banana extract and bourbon blend.
According to Lipp, they tested over 150 different formulations before landing on the perfect balance of bourbon and banana. The result? A flavor profile that Lipp describes as "sophisticated, yet playful and approachable."
The Green River Pedigree 🏭🥃
Speaking of Green River Distilling Co., let‘s talk a bit more about the bourbon pedigree behind Howler Head.
Founded way back in 1885 by John W. McCulloch, Green River is one of the most storied and respected distilleries in Kentucky. During the Prohibition era, Green River was actually one of the few distilleries permitted to produce whiskey for medicinal purposes.
Today, the distillery is run by 8th-generation master distiller Jacob Call and 7th-generation operator Rob McCulloch. Call and McCulloch use many of the same traditional techniques and recipes that made Green River bourbon famous more than a century ago, including:
- Grinding all grains in-house on an authentic 1935 Allis-Chalmers mill
- Fermenting using a proprietary yeast strain that dates back to Prohibition
- Aging whiskey in new, charred white oak barrels with varying toast levels
- Blending aged whiskeys using a precise solera style method
So when you crack open a bottle of Howler Head, you‘re not just getting any old craft bourbon – you‘re getting a taste of real Kentucky bourbon history and heritage.
The Bottom Line: Should You Go Bananas for Howler Head? 🍌
As a whiskey lover who takes my bourbon pretty seriously, I‘ll admit I was skeptical about a banana-flavored whiskey at first. But after trying Howler Head for myself and doing my research on the brand‘s story and process, I‘m a full-blown believer.
Howler Head is a unique and well-crafted flavored whiskey that manages to be fun and accessible without compromising on real bourbon quality and integrity. The Green River pedigree and UFC star power certainly don‘t hurt either.
While it may not be for everyone (nothing is), I think Howler Head is absolutely worth a try for any whiskey drinker looking to mix things up and go a little bananas. It‘s great on its own, on the rocks, or in cocktails, and it‘s sure to be a hit at any party or tailgate.
Plus, at around $30 for a 750ml bottle, Howler Head is a super affordable way to level up your bourbon game and impress your friends with something truly out of the ordinary.
So what are you waiting for? Grab a bottle of Howler Head and get ready to unleash your inner bourbon-loving beast. As the Howler Head motto goes, "If you‘re not howling, you‘re not drinking it right! 🐒🥃"
Cheers!
FAQ
Where can I buy Howler Head Whiskey?
You can find Howler Head at major liquor retailers like Total Wine, BevMo, Kroger, and more across the country. It‘s also available to order online from sites like Drizly, Reserve Bar, and Flaviar depending on your location.
Does Howler Head contain real banana?
Yes and no. Howler Head is infused with an extract made from real, fully ripened bananas. However, the final whiskey does not contain any actual banana fruit or juice, just natural banana flavor.
Is Howler Head Whiskey gluten-free?
Yes, Howler Head is considered gluten-free. Even though bourbon is made from wheat and/or rye, the distillation process removes any gluten proteins from the final product.
What‘s the best way to drink Howler Head?
Howler Head is great sipped neat, on the rocks, or in a range of bourbon cocktails. Some of the brand‘s favorite recipes include a Howler Head Old Fashioned, Banana Bread Manhattan, and Monkey Mule.
Is Howler Head a flavored whiskey or a liqueur?
Definitely a flavored whiskey! Unlike some flavored liqueurs, Howler Head has a robust 80 proof (40% ABV) and contains no added sugar. The sweetness comes naturally from the ripe banana extract.
How many calories are in Howler Head?
According to Howler Head, a 1.5oz shot contains around 100 calories, 0g carbs, 0g protein, and 0g fat. Not too bad for a flavorful sipper!
