Review: Uncharted Bourbon
Founded in 2015, O.H. Ingram River Aged Whiskey began as a bold idea: what if bourbon could be aged not on land, but on the rolling current of America’s most iconic waterway? That idea became reality when Hank Ingram, drawing from his family’s long and storied history with river barges and the Mississippi River, pioneered the first permanent floating rickhouse on the banks of Columbus, Kentucky.
While the concept of aging whiskey on a barge seemed as foreign as it was ambitious, Ingram navigated the regulatory waters by applying for an experimental permit—arguing that a permanently moored vessel, though technically a barge, should be allowed to house aging barrels. With persistence and vision, he charted a new course. By 2020, O.H. Ingram launched its first release, and Columbus became home to one of the most unique aging environments in the world: a two-story floating rickhouse swaying with the currents of the Mississippi.
Early releases were met with enthusiasm and skepticism, but Hank Ingram’s ambitions ran deeper. He envisioned a brand that could move serious volume—100,000 cases annually. However, premium pricing and limited accessibility of the initial offerings made that goal elusive, particularly for on-premises accounts and everyday cocktail enthusiasts.
So once again, Ingram set out into uncharted territory.
In the late summer of 2025, O.H. Ingram unveiled Uncharted Kentucky Straight Bourbon—a new expression developed specifically for versatility behind the bar and in the home. Distilled by Green River Distilling Co. in Owensboro, Kentucky, Uncharted features a wheated mashbill of 71% corn, 20% wheat, and 9% 6-row malted barley. The bourbon was barreled at 120 proof in #4 char barrels from Independent Stave Company, then fully aged 4 to 6 years aboard Ingram’s floating rickhouse—where river humidity, barge movement, and temperature variation uniquely influence the aging process. It’s bottled at a cocktail-friendly 92 proof, in eco-conscious bottles made entirely from recycled glass.
Though some may draw parallels to Jefferson’s Ocean, Ingram’s method is more deeply rooted in bourbon’s historical currents. In the 19th century, barrels of young whiskey traveled south by flatboat from Kentucky to New Orleans. That river journey played a pivotal role in transforming American whiskey from a raw spirit to a refined, aged product. Ingram’s modern take isn’t about motion across oceans, but about anchoring bourbon in a place where the past and present of whiskey commerce meet—the Mississippi River.
Uncharted was created with mixing in mind. Hank Ingram recommends it for cocktails like the Paper Plane, where its wheated softness and mellow sweetness shine. Yet good cocktails begin with good whiskey. So the real question becomes: with all ingredients stripped away, how does Uncharted Kentucky Straight Bourbon hold up on its own?
Uncharted Bourbon Review
The nose opens with dried lemon peel, steering away from the brightness of fresh citrus. Soon after, there’s a presence of candied almonds and dried peach. Let it sit in the glass for a moment, and an unmistakable aroma comes forward—something close to frosted strawberry Pop-Tarts.
The palate begins with dried orange peel and soft leather. With each sip, a flavor profile develops that calls to mind peach cobbler, paired with a mouthfeel that’s medium-thick and steady. The finish leans toward the comfort of toast spread with apricot preserves, before white peppercorn and milk chocolate quietly close things out.
Uncharted Kentucky Straight Bourbon stands as a decent option for sipping neat, though it doesn’t do much to separate itself from other wheated bourbons in the same price range. If you’re seeking something that immediately draws you away from your usual pick for a straight pour, this likely won’t be it.
But Uncharted was built with a purpose—and at that, it performs well. Whether you’re stirring a cocktail in a home kitchen, working the bar, or shaking a drink up on a weathered deck along the Mississippi, it offers a reliable option with just enough character to carry its weight. For bourbon meant to support rather than steal the spotlight, Uncharted makes its case without drifting off course.
92 proof.
B / $35
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