A thoughtfully constructed blend where rye backbone meets wheated softness delivering spice, structure, and a quietly evolving sip.
About Forward Slash
“Only time can tell you which way a blend is going to go.”
– Michael Buffa
Founded in April 2023, Forward Slash is a boutique blending house out of Winter Park, Florida, led by Tim Bradstreet and Michael Buffa — two industry veterans who approached whiskey from different angles but landed on the same idea: blending as a craft, not a shortcut.
Buffa’s background in bitters and years running the Orlando Whiskey Society gave him a deep foundation in flavor building, while Bradstreet’s experience as a beverage director, most notably at one of the largest Marriott properties in the world, sharpened his understanding of how whiskey actually drinks in the real world. Together, they set out to bring a more intentional, almost Scottish-style blending philosophy into American whiskey.
That influence is direct. Through a personal connection with renowned blender John Glaser, they adopted a key principle that defines their process: start with the finish and work backward.
From there, the process becomes obsessive in the best way. Dozens of variations, sometimes 60 to 80, are built, rested in small vessels for weeks, and revisited over time. Slow proofing is used to preserve viscosity and mouthfeel. Every decision is made through blind tastings, brackets, and real-world testing — neat, on ice, even in cocktails.
The goal isn’t just balance. It’s transformation.
“If the finish is good, they’ll come back for another sip.”
The Blending Approach
Forward Slash doesn’t source in bulk — they hunt. Partnerships are built directly with distilleries across the country, often through personal relationships formed while traveling. Each component is selected with intention, then treated like part of a “spice rack”, fully developed before ever entering a blend.
Importantly, they don’t chase volume.
“Quantity is the enemy of quality.”
That mindset shows up in releases like Quintessium, where five distilleries and multiple barrel types are carefully layered to create something cohesive. Sometimes, the difference comes down to the smallest addition like a fractional inclusion of MB Roland that, by their own account, completely corrected the balance of the blend.
Age, too, is treated as secondary.
The Blend Breakdown
- 50.26% Green River – KY / 2019 / Independent Stave Company #4
- 26.34% Ragged Branch – VA / 2017 / Kelvin Cooperage – Double Barrel Char #3/#4
- 10.77% Finger Lakes Distilling (McKenzie) – NY / 2020 / Kelvin Cooperage
- 9.79% J. Henry & Sons – WI / 2017 / Independent Stave Company #3
- 2.84% MB Roland – KY / 2017 / Kelvin Cooperage #4
“Better than the sum of its parts.”
Stats
- Age: 6-8 year
- Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
- Mashbill: Blend of high rye and wheated bourbons
- Origin: Kentucky, Virginia, New York & Wisconsin
- Finish: Straight, blended
- Aging: Variety of ISC & Kelvin Cooperage (Char #3 and 4)
- Release: Limited 2025 release (1198 bottles)
- MSRP: $69.99 (Forward/Slash)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Caramel apple leads, followed by puffy candied mint and a cream cheese frosting sweetness. Nutmeg adds warmth, while a maple syrup–leaning oak presence shows more tannin than expected at this proof.
- Palate: Moderately dense with a rich entry. Caramel quickly gives way to charred oak, dark chocolate, and tingling baking spice that takes the lead earlier than expected. There’s a familiar MGP-like oak profile with touches of bran flakes underneath. At times, the oak slightly overtakes the balance.
- Finish: A burst of baking spice carries through a short-to-medium finish. There’s a subtle pot still funk that adds intrigue. Heat occasionally hints at youth but stays in check. Lingering notes of cinnamon apple, raspberry-filled milk chocolate, and a dry, tannic edge round things
Quintessium builds on Forward Slash’s blending philosophy — bringing together high-rye and wheated bourbons into a single, cohesive profile. The concept nods to the quinta essentia, the “fifth essence,” where the final component transforms a blend from a collection of parts into something unified. In this case, those “parts” are the previous two bourbon blend releases Vanguard and Rhapsody, which focused on wheated and high rye bourbons respectively.
Sourced from a mix of respected craft distillers, the blend pulls structure from high-rye Kentucky and New York stocks while layering in softer, fruit-driven wheated bourbons from Wisconsin and Virginia. The result is a whiskey designed around balance, but one that doesn’t shy away from character.
A really enjoyable blend of quality craft distillates that drinks above its 100 proof. The interplay between high-rye spice and wheated softness creates a profile that shifts sip to sip. The Ragged Branch component — often quite tannic on its own — is notably tempered here, contributing structure without overwhelming the blend.
There’s a sneaky complexity to Quintessium that rewards attention. It’s not trying to be flashy. It unfolds gradually, which feels very much in line with its intent.
If this one had just a touch more restraint on the oak mid-palate, it would push even higher but as it stands, it’s a compelling reminder of what thoughtful blending can do when it prioritizes balance without losing personality.
Distinctiveness
The fusion of high-rye and wheated bourbons isn’t new, but the execution here stands out.
It’s the balance of contrast —spice vs. softness, tannin vs. sweetness — that gives this whiskey its identity. Add in the evolving profile from sip to sip, and it separates itself from more static blends.
Presentation
A tall, modern bottle with a clean, almost art-forward label. It leans minimalist but still feels intentional — more gallery than shelf candy.
There’s a quiet confidence here, a sense that the focus is squarely on the liquid inside rather than dressing it up. It works.
Transparency (as a Philoposphy)
If there’s one area where Forward Slash separates itself immediately, it’s transparency.
This is possibly the most transparent NDP (non-distiller producer) I’ve come across. Not only do they disclose every distillery involved, but they go further — listing barrel types, char levels, vintages, and even the exact percentage each component contributes to the blend down to the decimal point.
While mashbills aren’t printed outright, the brand clearly communicates the style of each component (high-rye, wheated, etc.), and because the distilleries are fully disclosed, the specifics are easily traceable. In a category where sourcing is often vague at best, that level of openness is almost unheard of.
Each bottle even includes a QR code that expands on this transparency, breaking down exactly what’s in your glass.
“There’s plenty of room for good whiskey.”
A Different Kind of NDP
Forward Slash isn’t trying to obscure sourcing — they’re actively highlighting it. In many ways, their model doubles as a platform for the distilleries they work with, introducing drinkers to producers they may not have otherwise explored.
That extends beyond bourbon. Their blending work spans rum, peated whiskey, and agave spirits, with plans for a steady stream of new releases, many of them small, experimental, and distillery-only.
At its core, the mission is simple: make people fans of whiskey.
And they’re doing it by showing their work.
Value
At $69.99, this sits in a competitive space, splitting the difference at the expected pricing of a 7-year whiskey — but the blending quality and multi-distillery composition help justify the price further
It’s not a bargain buy, but it feels fair, if not more than fair, for what’s in the glass, taking into consideration the thoughtful craft sourcing and adept blending (down to the decimal point), especially if you value nuance over brute force.
“Age doesn’t matter — it doesn’t dictate flavor or quality.”
Buy this if you:
- You enjoy spice-forward bourbons with a structured oak presence
- You appreciate blends that evolve as you sip
- You’re curious about high-rye + wheated bourbon interplay
- You like whiskeys that drink slightly above their proof
Skip if you:
- You’re sensitive to tannic oak or early oak dominance
- You prefer softer, sweeter, dessert-style bourbons
- You want a long, lingering finish over a punchy one
- You’re looking for something immediately expressive rather than gradually revealing
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 4.75 / 7
- Palate: 4.25 / 7
- Finish: 5 / 7
- Presentation: 4.5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 6 / 7
- Transparency: 7 / 7
- Value: 5.5 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.29 / 7 – Divine
Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style.
| Score | Descriptor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Hell No | Drain pour. Seriously undrinkable. |
| 1.1–2 | Purgatory | Bad, but could be worse. Only in extreme cases. |
| 2.1–3 | Only Earthly | Just okay. Best used as a mixer. |
| 3.1–4 | Bliss | Passable sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. High value for the price. |
| 5.1–6 | Divine | Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style. |
| 6.1–7 | Holy Heaven | Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn. |
Disclosure: This bottle was provided to me free of charge for review. All opinions are my own.
Looking for more whiskey reviews? Browse my latest reviews here.
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