Ballotin Chocolate Mint Whiskey 750ML

Ballotin Chocolate Mint Whiskey 750ML is a 30% ABV flavored whiskey from Louisville, Kentucky, combining bourbon-mash whiskey with dark chocolate and cool mint. This expression earned a Platinum medal at the 2017 SIP Awards and scored 89 points from Tastings.com in 2018, establishing it as one of the more critically recognized dessert-style whiskeys on the market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 30% (60 proof)  |  Origin: Louisville, Kentucky, USA  |  Flavored Whiskey  |  Producer: Saloon Spirits

Production & Heritage

Ballotin is produced and bottled by Saloon Spirits in Louisville, Kentucky—the heart of American bourbon country. The base whiskey uses a traditional bourbon mash of 51% or more corn, with wheat and barley filling out the grain bill, and is aged in second-fill barrels to develop a softer, less tannic oak character. The aged whiskey is then blended and flavored with craft chocolate at Flavorman, a Kentucky-based beverage development company, giving the final product its distinctive confectionery profile without relying on artificial shortcuts.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Spearmint leads immediately, followed by layers of caramel and iced tea sweetened with honey. Deeper in the glass, cardamom and clove add a warm spice complexity that keeps the nose from reading purely sweet.

Taste: Mint arrives first on the palate, bright and cooling, before rich dark chocolate notes roll in at mid-palate. The underlying whiskey provides a subtle grain sweetness and just enough spice to remind you there is real spirit beneath the confectionery flavors. The medium body feels velvety with a crisp, slightly fruity edge.

Finish: Medium in length, closing with peppermint crème, dark chocolate coating, and a flicker of spiced orange. The mint lingers cleanly without turning medicinal, and the chocolate fades gradually into gentle warmth.

How to Drink Chocolate Mint Whiskey

Chilled or over a single large ice cube is the most straightforward serve—cold temperatures sharpen the mint and smooth out the chocolate. It also works well as a dessert cocktail ingredient:

• Grasshopper riff: Substitute this for crème de menthe alongside cream for a whiskey-forward twist on the classic.
• Espresso Martini: Replace the coffee liqueur component with Ballotin Chocolate Mint for a minty, chocolatey variation that pairs naturally with espresso's bitterness.
• Mint Chocolate Old Fashioned: Build with a barspoon of simple syrup, chocolate bitters, and a generous pour—the whiskey backbone supports the format while the mint provides built-in freshness.

Best For

• Serving as a dessert course replacement at dinner parties
• Gifting to someone who enjoys after-dinner drinks and chocolate confections
• Building creative dessert cocktails at home
• Introducing non-whiskey drinkers to the category through a familiar flavor profile

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ballotin Chocolate Mint taste like? The dominant impression is cool spearmint layered over rich dark chocolate, often compared directly to an Andes mint candy. Underneath, the bourbon-mash base provides caramel sweetness and a gentle whiskey warmth that keeps it grounded as a spirit rather than a liqueur.

How does Ballotin Chocolate Mint compare to Ballotin Original Chocolate Whiskey? The Original Chocolate expression focuses purely on cocoa and whiskey interplay without the mint component, making it warmer and more straightforwardly bourbon-like. The Chocolate Mint version adds a cooling dimension and a brighter aromatic profile that pushes it further into dessert-cocktail territory.

Is Ballotin Chocolate Mint good for sipping neat? At 30% ABV, it drinks smoothly on its own, especially when served chilled, and the balanced sweetness makes it approachable for people who typically find straight whiskey too intense.

Where is Ballotin Chocolate Mint made? It is produced and bottled by Saloon Spirits in Louisville, Kentucky, with the chocolate flavoring developed and blended at Flavorman, also located in Kentucky.

What foods pair well with Ballotin Chocolate Mint? Dark chocolate truffles amplify the cocoa notes without competing. Vanilla bean ice cream creates a classic mint-chocolate-chip effect. Fresh strawberries provide acidity to cut the sweetness. Shortbread cookies offer buttery contrast. Blue cheese works surprisingly well, as the salt and funk balance the mint and chocolate.

What sizes does Ballotin Chocolate Mint come in? The standard bottle size is 750ml, which is the most widely distributed format for this expression.

Is Ballotin Chocolate Mint worth the price? It positions as an accessible, entry-level flavored whiskey, and its Platinum medal from the SIP Awards and 89-point score from Tastings.com suggest quality that punches above its price tier in the dessert-whiskey segment.

Why Ballotin Chocolate Mint?

What separates this bottle from the growing crowd of flavored whiskeys is the use of craft chocolate blended with a legitimate bourbon-mash whiskey aged in second-fill barrels—not a neutral spirit with artificial flavoring. The Platinum medal at the 2017 SIP Awards and an 89-point rating from Tastings.com back up the quality with independent validation. At 60 proof, it strikes a deliberate balance: enough alcohol to function in cocktails and carry whiskey character, but approachable enough to sip on its own after dinner. For anyone looking for a mint-chocolate spirit with real grain depth behind it, this Louisville-made expression delivers on both the dessert promise and the whiskey credentials.