“WE GUARANTEE QUALITY, SO EVERY BATCH OF FIRE DEPARTMENT COFFEE IS FRESHLY ROASTED, AND WEARE DEDICATED TO HELPING OUR HEROES WITH EVERY CUP.”
Black Cherry Bourbon Infused Coffee
BOTTLE DETAILS- PRODUCED BY: Fire Dept Coffee, Rockford, IL
- YEAR: 2020
- HOW I DRANK IT: Black in a Ceramic Coffee Mug
- MSRP: $19.99 for 12 ounces
- BUY ONLINE: Fire Dept Coffee
NOSE: Cherry | Chocolate | Hint of Bourbon
TASTE: Chocolate Covered Cherries | Hint of Bourbon
FINISH: The finish is a little thin with hints of cherries, chocolate and bourbon.
SHARE WITH: Anyone who likes to try different coffees or likes flavored coffees with a cherry twist.
WORTH THE PRICE: $20 for a 12 ounce bag of coffee is a little on the high side but this is like craft bourbon, made in small batches and a limited release.
BAG, BARISTA OR BUST: I would want to try this at a coffee house if at all possible. However, this is one of the better bourbon infused coffees I have tried. If you are a fan of medium roast and flavored coffees you might want to give a bag a try.
OVERALL: Right up front, I am a big fan of dark roast and typically don’t drink a medium roast. In addition, I am not a huge fan of flavored coffees. At home I brew my coffee with a Techniworm, Mocca Master Drip coffee Maker and use whole beans ground in a Brim Grinder. That is how I tried this Fire Dept Coffee (FDC). While the company suggests using a French Press, I have not found them to work any better than my daily setup.
As I said I am not a big fan of flavored coffees, but this coffee was a little different. According to FDC the bourbon is infused into the green coffee beans and then roasted. They also stated that the flavor is also already in the bourbon, so we are talking about a black cherry flavored ‘bourbon” here. The company would not disclose what “bourbon” is used.
FDC stated that they use high-quality coffee beans from around the world. Also, they said that before they begin the roasting process, all beans go through a strict testing and evaluation process. This includes making sure the farms are environmentally and socially responsible. The coffee trader that is utilized to source the beans from is very reputable and ensures that the farmers are paid fairly.
The coffee in the bag and after grinding has a great nose with the bourbon and cherry definitely coming through. Also after brewing, the smell of the bourbon and cherry was in the air. In the cup however the nose was not very strong, and the mouth feel was somewhat thin. The bourbon and cherry notes were there but somewhat muted. However, in the past the flavored coffees I have tasted tend to be overwhelming in the flavoring and not something that I particularly like.
Since I am a dark roast fan, I purchased a bag of the Fire Department Coffee Dark Roast. This one had an incredible nose of cocoa and coffee bean with a rich mouthfeel. Great taste. I can’t say it quite tastes as good as my usual go to dark roasts but it is close. At $14.99 for a 14-ounce bag it is slightly more than the $10.50 I pay for 14 ounces of my usual dark roast but I believe I will keep a bag of this in the house.
Note that FDC sells a number of different coffees including different spirits-infused coffees including Bourbon, Irish, Canadian and Cinnamon Flavored whiskey, Rum and Tequila.
Fire Dept Coffee is a veteran owned business and run by firefighters. FDC created the Fire Department Coffee Foundation and ten percent of net proceeds go to organizations that support firefighters and other first responders who are injured on job.
Please see the video at this link if you are interested in the small batch roasting process.
Lee’s bourbon journey started with one mistaken gulp of bourbon and coke as an eight-year-old. While bourbon was always part of his life, Lee followed a beer, wine path for the most part until a bartender poured him a taste of Buffalo Trace about ten years ago. It was at that point Lee’s love of bourbon really took off. Not only does Lee enjoy a good pour of bourbon but he is more than willing and excited to talk about it. Lee believes that bourbon, and for that matter all spirits, is enhanced by the experience of good company, good conversation and good bars. The combination leads to great stories. Say hi to him when you see him. Lee lives in Leesburg, VA, with his wife, best friend, and drinking partner, Patti. You might find her having a bourbon as well. Both Lee and Patti like to read mystery thrillers and travel. Most likely the travel leads to visits to new bars. Read Lee's full profile.
Jim Knudsen has lived in every region of the United States, traveled the world, and always enjoyed spirits along the way. While he has sampled local spirits in 50 countries on 6 continents, he always comes home to bourbon. Jim is an accomplished global sales and marketing executive, with a degree in Physics from Michigan State University and an MBA from Baldwin-Wallace College. Growing up in Michigan, in a household rich with the experience of enjoying drink. He now lives in Georgia with his wife Karen, the love of his life, his personal editor, and style consultant. When not drinking bourbon he likes to golf, reading, and enjoys professional football and boxing. Actually, these are more often enjoyed while drinking bourbon. His four great kids, with families of their own, have blessed him with 6 grandchildren. While coming to bourbon late in life, he is working diligently to catch up.
Read Jim's full profile.
About the Author
Fire Department Coffee is providing different great-tasting coffee blends to people everywhere.