Detrick Single Barrel Full Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey

In cask date: 11MAR2017 Bottling date: 17SEP2025 Personal note - move to the next paragraph for the actual tasting. And with this, I've reached the finish line, at least here on this platform and in this pursuit. My journey with spirits began in 2017. During my first year in the military in 2016, I discovered heavy drinking for the first time. I'd consume anything and everything available, mostly sweet ciders and flavored whiskies like most newcomers. By 2017, I had gained mental clarity, stopped excessive drinking, and thankfully began exploring flavors without alcohol dependency. My spouse and I embraced collecting together, starting with a trip to Kentucky distilleries over a long weekend. It took another year to complete the entire Bourbon Trail, and we've likely traversed it at least six times since, despite the annual addition of uninteresting distilleries and required passport updates. Initially, my collection was small, just basic bottles stored in a wooden crate. This grew to multiple crates, then shelves, and now a custom-lit area with hundreds of bottles and related items. It was enjoyable at first, expanding choices, comparing subtle differences, identifying preferred flavors and their production methods, then focusing on single barrels and barrel selections, all while increasing my tolerance for higher proofs to achieve the desired body. Along the way, I discovered new brands, observed major players experimenting with limited releases and price hikes, and witnessed the start of the "bourbon boom" in 2020. I was horrified watching small distilleries emerge demanding over $100 for 1-2 year old whiskey, a practice still common today. I recall easily finding Buffalo Trace and similar products on shelves everywhere before 2020, not locked behind registers. Despite my reservations about that distillery, Blanton's was $55 and widely available. However, with a brilliant marketing team, they created artificial scarcity during the pandemic's peak, enabling exorbitant pricing and controlling supply since customers were already devoted. It's obvious they are the most predatory distillery, yet they receive blind support, with people lining up for a chance to overpay significantly for a single bottle. While my viewpoint may not matter, I'm proud to have kept my collection Buffalo Trace-free for years and will continue doing so as long as they prioritize profit over customers. Other distilleries soon followed Buffalo Trace's lead, and allocation is now a national norm. This incessant "hunt" feels repulsive and overly capitalistic for any hobbyist enjoyment. With this final, 400th review, I'll begin reducing my collection to only classic favorites from distilleries that continue to value and make their products accessible. To my fellow community members, I regret not engaging more. I chose to remain quiet, primarily for your benefit, as I already dislike my own purist and pretentious tendencies when discussing spirits, and couldn't bear interacting with others like myself. As enjoyment waned, I shifted to educating friends and family. I grew envious of those who could simply savor their favorites without such extremism. So, if you can't beat them, join them, right? Thank you to everyone who shared this journey, crossed paths, listened to my ramblings, and especially to those who support local and regional distilleries, enabling today's selection growth. I'll keep drinking if you will, and I can't think of anything more to be grateful for. Naturally, I had to add this to the database, as it's listed but with specific proof/ABV in the title; one of the many reasons this will be my last entry is the evident lack of professionalism from spirit catalogers and the equal lack of oversight by the site's staff. This year, I spent much of it deciding on my final reviewed spirit. At one point, I considered planning another distillery excursion and investing thousands in a private program, even contemplating purchasing my own barrel selection to gift to family and friends. The distillery's communication wasn't sufficient to justify the expense, so I continued contemplating. I'd visit the Van Buren Room, a lounge I frequent, and ponder my choices. Then it occurred to me: what could be a better final spirit than one from my hometown, from the sole distillery there? I took their tour, sampled both the bourbon and rye, and surprisingly preferred the bourbon, despite my usual inclination towards rye. As mentioned, I've known about this distillery and its products for years (they craft my second favorite gin), but I always assumed their whiskies were either sourced, young, unremarkable, or a combination. The $100 price point didn't help. All that changed during the tour when I spoke with a master distiller about the crew's passion, which clearly reflects in their offerings, including the whiskey. Not sourced, typically 8 or 9 years aged, always single barrel, and always bottled at full proof or cask strength. It's also a four-grain bourbon, and while the oats add a pleasant smoothness, combining wheat and rye in bourbon is redundant as they often neutralize each other's distinct flavors, and barley is a given, as virtually all bourbons use it. Nevertheless, this met my key criteria, and I felt honored to support such a local venture, especially from individuals genuinely invested in the industry beyond just profits. Although the color is quite deep, approaching chocolate tones, it possesses a honey-like quality, possibly due to the lighter-than-expected meniscus. The aroma is robust, with balanced notes of cinnamon, citrus, red and blue fruits, sweetness from the toasted oak, and a subtle maltiness, all slightly softened by the oats. That initial taste mirrors the aroma's intensity, yet while surprising at first, it's not off-putting or overwhelming, provided you're prepared. The initial flavors are berries and a hint of citrus, sweetened by vanilla before a strong wave of cinnamon and some fresh, herbaceous, slightly minty rye emerges. The palate begins to warm, but not excessively. After the fruit notes fade, honey and a malty character persist through the rather warm finish – a nearly perfect echo of the nose throughout. I'm pleased to be mistaken about this one, as the wheat and rye complement each other, standing aside enough to allow both flavors to be detected. The oats are a welcome addition; while not contributing a distinct flavor, they enhance the maltiness and prevent the other elements and body from becoming too dominant. While it seems like an obvious candidate for dilution, it's genuinely enjoyable neat, even discouraging the addition of ice. It has been a rewarding journey, and I extend best wishes for happy exploration, collecting, supporting, and, above all, drinking to all of you.