Holladay 6 Year Soft Red Wheat Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon

The nose presents an intense aroma I can only describe as charred grain, though I've encountered it before and know it's not precisely that. Regardless, it's pleasing. Further nosing reveals a distinct peanut shell scent, which I associate with this distillery's whiskies, surprisingly present here. Then comes dark honey, puffed wheat, honeysuckle, honey butter, milk chocolate, and possibly a faint hint of leather. The mouthfeel is silky. On the palate, I taste honey butter, a bit of cinnamon, and an unexpected note of hot cocoa, which I enjoyed despite disliking hot chocolate. I couldn't identify further specific notes, but other elements are likely present that time may reveal. Overall, the whisky tastes sweet, clear, and pleasant. The finish is on the longer side of medium, starting with honey, transitioning to sweet water, introducing an oak note, and concluding with a lingering chocolate. This is a good, complex whisky that may require time to fully appreciate. While I couldn't discern many distinct palate notes, it's far from boring. I strongly endorse it.

Holladay 6 yr BIB soft red wheat straight Missouri bourbon. Produced Fall 2017, aged 6 years in new charred Missouri oak in Rickhouse 3, and bottled at 100 proof in March 2024. Tasting neat. Rosy copper and average coating legs in the glass. The nose is light and fruity, with berries and a little sweet orange citrus, followed by some vanilla and grassy spice far in the background. Not much there. Tannic oak and ethanol "BANG" open in the mouth. Sweet corn syrup and honey, then floral vanilla and citrus. The mouthfeel is thin and dry, even astringent. Pepper and baking spices appear in the finish, along with sweet grass and mint, and a touch of sour at the end of a long dry finish. The more I taste this, the more I think the finish might be the best aspect of this whiskey. An ice cube softens the oak tannins and sweetens the citrus/sour notes. Perhaps it's better this way? I love the distillery's narrative, label, and bottle, especially the old-school metal screw cap. Why not! As a distilling company, they seem to be doing things correctly, even though I'm not entirely convinced by the taste profile of this specific bottle. It's not the soft wheated bourbon I anticipated--it has more bite. That's acceptable, and I look forward to sampling their rickhouse proof offerings. I have a feeling they're going to be more engaging. And, naturally, I'll return to update this review if the bottle's end changes my perspective. Cheers.

HOLLADAY SOFT RED WHEAT 6YR BIB *GLASS: Neat Glass *COLOR: 1.5 Auburn *AROMA: Surprisingly spicy for a wheated spirit, with prominent dry oak, hay, and black & white pepper. A berry and cream sweetness emerges with deeper investigation. Quite good. *NEAT: Overall quite dry and tannic. Like the aroma, it has significant (and I mean SIGNIFICANT) charred oak, pleasant (not bitter) tannins, notes of peanut, mint, peppery spice, and a tingle, plus light vanilla. A gentle warmth spreads through the chest, with sawdust and pepper coating and layering the palate. A touch of bitterness on the finish slightly detracts. *SPLASH: Adding a little water reveals buttercream frosting on the nose. The palate also gains some of this, but the oak remains dominant, though it takes on a slightly funkier/mustier character now. *VERDICT: While not overly complex, it perfectly suits my preferences. It strongly evokes Maker’s 46. I appreciate the distinctive packaging and labeling, which include both barreling and bottling dates, and the metal screw cap. Unique. I'm happy I acquired this bottle!

Maple Donut comes through strongly on the initial aroma, consistently bursting with sweetness throughout and occasionally bringing cinnamon and honey to the forefront. Upon the first taste, sugared plums and berries enhance the sweetness from the nose. This carries into the finish, which presents candied nuts and burnt leather. This spirit offers many familiar notes, with the sweetness never becoming too overpowering. The complexity of the spirit is comparable to a higher-end whiskey, at an accessible price point. I am a huge fan, and it makes me want to explore more wheated spirits to see how they compare. Currently, this is my favorite wheated spirit to date. While not widely available, I am motivated to purchase multiple bottles when I next see them to stock up for regular evening sipping, either neat or with ice. A solid spirit, a worthwhile purchase!

Absolutely fantastic! After anticipating this bourbon for a while, the moment to finally try a glass has arrived, and once more, I'm impressed! A single pour neat in a rocks glass offers a subtle sweet berry aroma, with a faint whisper of cherry cola. My first sip mirrors the smell; I'm delighted! For a bottled-in-bond 100 proof bourbon, it's remarkably smooth and easygoing. The cherry-cola flavor truly emerges with a "Kentucky chew," accompanied by some spice. This bourbon is excellent and met my expectations. If you enjoy wheated bourbons, consider trying this one. Its flavor profile differs from most wheated bourbons, and I believe you'll appreciate your experience.

NEAT AROMA - Immediately, I prefer this to the bourbon. Notes of caramel, apples, and honey. It smells exactly like a caramel-covered red apple. T ASTE - Creamy, silky smooth texture. Incredible roundness to this bourbon. It's sweet, but not sweet enough to be considered a dessert bourbon, in my opinion. The aroma carries over to the taste effortlessly. The notes are easily identifiable, and honestly, I don't detect much else. I've had pours with similar flavors, but not with this level of balance. For the price, this bourbon is remarkable, and I'm eager to see how they taste as they age further. FINISH - Short. Sweet oak. SHOULD I BUY? - Absolutely. Support independent distilleries, especially when they excel! SHOULD I BUY AGAIN? - Yes!