Hooten Young 12 Year American Whiskey (Batch No. 1)

Nose: Sweet honeydew aroma, followed by buttery corn and a noticeable grain alcohol presence. A faint hint of lime and possible barrel tannins emerge. Palate: A strong salted butter corn flavor, comparable to a Dickel, fitting for its 99% corn recipe. Towards the finish, a lime note appears, with a walnut-like quality suggesting MGP's barrel choice. The salty butter corn persists, accompanied by subtle vanilla and dark sugars. This salty butter corn and lime tartness create a distinct and peculiar taste. MGP's expertise is evident, but the minimal malt content likely requires additives for complete fermentation, a detail a Fred Noe student would recognize. It's possible these chemical additions contribute to the unusual flavor notes. Hooten & Young, like other veteran-founded companies, aims for quality by sourcing aged MGP spirits. However, the rationale behind aging 100% corn whiskey for 12 years is questionable. While it results in a smooth, old-school corn whiskey experience, it doesn't reach the heights of premium bourbons. A well-crafted venture, though perhaps lacking a clear direction. Best wishes!

One of the most captivating whiskies I have tried. The aroma leads with robust vanilla, initially suggesting a bourbon. After a few more sniffs, you detect apples and pears, reminiscent of a sherry-aged single malt, which is precisely what the taste reveals. It begins with a touch of that sweet bourbon character and abundant baking spices, but these swiftly give way to pears, apple pie, sherry, and butterscotch. The conclusion mirrors the palate but endures pleasantly. It's refined and understated. Do not approach it anticipating a bourbon, as it is not, nor expecting a powerful barrel-proof flavor explosion, as it is not that either. However, for someone who enjoys both bourbon and scotch, this is a fascinating fusion of defining elements from each, delivering a thoroughly enjoyable drink. Excellent work.

NOSE Alcohol forward and overly sweet with hints of tree fruit, banana, vanilla pudding, baking spice, smooth lemon and a strong caramel that brings Canadian Whisky to mind. This is very similar to that aged American light whiskey. It’s delicate, exotic, and has some strangely saccharine sweet notes while being alcohol forward. PALATE Alcohol forward vanilla, sickeningly sweet caramel (like Canadian whisky), tree fruit, banana candy, vanilla pudding, baking spice, and a few smooth citrus touches. Man, that Canadian caramel flavor is very prominent on the palate of this aged whiskey. I can’t stop thinking of a certain Canadian brand mixed with that aged American light whiskey... FINISH Medium-short -> Caramel reminiscent of Canadian whisky and baking spice dissipate into a banana candy and wood character.

A friend convinced me to get this alongside my old soul single barrel. It's decent. Certainly complex, and new to me since it's not a real bourbon. The background story is interesting. Made by MGP, aged 12 years, then finished by a much smaller Ohio distillery. I'm curious about the grain recipe. I taste plenty of corn, and likely some malted barley. The spice is present but quite subtle. A persistent power remains and it hits hard for something I'm largely unaware of. I'd like to see the second batch of this released at cask strength, or as a single barrel option. I'd repurchase it for the cost as an interesting bottle to keep handy, but I need more information, Hooten Young!

The nose is sweet, featuring sweet corn, hints of orangey tropical fruits, banana, and more corn. The flavor is unusual for me—the corn notes remain strong, but there's a sticky sweetness, a mix of caramel and butterscotch, some apple notes, and it concludes with a notable presence of young wood that balances everything. The palate is light and very easy to drink.

Appearance: A pale color leaning towards yellow and orange. Scent: Vanilla and salted peanuts on the nose. Taste: Vanilla, brown sugar, and honey, concluding with a peanut butter cookie flavor. A slight, brief burn occurs midway. It feels light on the palate and much thinner than anticipated for a 12-year-old. The finish has a dryness reminiscent of biting into an apple.