Monk's Road Single Barrel Bourbon

This whiskey was privately selected and bottled exclusively for: Log Still Veterans 2023 Barrel number: LSD6998 Bottle number: 132 Proof: 122.77 A visit to the Log Still distillery earlier this week left a strong impression. Despite its remote rural location, the place is very welcoming, starting with the iconic water tower visible from afar. The unique music and event scene draws people in, but ultimately, the spirits are what matter. The classic Monk's Road bourbon I tried was impressively crafted, unlike much American whiskey from craft distilleries I've encountered recently. I decided to take a chance on the last bottle of this single barrel, especially after learning it was selected by the veterans working at the distillery (around 13 total), and hearing that many were from the Air Force, suggesting a quality barrel. My confidence grew noticing the high proof, the highest among the single barrel batches offered at the time, which further reinforced the idea of military involvement in its creation. For a young, wheated bourbon made without special distilling processes, the classic Monk's Road offered a well-rounded flavor that defied the typical softness and sweetness of most wheated bourbons. Although this particular single barrel was available for tasting, I bought it without trying it, eager to see how the Nelson County veterans' choice would fare. I can't recall if the standard Monk's Road was aged 4 or 6 years, but even with a higher age, the color is remarkably deep, regardless of barrel size or char level. This is likely due to minimal excess water, a fact supported by the initial aromas. Instead of an overpowering ethanol scent that burns the nostrils, it concentrates the other notes. The nose is filled with the distinct sweet smell of freshly cooked mash just beginning fermentation, the same aroma that permeated the distillery grounds during my visit. This might be the finest American whiskey to capture this scent in the final product, especially given the high proof. Curiously, I also detect notes of cinnamon and spearmint/grass, typically found in rye whiskey, despite this being a wheat-based spirit. Rounding out the profile are notes of cream soda and a subtle earthy/smoky scent. The initial flavors feature cinnamon and similar baking spices, which blend with the expected soft body from the wheat. The proof is quite approachable at first but quickly scorches the gums, though more on the surface than the penetrating burn of rye. A subtle watery earthiness emerges. While a creamy and a faint floral note are detectable if sought out, the intense ethanol overrides any sweetness or further complexity, leaving the mouth hot throughout the finish and beyond. Compared to the standard Monk's Road bourbon, this is aggressive, hot, and difficult to discern secondary tasting notes. This makes it a highly desirable spirit for any service member seeking a robust drink. While I wouldn't say I prefer this over the batched original based purely on taste, if you're not looking for a more potent, concentrated craft bourbon flavor instead of the more approachable body of the lower-proofed, batched version, then this single barrel might not be for you. However, if that sounds appealing, the price point is quite attractive (I find it amusing that a website considers around $60 as a mid-range cost, given how affordable this is in the craft American whiskey market), and it blends flavors reminiscent of both rye and wheat-based bourbons, despite using only wheat as the flavoring grain. I suspect this might be too intense for sipping neat, but it offers immense potential for cocktails and other iced drinks, as the fresh mash flavor remains at its core but requires some dilution to truly shine.