Old Soul High Rye Straight Bourbon Single Barrel

A special offering from Napa Valley Beverage Company. Barrel entry proof: 114 Barrel number: 16D21B-7 Big thanks to a person at Napa Valley Beverage Company, one of the few individuals remaining who is dedicated to curating and helping others find excellent drinks, rather than prioritizing profit (*cough* BUFFALO TRACE *cough*). Their kindness allowed me to sample this bottle before buying it, though I certainly wish I had the financial means to acquire all of their barrel selections. This individual mentioned they select barrels with a long, potent finish, and while I recall this from my tasting at their shop, let's see how it holds up now that I'm home. Considering this is a high rye, unfiltered, cask strength MGP bourbon, there's not much to dislike about it anyway (apart from the absence of an age statement, which it seems America has abandoned). I observed the color in the bottle was quite dark, resembling a walnut hue, and this appearance carries over when poured into a glass. The rye and corn are initially apparent on the nose, but the rye evolves into a potent freshly cut grass aroma, accompanied by hints of cinnamon and citrus. The corn offers a straightforward sweetness, as is typical, but incorporates some classic caramel and vanilla notes from the barrel, primarily allowing the oak's character to come through. The ethanol presence is notably subdued here, and even though the proof isn't exceptionally high, I certainly wouldn't have guessed it was above 50% ABV based on this aroma. The initial taste is delicate, not particularly strong on the ethanol (though, once again, I wouldn't have guessed this was even over 100 proof), but also featuring mild corn and even barley notes. There's a subtle bitterness and a damp earth flavor accompanying the raw corn taste, but the corn is the dominant element. This is where I can clearly discern that this barrel hasn't aged sufficiently, as even the rye struggles to make its presence known. As the flavor develops, the rye thankfully emerges on the palate, where recognizable cinnamon candy flavors are evident. There remains a slightly smoky, earthy undertone, perhaps a trace of peat or general mossiness, which lingers into the finish, and it doesn't quite fit with the rest of the profile. The finish possesses a bit more strength than the earlier stages, but the flavors don't integrate harmoniously, leaving me somewhat disappointed. MGP produces a vast quantity of spirits, so not everything can be exceptional. This is especially true for single barrel selections, and while I will enthusiastically support Napa Valley Beverage Company whenever possible (and affordable), not every barrel pick recommendation will align with my preferences. I believe this tasted so good at the shop because I was thrilled to simply obtain any barrel pick, and this was among the more reasonably priced options (though still not cheap; thanks to the current whiskey market). I can continue to drink it without disliking it, particularly as the rye continues to build on the palate, but it was too expensive to not offer something more, such as an age statement, a higher proof, or more rye character, etc. This feels very similar to most other entry-level MGP sourced picks, many of which are less expensive and closer to home.

Selected by Wake County ABC; Named "Capital County Select 2021" Barrel No. 16J05-1 Mashbill: 75% corn / 21% rye / 4% malted barley Barrel Entry Proof: 120.0 54.5% ABV; 109 proof NAS and Non-Chill Filtered Opened 2.5 months Nose - Sweet grain, dusty caramel, corn dust, light vanilla, light baking spices, light oak, and medium ethanol. Palate - Old-fashioned hard candies (not the good kind), diet cinnamon bun, candy corn, corn dust, grain and more grain, light caramel, and light black pepper. Finish is medium with dry rye spice and oak, black pepper, grain, light sweetness, and a medium ethanol bite. Some individuals in my local Facebook groups really enjoyed this bottle, so I purchased it based on those recommendations. I don't understand what they were tasting. I thought this could be a nice high-proof blend of MGP and Cathead, perhaps something that differentiates it from standard MGP. It tastes like young MGP bourbon, and not a particularly good one. Being a single barrel pick at this proof and price, I was expecting better. It should at least match the typical Smooth Ambler cask strength picks. It's simply a poor value considering the market of MGP bourbons and all other bourbons. I would pass on this if you see it, unless you get to sample it first.

This particular spirit comes from Westport Whiskey and Wine in KY. I've had it for a couple of years. It has nice legs. Sweet caramel, apricot, and pie spice; it's fairly straightforward. The palate offers more complexity with the rye coming forward. I detect allspice, anise, hints of chocolate, grape, and mint. It turns peppery towards the end before fading.

Kappy's* Bubble gum and earthy. Dense, dry oak. A hint of spice. Easy to drink and balanced.

A selected single barrel bottling from 2021. Enjoyable, I would purchase this again.

7.7/10 Sweet vanilla, ripe fruit, and a hint of spice