Pinhook Bourbon Country Cask Strength

This is MGP spirit, bottled at batch proof. I'd heard positive things, so I decided to try it. Nose: Smooth cream and vanilla notes layered over young, inexpensive oak. A hint of earthiness, perhaps some hay or straw. Taste: Butter, oat bran, young oak, vanilla. It's a bit different but lacks any harshness, and the alcohol is well-managed with a good mouthfeel. At 50 dollars, I cannot recommend it. It's simply too young and too expensive. It also doesn't provide the sweet and oaky combination I prefer for cocktails. This is for the adventurous with disposable income. I'm somewhat disappointed considering the hype and price. However, it's quite good when compared to other 3-year-old bourbons; in fact, it's very good by that standard.

The aroma is initially rich with butterscotch, similar to Werther's Originals but less sweet, accompanied by a subtle hint of dried fruits, possibly raisins, and sweet corn. The texture on the palate feels somewhat thin, which is unexpected, but it delivers the same immediate warmth and baking spices as the orange label version, yet the alcohol is barely noticeable, a pleasant surprise given its proof. It's not highly complex, but thoroughly enjoyable.

I genuinely appreciate the vision and strategy Pinhook is employing. I'll keep sampling their offerings, but they clearly exhibit characteristics of young whiskey. With more aging, they will improve, but the barrel-aged bourbon currently requires additional time to soften the palate and mouthfeel.

This is a spicy and flavorful high-proof spirit. The intense rye flavor transitions into a nutty mid-palate. The aroma is very inviting, and the taste lives up to the initial impression. I'm very happy to see a barrel-proof offering from this non-distiller producer and hope they release more, especially spirits originating from Castle and Key.

Aroma: strong corn presence, a faint trace of banana pudding, with hints of vanilla and oak. Taste: primarily corn, followed by an almost nutty sensation on the tongue. Finish: a subtle hint of caramel and dark chocolate. Additional aging would significantly benefit this bourbon. It improves overall with a few drops of water.

Starts with light caramel, then offers light fruit on the mid-palate, like strawberries, before the cask strength heat emerges, though it's not overpowering or akin to rye spice. It concludes rather swiftly with notes of light oak.