This, our second single barrel from Pinhook, has been bottled at 7 years, and it shows its pedigree right out of the gate. It continues the journey of a single set of MGP distilled bourbon barrels, one that began for us with our first single barrel bottled at 6 years. Distilled from a 75% corn/20.5% rye/4.5% malted barley mash bill, it has been aged at the Castle & Key rick houses in Frankfort, KY.

At 58.6% abv, there’s lots to love in this wild stallion. On the nose you'll find maple syrup, tobacco, and York peppermint patties made with ultra dark chocolate. Bringing up the rear you'll find musty oak, an old bookcase filled with books you'll probably never read but love to breathe in. The palate is rich and full - with an oily texture that sticks to your tongue. While it has plenty of sweet to go around, it tastes decidedly rye forward compared to last year's barrel, which had an almost wheated bourbon type profile. Dried apricots, black pepper, gingerbread, chai, and buttered toast - the constant tug of war between sweet and spicy is a delight for the palate. The extra aging here is used to good effect. It's an extremely well-balanced bourbon, with spice balanced by oak, vanilla, pecan, and caramel. The finish is sweet and long-lasting, making this enjoyable for sipping while also being very well-suited to spirit-forward cocktails like a Manhattan or Old Fashioned.

Pinhook’s Vertical Series is an exciting approach to sourcing and bottling whiskey in a transparent way. This master class in whiskey maturation follows one set of barrels, with a selection released every year. The general release Bourbon War, a small batch bottling, has been excellent, but we're very excited to be their partner selecting Northern California's exclusive single barrel. Starting with the 6 year, we will be receiving a new barrel each round, ending with a 12 year single barrel. Start putting your set together now, it's going to be a great ride, and for those patient enough not to drink it all up along the way, an amazing collection!