People snapped up McKenna like it was the nectar of the gods in part because the asking price at the time was $35. Full transparency, this is an Amazon affiliate link, so I may earn a commission if you buy this or something else from Amazon. A throwback Bourbon made by Heaven Hill (the home of Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Rittenhouse Rye, and many other great brands) that's all from a single barrel, bottled-in-bond at 100 proof, and well-priced to boot. The bouquet features smells of new car leather, breakfast cereal, cornmeal, pepper and hemp. Contrast that with the 2011, which is lively with notes of licorice, cinnamon, and chocolate, all swirled into a froth that endures for a long while. Henry Mckenna 10 Year Old Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Category: Straight Bourbon Whiskey Date Tasted: 7/20/2022 Country: USA Alcohol: 50% 92 Points Gold Medal Exceptional $49 Amber color. Fine by me, this is a steal for people who care more about what's in the bottle and enjoying a good drink rather than those seeking only collectibles. 1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Example: Jeffers Creek), 3 | Bad | Flawed (AD Laws 4 Grain BiB, Clyde Mays anything), 4 | Sub-par | Many things Id rather have (Tincup 10 year), 5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Larceny, Sazerac Rye), 6 | Very Good | Better than average (Buffalo Trace, OGD BiB), 7 | Great | Well above average (Old Ezra Barrel Proof, Old Weller Antique), 8 | Excellent | Exceptional (Michters Barrel Proof Rye, Four Roses Barrel Strength), 9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, 13 Year MGP or Canadian Rye), 10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (William Larue Weller), Posted on Published: October 30, 2020- Last updated: February 23, 2021, Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2020 Review. Sweet and woody without astringency or acetone like Elijah Craig Small Batch, which I dont love. Deep chocolate in color the intensity of 10 years in new American oak stands out even before you pull the stopper. Henry McKenna is one of the longest aged Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys available . This single barrel release (Barrel 8141) was filled on 12/31/2009 and was bottled at 10 years of age and the requisite 50% ABV. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our Top 10 Most Memorable Whiskies of 2022 is now, These Experimental Rye Whiskey's from @smokewagonw, Like this song? Sorry, product recommendations are temporarily unavailable. Some bottles move faster than others, so it's always good to call ahead. Deeper in the glass there are fudge brownies, molasses, and deep dark roasted oak. A function of single barrel selection no doubt, I still feel each was a great value for the price. Ben Holladay Bottled In Bond. So lets blind taste them to see which one is better and if there are any similarities as well. It was also absent of the Heaven Hill peanut funk that Ive come to identify on almost everything they do, but it lacked the depth and richness of barrel #4933. This sort of clever work and coverage! 6, Lost Lantern Ironroot Republic Texas Straight Bourbon, Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources. Despite 10 years in the barrel, its anything but over-oaked, though the oak is present from nose to finish affirming the barrels role in this bourbons maturation. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. shipping/pickup. Please see the FAQ for more. Average Price: $99. If you see this bottle for its original price & are a fan of aged bourbon you will not be disappointed. Traditional notes of caramel and vanilla play against a backdrop of seasoned oak. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Other great examples include classics like Old Grand-Dad Bonded, Old Forester 1897, Henry McKenna 10 Year, and standouts from newer producers such as Laws, New Riff, Filibuster, and Blinking Owl. The alcohol feels just right - at the 100 proof required to be bottled in bond it is robust, but not over the top. But ultimately this is just one of the very finest drinkers in the shop. Dont worry youre not missing anything.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'scotchnoob_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scotchnoob_com-medrectangle-3-0'); This barrel is from a batch of Henry McKennas Bottled in Bond line, which is usually a good sign in a bourbon these days. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Even when I was able to overcome the alcohol, Henry McKenna Single Barrel didnt have much else there to enjoy. Learn how your comment data is processed. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Henry McKenna came to America in 1837 from Ireland and settled in Kentucky where he set out to create a better bourbon using his familys recipe. Starting this month, Henry McKenna Single Barrel will no longer be a 10-year whiskey, nor a bottled-in-bond whiskey, nor a single barrel whiskey. Please check your entries and try again. Drinkhacker was founded in 2007 by Christopher Null, a longtime entertainment, technology, and lifestyle writer, award-winning winemaker, and the finicky proprietor of what has been called "the best home bar in San Francisco". Discover the story behind our Bernheim Distillery, the largest independent, family-owned Bourbon Distillery in the world. If there is anyone still left unsatisfied, a $30 price tag should help lift their spirits. By t8ke; Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources What a deal. Palate:The fruitiness continues on this one as Hawaiian punch, maraschino cherry liquid and phyllo dough combine for an almost cherry-turnover like taste. If you didn't heed my warning in the beginning, you're rude and I hate you. This high proof, Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon was named for Henry McKenna, the Irish immigrant who adapted his family's whiskey recipe to work with the grains he found in Kentucky. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Henry McKenna's color is beautiful. This item is available for Gift Wrap. With the strong alcohol fumes, this truly does not smell like a 10-year old bourbon. Add to cart "Close (esc)" Featured Special Collections. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. There is no way that this barrel of Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel was aged for 10 years. 2021 Null Media LLC All Rights Reserved. This high proof, Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon was named for Henry McKenna, the Irish immigrant who adapted his family's whiskey recipe to work the grains he found in Kentucky. Im not going to say Im disappointed, since in my house theres always a need for Old Fashioned fodder, but its not the bourbon I expected from the label. Henry McKenna offers an array of technicals to satisfy even the most scrutinizing bourbon purists, a satisfying quintessential bourbon flavor profile to back them up, and a price that wont break the bank. Celebrating 85 Years of Lifting Americas Spirit. Cinnamon and pipe tobacco add some complexity and spice to the dram as well. I had a surprisingly hard time with finding a comparable bourbon to Henry McKenna. Oh no, this is not a good start from Henry McKenna 10 Year. 40 votes, 23 comments. With age statements dropping in waves from everyday bourbons, including the recent loss ofElijah Craig Small Batchs12 year age statement, McKennas front and center 10 year age statement sitting amongst other $30 bourbons now seems to stand out like never before. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Tack the pandemic on top of that destroying supply chains (and the fact that it's a 10 year old BIB single barrel product) and you've got a recipe for infrequent stock drops and limited availability. Kim Kardashian Doja Cat Iggy Azalea Anya Taylor-Joy Jamie Lee Curtis Natalie Portman Henry Cavill Millie Bobby Brown Tom Hiddleston Keanu Reeves. The palate shows more of the same big sweet flavors but adds in toasty oak spices and a very pleasant minty herbal note that offers balance. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And then all hell broke loose. There is also a strong, unpleasant metallic smell from the alcohol. It has all of the flavors that I love and none that I dont. Its not over-oaked, per se, but it does seem to lack a lot of the complexity that usually comes with long aging in Kentucky. The water brings out a little welcome sweetness on the palate in the form of milk chocolate, which continues through the finish. Discover the brands that have been Lifting Spirits since 1935. California Residents: Proposition 65 Warning. Alcohol mixes in and holds its weight against the other scents as you might expect for 100 proof. 2022 Harvest Fair 2022 SF Chronicle Wine Competition Best Value. This high proof, Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon was named for Henry McKenna, the Irish immigrant who adapted his family's whiskey recipe to work with the grains he found in Kentucky. Its nose is sweet oak and honey. Woody and sweet. Under $10 Under $20 . And then in 2019 it won Best Whiskey of the Year at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition. The caramel comes through perfectly and brings with in the herbal richness for a wonderful combination. But, Angel's Envy newest release called Private Barrel. It all changed on that balmy Wednesday afternoon in Washington D.C. with the passage of the Bottle-in-Bond Act. Here at The Bourbon Culture, we love to do side by side comparison reviews. Stir in a highball glass half filled with ice. There's not much of a reputation for it out west, so it tends to go rather unnoticed, but the quality is highly-regarded by those in the know. Tot die tijd leed de Amerikaanse whisky aan een totaal gebrek aan kwaliteitscontrole. Remember that every bottle can vary considerably, so this should hardly be taken as canon for either vintage. Henry McKenna closely resembles the limited edition 2013Parkers Heritage Collection Promise of Hopesingle barrel bourbon in mash bill, proof, age, and style. Critics agree that this is perfectly balanced Bourbon.. Join Scott and Bart with the Scotch Test Dummies as they taste/review Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond BIB 50% abv Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey. Benchmark. Henry McKenna 10 Year won Best Single Barrel Bourbon at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, an absolute coup for an affordable bourbon with so many other strong competitors. Medium to long. Its not great but its not bad either. Fundamental to our modern whiskey industry, the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 established a baseline quality expectation for American whiskey. Pour Bourbon, and then add water. Theres also a decent amount of tannins that stick around like drying oak and tobacco. Heaven Hill Distillery. Your email address is never shared. Heaven Hill Distillery's Henry McKenna is already a producer of one of the finest Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys available. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The Noobs Top 10 Cocktails, The Balvenie (15 year) Single Barrel Cask #201, ScotchNoob Recommends: The Glencairn Glass, ScotchNoob Recommends: The World Atlas of Whisky, ScotchNoob Recommends: Whisky Advocate Magazine, Book Review: The World Atlas of Whisky by Dave Broom. Nose:The scent of Little Debby Nutty Bars. Chocolate, peanuts, vanilla wafers and caramel. Now discover our entire American Whiskey portfolio. McKenna is one of those under-appreciated gems of the booze industry. This means that Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bottled in Bond sits snugly next to 4 Roses Single Barrel, SAOS 8/9yr Single Barrel Picks and PHC:PoH. The bouquet features smells of new car leather, breakfast cereal, cornmeal, pepper and hemp. Some of the roasted notes continue through the finish, but there is barely any bitterness and not much sweetness, leaving a very light, dry finish that is at odds with the intensity of the palate. So what's up? The only positive thing I can say is that its drinkable and that it didnt kill me. Critics agree that this is perfectly balanced Bourbon. Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon by: ALEX WANG Founder, writer Distillery: Heaven Hill Type & Region: Bourbon, Kentucky, USA Alcohol: 50%, bottled in bond Composition: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Aged: 10 years, aged in virgin American white oak (barrel 4772) Color: 1.2/2.0 on the color scale (burnished) Price: $30 MSRP (750mL) It's a rich and heady mix. I'm rating this bottle a 7: it certainly is well above average in my eyes. Henry McKenna is one of the longest aged Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys available today, resting in the barrel through 40 Kentucky seasons. As it greets you at the door, it has a fair amount of heat and caramel that gives way to a bit. Its 10 year age statement and BiB designation should satisfy bourbon purists. I feel like I'm stealing when I can still get 10yr BIB bourbon at less than $30. 100 proof. You can hold it up in sunset light and just enjoy the russet and amber hues reflecting. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 11 Of The Best Bourbons Under $50 Worth Buying, Glencairn Crystal Whiskey Glass, Set of 6, Clear, 6 Pack, Glencairn-like stainless steel snifter glass, Weller Full Proof vs Larceny Barrel Proof Comparison, One Eight Single Barrel Cask Strength Wheat Whiskey, Bluebird Barrel Proof American Wheat Whiskey. Thats simply not true. This is an expression from Heaven Hill that has received a ton of hype over the last few years, and with that has come an increase in price and a shift to the allocated section at many liquor stores across the country.