After sampling a handful of those totally different 8- and 10-year-old barrels, Pops and I made a decision that as an alternative of a “Bottle” score, we should always purchase a barrel.
BOTTLE DETAILS
BRENT’S NOTES
SHARE WITH: Any bourbon drinker who prefers some age and a little bit of oak.
WORTH THE PRICE: Sure. This can be a 10-year-old MGP 99% corn mashbill for considerably lower than what you’ll probably pay for many different 10-year-old merchandise available on the market in the present day. Particularly when you think about what many different craft distilleries or NDPs are charging on this present local weather, this bottle is greater than a good worth.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle. In case you like MGP merchandise and don’t wish to pay much more for aged bourbon from one other NDP, this one is true up your alley. West Fork Whiskey and Outdated Hamer (their legacy model) is presently obtainable on the cabinets in IL, IN, FL, CO, and DC, however it’s also possible to buy it on-line by way of the hyperlink above. I’m informed that distribution will increase to 10 states this yr.
OVERALL: The Outdated Hamer model makes use of MGP 99% corn, 1% malted barley mash payments. From my understanding, the homeowners have just about cornered the market on these barrels. A lot in order that they now have a ton of barrels coming of age. I’ve been informed that there’s a good variety of these barrels that can flip 12 this summer time. However for the second the bottles that they’ve been placing out have been spectacular.
Much more so when you think about their worth. This launch is available in effectively under my common rule for what I take into account “affordable” pricing in terms of aged bourbon. My math appears to have turn into a bit outdated in the previous couple of years as a result of inflow of recent NDPs charging as a lot as they’ll for underaged bourbon, however the market additionally appears to be correcting itself as of late. I often determine about $10 per yr plus a further $10-$15 on high of that. Anything is getting grasping in my view.
From my understanding, this 10-year-old was a wedding of two totally different 10-year-old barrels that have been proofed right down to 100. It began out with a Werther’s Unique sweetness and rapidly transitioned to heavy oak with some dry and tannic notes. There is no such thing as a mistaking this one for some underaged, rushed-to-market barrel. You possibly can inform that there are some years on this one.
Whereas that isn’t my most well-liked profile, anybody who likes aged bourbon will get pleasure from this one. This single expression alone would’ve probably earned a “Bar” score from me, however fortunately, I do know a couple of individuals over at West Fork who offered me with three extra 10-year-old single barrel samples. All of them have been proofed over 126. Two of them have been good. I even appreciated them higher as single barrel expressions than the proofed down mix of the 2 barrels. However there was a 3rd one which was an absolute standout. It had an enormous end, and it was stuffed with baking spice and ripe purple fruit on the palate. They have been all adequate to bottle samples and ship them to Pops for his ideas.
Furthermore, I used to be given one other pattern of an 8-year-old single barrel at cask energy. I appreciated that one much more. It had only a bit much less oak on the palate and I believed it actually hit a candy spot for my style choice. After sampling a handful of those totally different 8- and 10-year-old barrels, Pops and I made a decision that as an alternative of a “Bottle” score, we should always purchase a barrel. So, Pops and I, together with a handful of fortunate neighborhood members, will likely be at West Fork in June to select our very personal 99% Corn, 1% Malted Barley barrel. We will likely be tasting blindly from a mixture of 8- and 10-year-old barrels. You should definitely keep watch over our Discord for updates on the choice course of and when you should purchase these bottles, so you possibly can attempt them your self.
BRAND NOTES
The head of the “Outdated Hamer Customary” mash invoice of 99% corn, and 1% malted barley, Outdated Hamer 10 yr exudes stability and class. Aged for 10 years in 53 gallon Speyside barrels and proofed to 100, this bourbon is a stunner, that punches approach above its worth level. Candy corn, bubblegum, and vanilla on the nostril give option to a tasty dance of caramel, vanilla, candy bitter mash, and stone fruit on the palate. Each bottle showcases the perfect and oldest illustration of the Outdated Hamer recipe.
- Proof: 100 | ABV: 50%
- Mash Invoice: 99% Corn, 1% Malted Barley
- AGE: 10 years (minimal)
- Non-Chill Filtered — Distilled, Aged, & Bottled in Indiana
Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter acquired a pattern of this product from the model for evaluation. We admire their willingness to permit us to evaluation their merchandise with no strings hooked up. Thanks.
