Old Soul High Rye Straight Bourbon Single Barrel

Private selection by Napa Valley Beverage Company. Barrel entry proof: 114 Barrel number: 16D21B-7 Huge shout out to Sammy at Napa Valley Beverage Company, one of the very few men left out there that still cares for the craft of collecting and helping others to discover good beverages, and not selling out for the money (*cough* BUFFALO TRACE *cough*). His generosity allowed me to taste this bottle before purchasing it, although I certainly wish I had enough money to have purchased all of his barrel picks. Sammy shared that he picks barrels with a long, powerful finish, and although I remember this from my shop taste, let's see how it holds up once I'm home. Given that this is a high rye, unfiltered, cask strength MGP bourbon, there isn't a whole lot to not like here anyway (except for the lack of age statement, which America has apparently given up on). I noticed the color in the bottle was so dark, almost like a shade of walnut, and this reflects similar while in the glass as well. The rye and corn are detected simply on the nose at first, but the rye starts to develop into a freshly cut grass bomb, with some cinnamon and citrus behind it. The corn is a simple sweet, as it always is, but carries some of the classic caramel and vanilla from the barrel, but mostly letting the oak speak for itself. The ethanol is definitely light here, and although the proof isn't super high, I would definitely not have guessed over 50% based on this nose. The initial flavor is light, not so much on the ethanol (although, again, I would not have guessed this was even over 100 proof), but also with light corn and even barley grain. There's a slight bitterness and wet earth flavor that goes along with the raw corn taste, but the corn really owns it. This is where I can certainly tell that this barrel has not aged for long enough, because even the rye is struggling to communicate. As the flavor progresses, the rye thankfully finds it's way into the gums, where familiar cinnamon candy flavors hold true. There's still a slightly smoky, earthy note, maybe a fraction of peat or just moss in general, that stays around to the finish, which does not belong in this mix. The finish does have some more bravado than the earlier body, but the flavors aren't melding together like they should, leaving me a bit let down. MGP makes too much stuff for everything to be good. Especially when a single barrel is involved, and even though I'll support Napa Valley Beverage Company every chance I get (and can afford), not all barrel pick opinions are going to resonate with me. I think this tasted so good in the shop because I was so happy to just get any barrel pick, and this was among the less expensive ones (although still not very affordable; thanks, whiskey economy). I can keep sipping it without hating it, especially as the rye continues to stack on the gums, but this was too pricey to not have something more, like an age statement, or a higher proof, or more rye, etc. This feels too much like every other starter distillery MGP sourced pick, most of which are cheaper and much closer to my location.

Pick 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 Open 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 (and 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 medium ethanol bite. Some people in my local Facebook groups really liked this bottle, so I grabbed it based on those recommendations. I don't get what they were tasting. I thought that this could be a nice high proof blend of MGP and Cathead, maybe something that differentiates it from standard MGP. It tastes like young MGP bourbon, and not a very good one. Being a single barrel pick at this proof and price I was expecting better. At least match the typical Smooth Ambler cask strength picks. It simply is a bad value considering the market of MGP bourbons and all other bourbons. I would skip this if you see it, unless you get to sample it first.

This one is from Westport Whiskey and Wine in KY. Been sitting on it for a couple years. Nice legs. Sweet caramel, apricot, and pie spice, fairly simple. Palate brings more to the table with the eye coming forward. I get allspice, anise, hints of chocolate, grape, and mint. Turns peppery at the end before fading.

Kappys* Bubble gum and earthy. Dense, dry oak. Touch of spice. Easy drinking and balanced.

2021 SiB Select SWOB pick Tasty - would buy again.

7.7/10 Vanilla, fruit, spice