Pinhook Bohemian Bourbon High Proof

Going into this, the only Pinhook I've had is their bourbon-rye thing, and that was quite good. I've seen this in the store a few times, and I finally pulled the trigger given I love high proof bourbons and good brands. Once I got home, I was a little disappointed to learn it was only aged for 3 years, and I had the read the fine print on the back of the bottle to even find that out. However, let's see what's to be offered. The scent is incredibly, sticky sweet, with easily detectable caramel covered popcorn and vanilla taffy. The corn is strong in the scent, probably showing a high corn mashbill, as well as reinforcing the young age. Very sweet indeed, with melted cotton candy and just a slight note of chocolate covered orange. What was that fruity, bright note turns into heavy charred oak, but just the essence of the wood, as the tradition caramel and vanilla take a backseat. The high proof rounds out the finish while not being too boozy at all. This is certainly one of the most unique bourbons on my collection, but without an added gimmick, like different wood or fancy grains. I definitely feel like I'm going to enjoy reaching for this, when I want to try something different after another bourbon, but not necessarily switch tracks entirely.

Golden-pale straw color. Lots of quickly appearing legs. Nose is loaded with rye notes: baking spices, tart dried fruits, golden raspberries, candied oranges, and a bit of semi sweet barn funk. Slowly building warming effect starts early and magnifies after the swallow. Larger than anticipated mouthfeel, coats the mouth with light caramel, immediately replaced with a bit of oakey dryness and plenty of that tart fruit and spice. Big with plenty going on. A bit more Barrel contribution would really round it out. Incredible value and I suspect that this distillery will only continue to produce more, and more well-balanced and nuanced products.

Sampled in a glencairn, neat 2 years, 10 months in age, opened ~ 6 months Dark yellow in appearance Nose: alcohol, honey, vanilla, brown sugar, a hint of tea, but more Snapple peach tea than a straight black tea Palate: good mouthfeel, thick, sweet honey, more Snapple peach, alcohol bite and some bitterness Finish: short, honey and cardboard, a reminder of the Snapple peach T8ke scale: 5, good, just fine This has improved with oxidation, as the neck pour was horrible, just alcohol and cardboard. Now I’m kinda interested to see what this juice will look like when they actually get some age on it

Nose: I getting some citrus notes, honey, vanilla, and baking spices - quite the delicious start Palate: the palate starts with some vanilla wafers at the front and then turns to pepper spice towards the middle and back - thin mouthfeel and somewhat a step back from the nose but in no way displeasing Finish: the finish has a nice Kentucky hug to it and is medium to long in length with the pepper spice lingering throughout - pleasantly surprised at the recovery from the palate Overall: a bit inconsistent but overall very enjoyable

Nose: grainy, corn, light caramel, cinnamon, Palate: Sweet when it his your lips, but then quickly turns into the taste of corn, you can definitely tell it’s a young bourbon because of how thin it is and it’s very light coloring. It has a little heat on the palate but not to crazy Finish: Has a decent finish but like I said thin and mostly burn not a Kentucky hug! Not a bad bourbon but probably will not buy again.

(34 months age statement, first bourbon release from Castle & Key Distillery for Pinhook) Rich and spicy. The nose is very bright and inviting while the taste is full with a medium length finish. A classic bourbon with a youthful approach. Very nice!