Pinhook Bourbon Heist

Pinhook of various varieties has been making a strong show on the shelves here for a while but this is my first partaking. As I looked through the various bottles, I selected this one because it is distilled at Castle and Key. Just under 120 proof and aged three years. It has a rich caramel color in the glass. The tears form and fall quickly. Haven't dabbled with a high proofer for quite a while but there is precious little alcohol on the nose, more like 86-90 proof. I am fixing some fried apples for this evenings dinner and I swear the fragrance is dead on (before I add the cinnamon) There's a rich blend of butter, caramel and apples. What a nose especially for a three year product. A little oak shows up after 15-20 minutes. Caramel and vanilla lead the way on the palate. One reviewer suggested hazelnuts and yeah that's there too. A little smoky oak shows up on the finish that's way too short. I like this one and at $50 it's priced fairly. Just wish it had a little more body and a longer finish.

My first foray into the Pinhook brand, found this modest priced pint bottle on a trip through Kentucky. Honey spice cake nose, hints of clove, caramel and vanilla. This nose is a winner, (by a nose). Not quite as rich as the nose but at the front I get a good healthy corn sugar dose with some barrel oak bits and really a rich finish for a younger dram. The light amber color is somewhat representative of the profile it has some nice notes but not as many as some of the well known heavy weight players in the field. The finish is pleasant and only the tiniest of bitter notes blend in with the warm spice sugars. This Castle and Key juice is certainly a well crafted mash. I like what they have done here as the proof(96) is right in the sweet spot for delivering flavor without pounding your taste buds. If this is Pinhooks entry level bourbon, sign me up for more.

3.3.22 Served: Neat, Flute Bottle Open: Same Day Aroma: Vanilla, cornbread, strong rootbeer. Flavor: Butterscotch, Strong caramel on subsequent sips, nutty. There's a distinct graininess to the texture that is reminiscent of condensed milk and homemade caramel.

Tons of caramel on the nose with subtle fruit. Hazelnut right of the bat on the palate. Added a few drops of water since hazelnut is not my favorite in whiskey. Water brought out some vanilla bean but fresh hazelnut still there. Easy drinking but not my style.

The aroma was herbal citrus almost floral and a little oak. On the palate was a sweet nuttiness hazel type that lingered and a good warning hug. Very pleased with this purchase it’s a little young but comes across balanced for the age. I would purchase again

It's grassy. Maybe it's the color of the wax, but I smell carrots? The palate is light, soft, with a crisp sweetness. This is a spring/summer bourbon. Not bad, definitely unique.