Since 1935, the Shapira family has been at the helm of the largest family-owned and operated distillery in America. Barrel #4933 had a heavy, rich rewarding nose, an above average palate and a more tannic/burnt finish. The Whiskey: Theres a little bit of wood, something bitter from the wood, and grass. Russell's Reserve 10 Year Straight Bourbon. Water isnt a bad idea here, especially if you feel the whiskey is too dry like I did. The bouquet features smells of new car leather, breakfast cereal, cornmeal, pepper and hemp. Henry McKenna Single Barrel Classification: Straight Bourbon Company: Heaven Hill Distillery: Heaven Hill Released: Ongoing Proof: 100 Age: 10 Years Mashbill: 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, and 10% Rye Color: Amber MSRP: $30 (2017) Official Website Buy Henry McKenna Single Barrel at Frootbat Stir in a highball glass half filled with ice. eagle_bonanza01 . The last bottle I bought (batch 8119) cost $44. When the glass is empty and only the heads are left on the side of the glass, I smell a little wood, pine, and honey sweetness with possibly some maple syrup. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey Kentucky, USA Avg Price (ex-tax) $ 80 / 750ml 4 from 114 User Ratings 90 / 100 from 7 Critic Reviews Critic tasting note: "One of the few remaining age-stated bourbons. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Drop-in your email address and we'll send you Drinkhacker's best reviews, most insightful features, and great extras like exclusive contests and giveaways, once a week. Finish: Medium-short in length. It will also be dropping its designations for "Kentucky," "straight," and "bourbon." Now discover our entire American Whiskey portfolio. Its drinkable and not terribly unpleasant, but this should be so much more. The whiskey is also single barrel, meaning each bottle comes from a separate aging barrel, and all of the barrels are aged . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Aggressively woody and leathery on the nose, it certainly smells like some of the joys been sucked out of it. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". While the days of us buying this whisky a pallet at a time are long gone, this deal offers a glimmer of hope that we might soon return to a world where the top name staples of yesteryear are once again readily available! If youre on the move, thisGlencairn-like stainless steel snifter glassshould survive your travels and avoid shattered glass. 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. Cinnamon and pipe tobacco add some complexity and spice to the dram as well. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. Experience Bottled-in-Bond. On March 3, 1897, whiskey-making history was made. Whats all the fuss about? You must be 21 or over to enter this website. While it doesn't have the smack you around power of its sibling the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, it offers so much supple and sumptuous sipping that it should be considered up there with Blanton's, Russell's and Four Roses as one of one of the pillars of single barrel goodness. Today, Heaven Hill offers Henry McKenna Single Barrel which is aged for 10 years and satisfies the Bottled in Bond (BiB) requirements. 4 reviews. Please check your entries and try again. 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? 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. LEARN MORE Also from heaven hill distillery ELIJAH CRAIG 18-YEAR-OLD SINGLE BARREL With Water: Several drops of water initially mute the aroma, requiring a rest in the glass. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'scotchnoob_com-box-4','ezslot_4',134,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scotchnoob_com-box-4-0'); Overall: A conundrum. Its nose is sweet oak and honey. A veteran writer and journalist, he also operates Null Media, a bespoke content creation company. Review #58: Russell's Reserve 10 Year Straight Bourbon. Heaven Hill Distillery. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. People snapped up McKenna like it was the nectar of the gods in part because the asking price at the time was $35. Fundamental to our modern whiskey industry, the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 established a baseline quality expectation for American whiskey. Instead, I got a glass of oddball juice with a heavy resinous oak slant, a disastrous want of balancing sweetness, and a vaporous finish. Christopher Null is the founder and editor in chief of Drinkhacker. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The only positive thing I can say is that its drinkable and that it didnt kill me. The smells and tastes were absolutely dominated by alcohol, to the point that I questioned if I was losing my mind. But remember, how you drink your whiskey is your decision. Bardstown, KY 2023, Featured Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon Recipe. Its a hard line, and younger ready enough bourbon cannot simply be substituted to increase production, presumably compromising quality or desired flavor profile as corporate pressures compete with the skillful selection of barrels in the rickhouse. Henry McKenna is the longest matured Bottled-in-Bond accessible today, resting in the barrel through 40 Kentucky seasons. Based on this bottle alone, I dont understand the acclaim. The alcohol feels just right - at the 100 proof required to be bottled in bond it is robust, but not over the top. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Sweetness, savory, and floral fragrances followed by brown sugar, fresh-baked rye bread, and malt. shipping/pickup. Color: 1.5/2.0 on the color scale (auburn, polished mahogany) Price: $50 (MSRP, and what I happened to pay in Japan) From the company website: 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. Henry McKennas color is beautiful. One expects 10 year-old BIB bourbon to be bursting with flavor. 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. In 1837, a young Irishman named Henry McKenna completed his immigration to America by settling near Fairfield, Kentucky. The 2019 expression has more going on on the tongue than on the nose, but it remains restrained and tamped down, its notes of dark chocolate and cloves filtered through ample barrel char. This is the. McKenna quickly disappeared from shelves, but its slowly made its way back and is widely available once again, though the price can easily stretch up to $100 or more. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Sorry! B / $70 / heavenhilldistillery.com[BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS] [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]. We're proud of the spirits we've crafted, and grateful the critics agree. 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. Today I am looking at Barrel #4933 and Barrel #6101. As an FYI, I bought and use these Glencairn glasses for my reviews and comparisons (because theyre the best): Full transparency, this is an affiliate link, so I may earn a commission if you buy this or something else from Amazon. It is bottled-in-bond, meaning it was aged for at least 4 years in a federally bonded warehouse and is bottled at the same location whre it was distilled. EH Taylor Single Barrel may have made the most sense, but at the moment, it's $120+ secondary value are about 3 times what Henry McKenna is going for. You know it, you love it. *Bourbon Culture is reader-supported. Aged: 10 years. Whiskey - Bourbon from Kentucky. The finish is long and sweet without being cloying. And now we come to the case study: I wanted to post this review to show that just because a label from a reliable brand has all the right words on it, doesnt mean its going to meet your expectations in the glass. 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. Vanilla and seasoned oak take the forefront, but are quickly balanced by a good dose of rye spice, a pop of burnt brown sugar, and a dollop of caramel. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); For a long while, Henry McKenna was a fairly obscure brand of bourbon in the Heaven Hill empire. Mild pine. Keep up the very good works guys Ive included you guys to blogroll. Henry McKenna 10-Year-Old Bottle in Bond is hard to beat. And when you crank up the output on anything, quality seems to fall. Raided Score is a conversion from an external site's score, to our in house uniform scoring system. Here at The Bourbon Culture, we love to do side by side comparison reviews. While a higher age does not necessarily equate to a better bourbon, it does signify a milestone that must be attained before the barrel can be selected and bottled. To be labelled BiB, the whiskey must be the product of one distillation season and one distiller at a single distillery, aged in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least four years, and it must be bottled at exactly 100 proof. This is great stuff. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. If there is anyone still left unsatisfied, a $30 price tag should help lift their spirits. (12/2008), One of the few remaining age-stated bourbons. Peanuts and maple. There's absolutely nothing out there that can claim those stats even at higher prices. $59 99 $59.99. It's a rich and heady mix. You can hold it up in sunset light and just enjoy the russet and amber hues reflecting. Henry McKenna | Bottled In Bond 10 Year $99.99 $89.99 Shipping calculated at checkout. Size 750mL Proof 100 (50% ABV) *Please note that the ABV of this bottle may vary Aged for a minimum of ten years, this bourbon was called "magnificent" by Jim Murray, author of the Whisky Bible. It used to have a screw top for crying out loud. Henry McKenna is one of the longest aged Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys available today, resting in the barrel through 40 Kentucky seasons. These bottles are numbered sequentially, so youll know if you have a bottle that is from barrel #5500 or higher, it was bottled sometime in early/mid 2019 and beyond. Thats about my limit for this. Nose:The scent of Little Debby Nutty Bars. Chocolate, peanuts, vanilla wafers and caramel. Too inexpensivenot "cool" enough yet? I know theyre out there because my experiences from other barrels were good. The bottle being reviewed is from barrel number 2068 which was barreled on 02/07/05. The 50% ABV required for BIB is (in my opinion) a great drinking strength, and the BIB hoops requirements tend to lead to more of a quality mindset than a big batch mass production mindset in the producer. Below is the current quantity on hand information for this product within our database. SOCIAL. 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. 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. For over 85 years, we've devoted ourselves to the craft of fine American Whiskey. That said: Its surely not the best whiskey of 2019. Visit our Advanced Search page where you can filter and find any of our ratings and reviews from the last 15 years. On my second taste, there is a little more pumpernickel bread, wood, and some caramel and honey. Henry McKenna's color is beautiful. Please see the FAQ for more. It tastes great, checks all the boxes, good richness, texture, lots of toasty spice, caramel, charred oak tones. There is no way that this barrel of Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel was aged for 10 years. Er There is also a strong, unpleasant metallic smell from the alcohol. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Henry McKenna 10 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond #4397 Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery Category: Bottled-in-Bond, Straight Bourbon Score: 91 Nose: Dusty quiet nose, some caramel, some herbal notes. 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". Caramel and vanilla, with roasted pine nuts and spice, and a slight hint of strawberry lead to a long and savory finish. Thats simply not true. Alcohol mixes in and holds its weight against the other scents as you might expect for 100 proof. Why not make Bottled-In-Bond Day a weekly celebration? With the strong alcohol fumes, this truly does not smell like a 10-year old bourbon. The Alcohol in Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel immediately rushes my nose. Parkers Heritage Collection Promise of Hope, Bernheim Barrel Proof Original Wheat Whiskey (Batch A223), World Whiskey Society Doc Holliday 8 Year Bourbon, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Bottled in Bond Bourbon, Lifting the shroud on malted corn bourbon with Frey Ranch's Co-Founder Colby Frey, The definitive guide on how to drink bourbon. We're proud of the spirits we've crafted right here in the heart of Bourbon country. Henry McKenna 10 Year Old Bottled in Bond Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) SKU #1133745 90-95 points Wine Enthusiast . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. No, it's not Trump vs. Biden! Add Case. An epic battle like the world has never seen! Discover the story behind our Bernheim Distillery, the largest independent, family-owned Bourbon Distillery in the world. SPEND $415 AND GET $30 OFF - use code TOP2023. Product turnaround time varies by location of inventory and your chosen method of And then in 2019 it won Best Whiskey of the Year at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition. Mashbill:78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, and 10% Rye. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Please login or subscribe to PRO to view data from the last ten years. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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), Henry McKenna Single Barrel is the only extra aged Bottled-in-Bond Single Barrel Bourbon. So why did I end up choosing to compare it against itself? Flavors of charred oak, sweet corn, and spice nicely offset the spirity foundation. Henry McKenna Bottled-In-Bond 10 Year Bourbon 750ml. Business, Economics, and Finance . And then all hell broke loose. Pouring these two side by side reveals some immediate and startling differences. Sweet and oaky. Henry McKenna 10 Year Old Bottled in Bond Bourbon used to be an easily found $30 to $35 bottle of bourbon. Heaven Hill Distillery's Henry McKenna is already a producer of one of the finest Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys available. 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 . 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. Even worse, it doesnt fade away even after the bottled has aired out over a few weeks. If you see this bottle for its original price & are a fan of aged bourbon you will not be disappointed. But alas, the lack of a unique flavor profile is not always a bad thing, as a quintessential bourbon flavor profile is sometimes just what the doctor ordered. The caramel comes through perfectly and brings with in the herbal richness for a wonderful combination. If you didn't heed my warning in the beginning, you're rude and I hate you. So what's up? Henry McKenna (10 year) Bottled in Bond Single Barrel 50% ABV ScotchNoob Mark: Price Range: $45 - $60 Acquired: 750ml bottle, K&L Wines, Redwood City, CA $45 Bourbon / Single Barrel / United States 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. Palate:Sweet and savory salted caramel along with some musty peanuts. This is a single barrel that youre not likely to see on shelves, not because its rare or desirable but just because its been sitting on my shelf since 2019. Barrel 2917, Barreled on 29/8/06 Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 Year Old shares the same mashbill as many other Heaven Hill brands (75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley). It seems as its competitors are higher in price, lower in age or have a proof that is separated by at least 10 proof points. 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. In addition, single barrel bourbons are generally considered to be drawn from the honey barrels as they must be taken as is; distillers do not have the option to blend them into other barrels to achieve the desired end result. How Long Does Baileys (And Other Cream Liqueurs) Last? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Henry McKenna is one of the longest aged Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys available . 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. Traditional notes of caramel and vanilla play against a backdrop of seasoned oak. Barrel: 6386 P-7th floor. Because after Henry McKennas 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition victory, everyone automatically assumes that every bottle is a Double Gold winning copycat. 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. Next up, we're diving into my bottle of Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel Bottled in Bond! JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. What used to be a staple on our shelf has moved into the unobtainable realm since McKenna 10 year won Best in Show at the SF spirits comp in 2019. Voted 2021's best single barrel bourbon at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards, Henry McKenna's 10 year old bottled-in-bond single barrel is one of the finest Kentucky whiskeys available today, having been awarded this prestigious honor 3 times in the last 4 years (2021, 2019 and 2018). Additionally, the BiB label must clearly identify the distillery where it was distilled and where it was bottled, if different.Henry McKenna Single Barrel shares the same mashbill as many other Heaven Hill brands (75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley). Reviewed: Barrel #6219 (barreled on 2/2/2009). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Discover their quintessential American success story. In fact, after the victory, these bottles sold so quickly that it seems as if Heaven Hill cranked up the output even more to meet demand. This item is available for Gift Wrap. Henry McKenna Bottled In Bond Comparison So if you find one, be happy but dont keep them all for yourself. Henry McKenna Single Barrel offers a traditional and quintessential flavor profile that should appeal to nearly every bourbon enthusiast. But, Angel's Envy newest release called Private Barrel. It has a satisfying mouthfeel and the 100 proof plays perfectly, providing just the right amount of burn without overdoing it. Healthy dose of molasses, peanut brittle and caramel. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I also paid $47 dollars for the third edition of Dickel BIB in the same store a few weeks ago. Its not great but its not bad either. We've put together a guide to whiskey tasting for newcomers and experts alike. While the 2011 expression is still bursting with spice aromas, the 2019 feels almost dead by comparison. Balance is the point of this sipper. You can hold it up in sunset light and just enjoy the russet and amber hues reflecting. Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. It all changed on that balmy Wednesday afternoon in Washington D.C. with the passage of the Bottle-in-Bond Act. Entry is nicely sweet and intensely grainy; the mid-palate is the high point as the taste profile expands to include semisweet flavors of caramel corn, toasted marshmallow, dried fruit and chocolate covered cherry. Under $10 Under $20 . I wonder if this barrel came from lower in the warehouse, where there was less fluctuation in temperature and humidity, leading to less vigorous aging in the barrel. It is smooth, rich, bold, and classic. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Finish:Notes of burnt toffee and coffee grounds showcase the sweet and tannic side of this dram while black pepper, cardamom and dry roasted peanuts add lasting spice and oiliness. Quantity: s. Sold Out. Barrel #6101 couldve easily fooled me for an EHT Single Barrel or Small Batch because it was sweeter and fruitier. What a whiskey. Edit:As of 3/25/19, this also won best whiskey at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 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. Still Austin 'The Artist' Straight Rye Whiskey, Jack Daniel's Twice Barreled American Single Malt, Laws Whiskey House Four Grain 8-Year Bonded Bourbon Batch No. Proof: 100 Proof Age: 10 Years Old How to enjoy Brand Awards & Accolades Tasting Notes Color: Warm golden amber It seems so crazy that we can even keep this bourbon in stock given its quality and 10 year age statement. Heaven Hill Distillery. Full transparency, this is an Amazon affiliate link, so I may earn a commission if you buy this or something else from Amazon. I was hoping that the alcohol was mainly contained in the scents, but it permeates every part of Henry McKenna 10 Year bourbon. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Oh no, this is not a good start from Henry McKenna 10 Year. Henry McKenna (10 year) Bottled in Bond Single Barrel, 750ml bottle, K&L Wines, Redwood City, CA $45, prior 10 year-old Single Barrel bottled for K&L, Dickel is accomplishing in the Bottled-in-Bond arena, Cocktails: Part One. I love what you guys are usually up too. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Henry McKenna is one of the longest aged Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys available today, resting in the barrel through 40 Kentucky seasons. Henry McKenna is one of the longest aged Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys available today, resting in the barrel through 40 Kentucky seasons. Drinking this makes me feel like Im inBizzaro World where younger whiskeys taste mature, (such as Old Lines Cask Strength American Single Malt), and the older ones taste new and raw. After a few minutes, there is a lingering dryness that leaves my mouth dry and puckered. 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 talk about bourbon, rye, or any American whiskey here (yes, even Jack). While not of the same caliber, my strong affinity for Parkers Promise of Hope makes me admittedly partial to McKennas flavor profile as they share the same traditional, quintessential no gimmicks characteristics.Ive sampled from three different McKenna barrels and while Ive found them all to be in within the same range, I will say one was a little better than the other two.