Sampled as part of a blind tasting night hosted by the Lexington Bourbon Society and managed by Matt Preston. Thanks Matt for all the fun events you put together! And if you’re reading this, in the central Kentucky area, and not already a member of the Lexington Bourbon Society, go here and join!

Pinhook is a “sourced whiskey” company and, as is usually the case, is scarce on details. We do know the mash bill and the age, however.

This is the fourth Pinhook expression that I’ve tried and the best one so far. Each expression is very different and likely from several different distilleries. Two were good but one expression was so bad that even though it was part of a shared flight, no one wanted to finish it. (I regret not taking notes on which previous expressions I tried so I could tell which was which.)

This is Lot 6 “Bourbon Empire.” Like the other Pinhook expressions, it’s actually named after a famous racehorse, not the book of the same name.

Lot 6 is Lot 5 (“Urban Bourbon”) plus 6 months more aging.

Production: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 75% corn, 20.5% rye, 4.5% malted barley. Aged approximately 8.5 years. 90 proof.

 

Color: Straw.

Nose: Noticeable ethanol, slight barrel fruitiness, hints of chocolate and vanilla, and a touch of mint/menthol.

Palate: Dry and grassy. Strong rye.

Finish: Corn. Rough and dry.

Verdict: Not one I’d reach for regularly.

More about the Pinhook and Bourbon Empire on their website: https://www.pinhookbourbon.com/pages/bourbon-empire