Once Im able to recover, I can smell a little bit of wood, pine, brown sugar, and sweet corn, but its still bathed in alcohol. Most notable for being a 10 year old bottled in bond whiskey most bonded releases are considerably younger it was an outstanding value for what was in the bottle. George Dickel Bourbon Whisky Aged 8 Years: 2014 - 2023 VinePair Inc. Made In NYC. To back up though, Henry McKenna 10 Year at its core is a double-digit age statement, single barrel, and higher-proof bourbon from a famous Kentucky distillery. (A Julios Liquors exclusive.). [2022] - [The Whiskey Shelf] | All rights reserved. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The aftertaste is nondescript. This also resulted in huge shortages that foreshadowed the current bourbon boom, but also led to unfortunate price increases from what previously was a sub-$30 budget bottle that was easy to find, to one that is now $50+ and allocated. Pouring these two side by side reveals some immediate and startling differences. A friend gave me a 2019-released bottle and I felt the time was right to compare it against a 2011 bottling thats been kicking around here for years. Henry McKenna is aged two and a half times longer than the minimum, with the bottle proudly labeled as a 10-year-old, single-barrel, bottled-in-bond liquid. Both have been $60. Rum Parkers Heritage Collection Promise of Hope, Bernheim Barrel Proof Original Wheat Whiskey (Batch A223), Jeptha Creed Red, White & Blue Straight Bourbon. Word has it that McKennas penchant for aged bourbon stemmed, in part, from a commitment to sanitation in the bourbon distillation process. And have seen 2 in different stores now since then. 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). Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon was named for Henry McKenna, the Irish outsider who adjusted his family's bourbon formula to work the grains he found in Kentucky. Critic tasting note: "One of the few remaining age-stated bourbons. Chicken Cock Double Oak Kentucky Whiskey Review, Press: Ingram River Aged Announces Major Operations Expansion and Relocation, Press: Makers Mark Wood Finishing Series 2023 Release: BEP, WhistlePig Beholden 21 Year Single Malt Review. The Henry McKenna brand has grown in popularity since the 10 year old bonded Bourbon was named a best buy a couple of years ago. April 2 UpdateThank you for joining The Bourbon Review and Tito Belvedere for April Fools Day! Blog, Featured Whiskies Award Winning Whiskies Gift Ideas Whiskies under 100, Returns & Refunds Shipping & FAQ Terms & Conditions Contact us. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 100 Proof (50% ABV) Aged 10 Years. Their sales team is actively removing older bottles from shelves as we speak, and they say theyll be mixing recovered bottles into the new patent-pending vatting process for McKenna Award Winner. This higher corn content contributes to Henry McKennas sweet, smooth tasting notes. Tito Belvedere is the vodka editor for Bourbon Review. If I put myself in the shoes of a whiskey reviewer in 2014-2016 (I started in 2018), Id be ecstatic to have a bottle as fantastic as this one for $25-30. Order by 3 pm for next working day delivery Worldwide Shipping Available Free UK Mainland Standard Delivery for orders over 100. Elijah Craig Small batch even won "Best Small-Batch Bourbon" at the same competition. 'THE MCKENNA BILL' WAS BROUGHT. About Single Barrel. Your review*document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a7e2b6e0b987c741b7f004c2e30dc98f" );document.getElementById("i3a7e97284").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Home Nonetheless, Im giving it another try with this Henry McKenna 10 Year Review, covering barrel 1495, barreled on 5/26/2004 and likely released in 2014 or 2015. Full transparency, this is an Amazon affiliate link, so I may earn a commission if you buy this or something else from Amazon. So your timing for this article was spot on! In-stock and available for sale at the price shown. If you're not old enough to drink, then you're not old enough to read Breaking Bourbon. More shipping infoShipping info. Disgruntled fans took to social media to air their fears and angers that their favorite brown would gain traction post-win and experience price hikes. Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel starts off fairly sweet, which is nice for a change. As you may have noticed, two weeks after this article came out, McKenna 10 year was released to a bunch of NC stores. Henry McKenna 10 Year. The Bottled-In-Bond Act of 1897 holds that a bonded bourbon must be produced during one distilling season, distilled at one distillery, bottled at 100 proof, and aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse. Full transparency, this is an Amazon affiliate link, so I may earn a commission if you buy this or something else from Amazon. Swirling brings out more hefty nuttiness and roasted oak up front, followed by dense dark caramel, maple syrup, vanilla, dried apple, cinnamon, orange peel, cherry, and licorice. If you buy several bottles (of this or others) you can save a lot of money on shipping. If there is anyone still left unsatisfied, a $30 price tag should help lift their spirits. Caramel and honey mix with spice in a lot of great ways. Bottled and stored with producer, excludes shipping and tariffs. Henry McKenna 10 Year instantly took a liking to Kentucky whiskey and set . On my second taste, there is a little more pumpernickel bread, wood, and some caramel and honey. Sure it's an award winning bottle that has the ability to vaporize from shelves, but it's also a ten year old bottled-in-bond single barrel product. It will also be dropping its designations for Kentucky, straight, and bourbon., You can get whiskey in a lot more hands if youre willing to make a couple of changes, explained new master distiller Conor ODriscoll. 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. That said: Its surely not the best whiskey of 2019. Henry McKenna Single Barrel is a 10 Year Old, Single Barrel Bottled-In-Bond that is well worth the $55 price tag it carries in North Carolina. Henry McKenna 10 Year won "Best Single Barrel Bourbon" at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, an absolute coup for an affordable bourbon with so many other strong competitors. A bottle of the hard-to-find Henry McKenna 10 Year Old, a single barrel bourbon bottled at 100 proof. It tastes amazing with nice richness and density. Russell's Reserve 10 Years Old: This sort of clever work and coverage! To give you the best search experience, we use cookies for remembering your search filters, personalizing content, and analyzing how the website is used. It has a satisfying mouthfeel and the 100 proof plays perfectly, providing just the right amount of burn without overdoing it. It has all the stats of a very attractive and expensive bourbon, but with a surprisingly not so bad price (at MSRP at least). This bottle of Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel is awful. 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. All September on VinePair, were turning our focus to Americas spirit: bourbon. Please enter your username or email address. I also would have picked it as one of the best bourbons, regardless of price, and a superb budget bourbon. While youre here, check out my subsequent review of another. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Theres a little bit of wood, something bitter from the wood, and grass. Henry McKenna Bottled In Bond 10 Year Single Barrel 100 Proof 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. Turns out, their worries were at least partially justified. There is no way that this barrel of Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel was aged for 10 years. You can hold it up in sunset light and just enjoy the russet and amber hues reflecting. Most notable for being a 10 year old bottled in bond whiskey most bonded releases are considerably younger it was an outstanding value for what was in the bottle. Today, Heaven Hill offers Henry McKenna Single Barrel which is aged for 10 years and satisfies the Bottled in Bond (BiB) requirements. Gin Chewing makes it more roasty and oaky, followed by nuts, honey, vanilla, tingly sweet oak, smoke, licorice, and pineapple. Oh yes, theres dark roasted caramel, roasted peanut shells, dense honey-roasted peanut butter, roasted oak, cinnamon, dark cherry, cocoa powder, orange peel, and licorice. Customer loyalty can go a long way in finding scarce bourbons. Henry McKenna 10 year represents a lot of things in the whiskey world. Mashbill:78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, and 10% Rye. Your email address will not be published. Bourbon and chocolate make for a timeless combination. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Couple with the boom in demand for all bourbon, and the scarcity of bottles at a similar quality and price-point (and some awards), its getting harder and harder to track this bourbon down in NC ABC stores. Bowmore 18 Year Old The Vintners Trilogy, Glendronach 1994 Single Cask 1189 21 Year Old, Aultmore 25 Year Old 1990 Single Cask (Master of Malt), Blantons Straight from the Barrel Bourbon Barrel 1620, Compass Box Great King Street Glasgow Blend, Cotsworld Single Malt Whisky 2014 Odyssey Barley, Four Roses Small Batch Barrel Strength 2016, Caol Ila Natural Cask Strength Distillery Exclusive Bottling 2018, Darkness! I had never had Henry McKenna until 2021 because it got tatered before I discovered it. Chewing gives me nutty caramel, vanilla, apple, roasted oak, cinnamon, cherry, orange, peach, pineapple, licorice, and a little cocoa powder and pineapple. Medium length with a balanced tapering of the flavors and spicy burn from the palate. The distillery has several bourbons that bear corn percentages above 70 percent, including Elijah Craig and Evan Williams. Its not great but its not bad either. 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. Henry McKenna 10 Year won Best Single Barrel Bourbon at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, an absolute coup for an affordable bourbon with so many other strong competitors. While the 2011 expression is still bursting with spice aromas, the 2019 feels almost dead by comparison. Customer Favourites Im proudly Asian American and can speak Cantonese, Mandarin, and some Japanese. 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. What Heaven Hill has to say about the product: This high proof, Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon was named for Henry McKenna, the Irish immigrant who adapted his familys whiskey recipe to work the grains he found in Kentucky. Review: Hiyo Sparking Social Tonic, Complete Lineup, The Best Grenadine Roundup 6 Brands Tasted, 1 Winner, The Best Ready-to-Drink Margarita: 11 Brands Tasted, Review: Woodford Reserve Masters Collection Historic Barrel Entry, The Best Cherry Liqueur Roundup: 12 Bottles Tasted, 1 Winner, The Best Chocolate Liqueur Roundup 10 Bottles Tasted, 2 Winners. Its not complex, but rather a fine balance of traditional bourbon flavors with just the right amounts of oak, spice, and sweeter elements contrasting one another in harmony. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Today, the Henry McKenna brand belongs to the largest family-owned distillery in the country, which houses a well-known collection of bourbon labels. Is it worth it? Traditional notes of caramel and vanilla play against a backdrop of seasoned oak. Broadbay 8 Year Old Pedro Ximnez Cask Finish, Darkness! Henry McKenna Single Barrel can be described as traditional; a quintessential bourbon flavor profile with the potential for subtle hints of magic if you happen to find a special barrel. This is the type of barrel that would garner the praise and awards it received in 2018 and 2019. Big news out of France, as a big name goes it alone and blind tasting is called into question. Sure its an award winning bottle that has the ability to vaporize from shelves, but its also a ten year old bottled-in-bond single barrel product. Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 Years Review This bourbon has more than double in price on the retail market after it claimed "Best in Show Whiskey" at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits. Get the latest in beer, wine, and cocktail culture sent straight to your inbox. Reviewed: Barrel #6219 (barreled on 2/2/2009). We want to make sure everyone can enjoy Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond 10-Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon, explained senior communications manager Josh Hafer, so were making some changes to the formula to increase distribution., 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. Chocolate Bourbon Balls Are the Boozy Treat Were Making All Autumn Long: As I found more bourbon I enjoyed, the need to dive deeper into the history, brands, and technical side of things converted me into a total bourbon geek. The nose, is one of the best noses we have smelt on any bourbon here at The House of whisky and the whisky is truly sublime too, with lovely vanilla . Henry Mckenna 10 Year Bourbon Whiskey. Henry McKenna 10 year Bottled In Bond Review - Single Barrel selected for Everson Royce Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery Age:10 years ABV: 50% Mashbill: 75% corn, 13% rye & 12% barley Price: $30 Barrel: 6386 P-7th floor EYE Dark Caramel NOSE Dark fruit leather and a rich warm wood flood the olfactory. Today, Heaven Hill offers Henry McKenna Single Barrel which is aged for 10 years and satisfies the Bottled in Bond (BiB) requirements. He focuses on good, clean flavor distilled above 190 proof. Finish: Long, sweet, and spicy. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Once it won the Best in Show title, demand caused prices to rise to an average of $85 per bottle. With the strong alcohol fumes, this truly does not smell like a 10-year old bourbon. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A Bourbon delight. Either the age statement will drop, or the price will pop. Im proudly Asian American and can speak Cantonese, Mandarin, and some Japanese. commentssorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment Unfortunately, McKennas relative value now seems so obvious that I can only assume it might be one of the next on the chopping block. 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. Some botanical notes too, especially toward the finish. Gone are the days when Buffalo Trace's Weller line presented an easy-to-find, affordable alternative to Pappy. Nestor Liquor. Rate Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey, Not sure if I had a bad batch but the bottle I purchased was awful. All Rights reserved. With hang-tags touting awards for the juice inside being ubiquitous these days, it can be hard to see through the marketing BS to find the true gems. Sometimes that means being in the right place at the right time, and other times it means knowing someone who can tip you off. The bourbon, which is made from a mash of primarily corn, is the only extra-aged bottled-in-bond single barrel bourbon available today. Henry McKenna 10 Year Old Bottled In Bond Bourbon. My first sip has a big blast of caramel, honey-roasted peanut butter, vanilla, roasted oak, cinnamon, clove, baked apple, licorice, and fresh apricot. Henry McKenna 10 Single Barrel is a bottled-in bond bourbon by Heaven Hill. Based on this bottle alone, I dont understand the acclaim. 16 Of The Best Bourbons Under $50 Worth Buying, Glencairn Crystal Whiskey Glass, Set of 6, Clear, 6 Pack, Glencairn-like stainless steel snifter glass, Westward Whiskey Cask Strength Single Malt, Penelope Toasted Barrel Strength Bourbon Select. Wine-Searcher's historical data and benchmark analysis provides trustworthy and valuable insights into likely market trends. The problem is that theres no way to really know which barrels are good until you try themand hopefully dont waste $40-50 at this point. The alcohol unfortunately still overpowers much of the flavor its inescapable. 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. 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.