Jacob did a high quality job setting the stage for Ben Holladay Distillery together with his evaluate of its Gentle Purple Wheat Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon and Bottled-in-Bond Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey in his prior evaluations of the Missouri-based operation. Take into account this an addendum, reviewing the Gentle Purple Wheat Bottled-In-Bond expression however at “rickhouse proof,” aka cask energy.
It’s the identical mash of 73% corn, 15% tender crimson winter wheat, and 12% malted barley, and in addition aged for six years, however it hits the bottle at over 60% abv. Notice that bottles are dated with the 12 months and month of bottling, created with the understanding that releases will change from batch to batch. Let’s dive in.
Holladay Gentle Purple Wheat Rickhouse Proof Bourbon Assessment
The working phrase within the title of bonded expression is “tender,” because it’s loaded with mild notes of tinned fruit, buttery brioche, sesame, and coconut cream (I tasted it contemporary) — as pretty a session dram as you’ll discover on this value and age band. With an additional 10+% alcohol, the image adjustments, not less than a bit, because the quietude of the bonded expression is changed by a significantly racier composition. Notes of dried fruits and vanilla stay, however there’s additionally a considerable punch to the whiskey, not simply ethanol however a transparent barrel char high quality that provides a grittiness and ample darkish chocolate. Whereas the bonded expression is certainly “tender,” this rendition has fairly the sting.
The palate continues the theme. There’s plenty of brown sugar and nutmeg right here, and I used to be rapidly reminded of a nut-studded fruitcake, with a clove character creating significantly because it builds in glass. Airtime helps this whiskey method a extra conventional, and fairly savory, high quality, these cloves actually digging deep into the again of the palate and snowballing into notes of darkish chocolate and mint. These lattermost parts are widespread to the bonded Gentle Purple Wheat expression, however the hefty barrel char character is contemporary and new.
The end is lingering and surprisingly wealthy, a dense mix of raisins, figs, and spent bonfire logs. I prefer it simply high quality, however facet by facet towards the bonded expression, there’s simply no comparability: The gentler, extra elegant 100-proofer gained me over each time. That would simply be a perform of this classic, or it may very well be proof that it is a whiskey that simply doesn’t want the additional alcoholic punch. Both manner, I recommend giving Holladay a spin.
121.5 proof. Reviewed: October 2024 launch.
B+ / $75 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Holladay Gentle Purple Wheat Rickhouse Proof Bourbon
USD75
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