Critics agree that this is perfectly balanced Bourbon. 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). This is the. Pour Bourbon, and then add water. Henry McKenna is the longest matured Bottled-in-Bond accessible today, resting in the barrel through 40 Kentucky seasons. Yeah, it's not my jam either. Were proud to produce more Bottled-in-Bond products than any other American Whiskey distiller. Discover the story behind our Bernheim Distillery, the largest independent, family-owned Bourbon Distillery in the world. Get Drinkhacker's top stories, exclusive goodies, and more! 2021 Null Media LLC All Rights Reserved. There is also a strong, unpleasant metallic smell from the alcohol. 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. You've heard of Evan, Elijah, and Larceny. Instead, I got a glass of oddball juice with a heavy resinous oak slant, a disastrous want of balancing sweetness, and a vaporous finish. The water brings out a little welcome sweetness on the palate in the form of milk chocolate, which continues through the finish. 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. EH Taylor Single Barrel may have made the most sense, but at the moment, its $120+ secondary value are about 3 times what Henry McKenna is going for. 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. I expect more from a $45 bourbon, especially in light of what competitor Dickel is accomplishing in the Bottled-in-Bond arena. In case you didnt bother to click on the links above, the short version is that the brand is Heaven Hill bourbon using the same mashbill as Elijah Craig and Evan Williams (75% corn, 13% rye, 12% barley). But remember, how you drink your whiskey is your decision. You must be 21 or over to enter this website. SOCIAL. Finally, being BiB results in a bottling proof of 100 which some consider an ideal proof and one that is higher than many other bourbons on the shelf for around $30. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Remember that every bottle can vary considerably, so this should hardly be taken as canon for either vintage. 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. Full transparency, this is an Amazon affiliate link, so I may earn a commission if you buy this or something else from Amazon. 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. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Elijah Craig Small batch even won Best Small-Batch Bourbon at the same competition. Its 10 year age statement and BiB designation should satisfy bourbon purists. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Barrel #6101 couldve easily fooled me for an EHT Single Barrel or Small Batch because it was sweeter and fruitier. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". By t8ke; Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources It used to have a screw top for crying out loud. 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. 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. 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 McKenna Single Barrel is the only extra aged Bottled-in-Bond single barrel Bourbon. Henry McKenna Bottled-In-Bond 10 Year Bourbon 750ml. The aftertaste is nondescript. We apologize for any inconvenience. Surprisingly, the span between the two being put in a barrel is not even a full 8 months according to the dump dates on the front label. Then, in 2019, it won best whiskey overall in the same competition. 2022 Harvest Fair 2022 SF Chronicle Wine Competition Best Value. Apologies in advance, as this review is more of a case study than an actual useful review. Get the inside scoop on the latest & greatest whiskey releases in our daily newsletter. I usually try to pick two (or three) bottles that share similar characteristics and see which one is superior. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. Tack the pandemic on top of that destroying supply chains (and the fact that it's a 10 year old BIB single barrel product) and you've got a recipe for infrequent stock drops and limited availability. 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. The smells and tastes were absolutely dominated by alcohol, to the point that I questioned if I was losing my mind. Just west of downtown Louisville sits Heaven Hills Bernheim Distillerythe only heritage distillery to produce every major style and type of American Whiskey, with five signature mashbills. A function of single barrel selection no doubt, I still feel each was a great value for the price. When it comes to the technicals there are close comparisons at this price point, but none of them carry the combination of a 10 year age statement, single barrel, and BiB.While all this makes McKenna look like the class Valedictorian on paper, the question of value then becomes a subjective question of taste. Critics agree that this is perfectly balanced Bourbon. Balance is the point of this sipper. Heaven Hill Distillery's Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon was announced as the "Best in Show Whiskey" at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Henry Mckenna Single Barrel (750 ML) Henry McKenna Single Barrel is the only extra aged bottled in bond Single Barrel Bourbon in the world. LEARN MORE Also from heaven hill distillery ELIJAH CRAIG 18-YEAR-OLD SINGLE BARREL But accolades aren't as important as how it tastes - so let's taste. Though it carries an MSRP of $30, it tends to range in price from $25-$35. 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. 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. One expects 10 year-old BIB bourbon to be bursting with flavor. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Some bottles move faster than others, so it's always good to call ahead. Nose:This nose is noticeably lighter and fruitier than Glass #1. Happy Bottled-in-Bond Day! 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 Critics agree that this is perfectly balanced Bourbon. Business, Economics, and Finance. This single barrel release (Barrel 8141) was filled on 12/31/2009 and was bottled at 10 years of age and the requisite 50% ABV. Theres also a decent amount of tannins that stick around like drying oak and tobacco. He brought with him the generations-old family whiskey recipe, and established his distillery about 10 miles from the current distillery site owned by Heaven Hill in Bardstown, Kentucky. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. $59 99 $59.99. Keep up the very good works guys Ive included you guys to blogroll. B / $70 / heavenhilldistillery.com[BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS] [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]. 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. Henry McKenna is one of the longest aged Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys available today, resting in the barrel through 40 Kentucky seasons. Fully ripened strawberries and cherries combined with cinnamon and light brown sugar make it a sweet treat to smell every time you go in for a sip. Age stated 10 year old bottled in bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon is simply not being sold by anyone else. 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. Fortunately for K&L fans our excellent relationship with Heaven Hill has afforded a sizable allocation this holiday season and we've got it on an email offer for the first time in many many years. Sorry, product recommendations are temporarily unavailable. Spotted this in my local mom and pop store at $79 a bottle Usually they have some exotic and oddball stuff here at very fair prices Very glad I read this review, although when it comes to Bourbon over $50 I start thinking about what sort of single malt I can pick up in that price range Ardbeg 10, Craigellechie 13 (which is an extraordinary and unsung Speyside malt by the way) etc Thanks for the honest accounting on this! Sweet and woody without astringency or acetone like Elijah Craig Small Batch, which I dont love. For a detailed explanation. Kim Kardashian Doja Cat Iggy Azalea Anya Taylor-Joy Jamie Lee Curtis Natalie Portman Henry Cavill Millie Bobby Brown Tom Hiddleston Keanu Reeves. Beating out every other whisky of any type this under the radar stalwart shot into the stratosphere of Bourbon circles everywhere. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Kim Kardashian Doja Cat Iggy Azalea Anya Taylor-Joy Jamie Lee Curtis Natalie Portman Henry Cavill Millie Bobby Brown Tom Hiddleston Keanu Reeves. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". VALUE: Henry McKenna 10 year has a SRP of $30 which is an absolute steal! 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". Please see the FAQ for more. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. Additionally, our shopping cart looks at real time inventory so when you add an item to you cart we will do an immediate check of available inventory and alert you if there are any issues. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. 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. Heaven Hill Distillery. Because after Henry McKennas 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition victory, everyone automatically assumes that every bottle is a Double Gold winning copycat. Nose:The scent of Little Debby Nutty Bars. Chocolate, peanuts, vanilla wafers and caramel. Henry McKenna is the longest aged Bottled-in-Bond available today, resting in the barrel through 40 Kentucky seasons. For this comparison, Ill be tasting these both blind and in a glencairn. 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! I know theyre out there because my experiences from other barrels were good. The finish is long and sweet without being cloying. Size: 750 ML. When Im almost finished with the glass, I smell a little more grass, but thats about it. Were just here to make sure its an experience you enjoy. These two were definitely as different as they come! Palate:Sweet and savory salted caramel along with some musty peanuts. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. I've actually reviewed Henry McKenna whiskey before - specifically a 10 year-old single-barrel release from K&L from way back in 2013, which I enjoyed, and a 10 year BiB single barrel that I didn't as much. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It doesn't blow away in any one aspect but it is very solid, definitely delicious and priced like the year is 2005. Aggressively woody and leathery on the nose, it certainly smells like some of the joys been sucked out of it. It all changed on that balmy Wednesday afternoon in Washington D.C. with the passage of the Bottle-in-Bond Act. But ultimately this is just one of the very finest drinkers in the shop. McKenna 10 year is a 100 proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. If you're not old enough to drink, then you're not old enough to read Breaking Bourbon. 10 year-old bourbon isn't nearly as easy to find these days, alas, and those McKenna 10-year single barrel bottlings are now fetching $80 to $100 after one of the single barrels was . 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. Under $10 Under $20 . 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. Please login or subscribe to PRO to view data from the last ten years. On March 3, 1897, whiskey-making history was made. A quick look at the scores that these were rating should hopefully quell any sense that these are absolutely bottles that you should go out and find right now. Im proudly Asian American and can speak Cantonese, Mandarin, and some Japanese. Mashbill:78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, and 10% Rye. 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. Medium to long. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Coupled with the technicals this is very simply a great deal for around $30. Edit:As of 3/25/19, this also won best whiskey at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. People snapped up McKenna like it was the nectar of the gods in part because the asking price at the time was $35. Heaven Hill Distillery's Henry McKenna is already a producer of one of the finest Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys available. This is, of course, analogous to single barrel releases of Single Malt Scotch, which can also be wildly variable in both quality and flavor profile.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'scotchnoob_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',135,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scotchnoob_com-banner-1-0'); Im still able to get this without paying a premium. 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. So lets blind taste them to see which one is better and if there are any similarities as well. Its just stuck being a hot and not particularly flavorful mess. This item is available for Gift Wrap. Review #7: Henry McKenna 10 year BIB. Henry McKenna | Bottled In Bond 10 Year $99.99 $89.99 Shipping calculated at checkout. That said: Its surely not the best whiskey of 2019. It has all of the flavors that I love and none that I dont. 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. An epic battle like the world has never seen! Henry McKenna 10 Year Old Bottled in Bond Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) SKU #1133745 90-95 points Wine Enthusiast . Theres a little bit of wood, something bitter from the wood, and grass. SPEND $415 AND GET $30 OFF - use code BOURBON30. You know it, you love it. Stir in a highball glass half filled with ice. Review: Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon 10 Years Old (2019), Review: Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon 10 Years Old (2011), Review: Bakers Single Barrel Bourbon 7 Years Old and 13 Years Old (2019), Review: Michters Single Barrel Bourbon 10 Years Old 2019, Review: Wilderness Trail Single Barrel Bourbon Bottled in Bond 6 Years Old, Waterfords Single Farm Origin series is bill, The resurgence of once hard-to-find brands like, More and more whisky from India continues to la, MGP veteran Greg Metzes Old Elk line got its, Would you like a FREE Lexenic Cocktail Shaker? Search Rank Over Time. Thanks for reading! It will also be dropping its designations for "Kentucky," "straight," and "bourbon." Please log in again. Today I am looking at Barrel #4933 and Barrel #6101. The last bottle I bought (batch 8119) cost $44. 4 reviews. Finish: Medium-short in length. And you know what, it's SINGLE BARREL as well. Henry McKenna 10 Years Old Bottled in Bond, USA, Heaven Hill Distilleries, 0.75L . Henry McKenna Bottled In Bond Comparison Heaven Hill Distillery has been perfecting the craft of distilling, aging, and selecting award-winning whiskeys for decades. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Product turnaround time varies by location of inventory and your chosen method of Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. And when you crank up the output on anything, quality seems to fall. [2022] - [The Whiskey Shelf] | All rights reserved. A moderate tongue burn is followed by heavy dark notes of dark-roast coffee beans, resiny oak, bittersweet chocolate fudge, and toasted (even charred) nuts. 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. Reviewed: Barrel #6219 (barreled on 2/2/2009). Look, McKenna bottled-in-bond is not at all a bad whiskey, but its less complex than it was 8 years prior or at least this barrel is. Deep chocolate in color the intensity of 10 years in new American oak stands out even before you pull the stopper. What a whiskey. As it greets you at the door, it has a fair amount of heat and caramel that gives way to a bit. . The caramel comes through perfectly and brings with in the herbal richness for a wonderful combination. Raided Score is a conversion from an external site's score, to our in house uniform scoring system. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Water isnt a bad idea here, especially if you feel the whiskey is too dry like I did. Bardstown, KY 2023, Featured Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon Recipe. Theres caramel and a little mint spice from the rye, but still has too much alcohol. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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). Other great examples include classics like Old Grand-Dad Bonded, Old Forester 1897, Henry McKenna 10 Year, and standouts from newer producers such as Laws, New Riff, Filibuster, and Blinking Owl. It seems so crazy that we can even keep this bourbon in stock given its quality and 10 year age statement. Henry McKenna closely resembles the limited edition 2013Parkers Heritage Collection Promise of Hopesingle barrel bourbon in mash bill, proof, age, and style. BrMate NOSR, Double-Wall Stainless Steel Whiskey Nosing Glass 7oz (Matte Black). For a long while, Henry McKenna was a fairly obscure brand of bourbon in the Heaven Hill empire. :Henry McKenna 10 Year Old Bottled in Bond Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. So checking almost every geeky bourbon box. Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery Age:10 years ABV: 50% Mashbill: 75% corn, 13% rye & 12% barley Price: $30. Concludes oaky sweet and chewy. 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. Amazingly light nose tickle considering the proof. No, it's not Trump vs. Biden! Then a friend pointed out your blog to me and I must say I am absolutely blown away by the level of understanding you demonstrated on the subject. Henry Mckenna 10 Year Bottled-In-Bond. Caramel and vanilla, with roasted pine nuts and spice, and a slight hint of strawberry lead to a long and savory finish. The only positive thing I can say is that its drinkable and that it didnt kill me. But this guy just keeps truckin' along. 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. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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. The Alcohol in Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel immediately rushes my nose. On my second taste, there is a little more pumpernickel bread, wood, and some caramel and honey. Some of the roasted notes continue through the finish, but there is barely any bitterness and not much sweetness, leaving a very light, dry finish that is at odds with the intensity of the palate. Not a bad place to sit, little buddy. This is great stuff. But even if 1 hour separated these two, they should probably vary noticeably in terms of flavors and profiles. There's absolutely nothing out there that can claim those stats even at higher prices. Henry McKenna is one of the longest aged Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys available today, resting in the barrel through 40 Kentucky seasons. Henry McKennas color is beautiful. Cinnamon and pipe tobacco add some complexity and spice to the dram as well. Henry McKenna is one of the longest aged Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys available today, resting in the barrel through 40 Kentucky seasons. Discover the people, places, and stories behind every step of our most adventurous whiskey production ever. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Whats all the fuss about? Where to Buy. Not a bad place to sit, little buddy. For over 85 years, we've devoted ourselves to the craft of fine American Whiskey. Add to cart "Close (esc)" Featured Special Collections. shipping/pickup. You clearly don't need the anniversary of some 126-year-old piece of legislation as an excuse. Mild pine. 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. There is an opinion out there that after barrel #6000, that the quality begins to fall off. Discover the brands that have been Lifting Spirits since 1935. No, I'm kidding. 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. McKenna is one of those under-appreciated gems of the booze industry. Please check your entries and try again. (FM, Summer 2016). Its rye mashbill is given away with a strong sensation of cooling menthol moments later.