A lot of folks will look at our tasting list and circle all the bourbons they want to try first. Here's some of the most interesting bourbons to pay attention to and grab a sample of at this year's festival.
1. Bower Hill Barrel Strength
The best seller at last year's festival. The awards for this cask strength bourbon go on and on. Here are some of the highlights: "Best in Class, Gold Outstanding" at the Whiskies of the World Competition in 2018, Double Gold in the Great American International Spirits Competition, and 93 Points from the Ultimate Spirits Competition. An impressive resume for a bourbon you may not know about. You're about to call their lineup your new favorites.
Find it at the Bower Hill table
2. Larceny Wheated Bourbon
Can't find any Pappy? Same. Much like the famed Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon line, Larceny's mash bill has a high percentage of wheat. Heaven Hill Distillery notes Larceny contains “One third more wheat than other competitors.” Larceny is a tremendous bourbon that outperforms its roughly $30 price tag. Find it at the Heaven Hill table
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3. Jefferson's Ocean Wheated Bourbon
Another wheated bourbon to try at this year's festival. Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea series was created as an experiment to see how much of an impact aging barrels on a ship would have on a bourbon. The constant movement of the liquid in the barrels ages the whiskey faster because the more of the liquid is in contact with the wood more often. The result is a spirit with rich and complex flavors. Find it at the Castle Brands table
4. Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon
Previous single barrels of the OESK and OESV recipes of Four Roses Single Barrel sold out almost instantly at Maximum Beverage West Hartford and Farmington. The quality for the price is unmatched. Richness and complexity that you'll find on bourbons worth hundreds of dollars. Fruity, spicy, floral with cocoa, maple syrup, and moderately woody. Hints of ripe plum and cherries on the robust body. A smooth and delicately long finish.
Find it at the Four Roses table
5. Pinhook Bourbon
Pinhooking is an old Southern term for the shrewd purchase of very young thoroughbreds. The best pinhookers are brilliant speculators, with powerful gut instincts honed by experience and a deep knowledge of lineage. Pinhook is the ultimate in small batch, super high quality Bourbon. Smooth as silk with a delicious orange citrus finish. Pop some angostura bitters in your glass and it's almost like an old fashioned. When everyone is running to the 'impossible to find whiskies', be smart and pick up some of this.
Find it at the Opici table
6. New Holland Brewing Beer Barrel Bourbon
You've heard of beers aged in whiskey barrels, but a whiskey aged in beer barrels?? New Holland Brewing's Beer Barrel Bourbon is a unique, first-of-its-kind bourbon. Beer Barrel Bourbon is aged in new American oak barrels before finishing in New Holland Brewing's legendary Dragon’s Milk barrels. The Dragon’s Milk barrels provide a softer, more rounded flavor with notes of vanilla and smooth dark malts. Can you discern the slight hoppy notes? Swing by Craft Beer Guild's table and give it a try!
Find it at the Craft Beer Guild table
7. Legent Bourbon
Legent Bourbon is a collaboration between the bourbon half and Japanese whisky half of Beam Suntory. It's a Kentucky bourbon, made by Jim Beam master distiller Fred Noe, that includes three components. The first is the bourbon itself, matured for approximately five years, along with parcels finished in California red wine casks and sherry casks for two extra years. The whiskeys were blended by Suntory chief blender Shinji Fukuyo. A very cool and unique offering.
Find it at the Gold Sponsor Beam Suntory table
Taste all of these at our 7th Annual WeHa Whiskey Festival on Saturday October 5th! Do you have your tickets yet? Grab them before the sell out! Click here to purchase