Age: 18 years
Mash bill: 87% Corn, 12% Rye, 1% Malted Barley
ABV/Proof: 62.2% | 124.4 Proof
Key Maturation: Ex-Madeira
Tasting Notes: The nose brings a torrent of berry preserves, lathered on rye bread with sweet cinnamon sprinkled over cantaloupe. The whisky lands with a rush of sticky mouth-puckering blackberry jam before the palate settles into a blend of leather, rolling tobacco and honey. Through the mid-palate, the warmth of the rye and the oaky vanillins seize hold and the rich texture settles in. The finish is long. Very long. More than just the lingering fruit flavors and nutmeg, the finish holds its cinnamon texture for minutes, echoing sweet, spice and tannin.
About the product: Batch 008 was built around an 18 year old rye whisky aged in a first-fill Madeira cask. While this component only made up a small portion of the blend, we shaped Batch 008’s entire profile around the exquisite blackberry puree and earthy tobacco notes it imparts. “We layered a 22 year corn in new wood, a pair of 23 year corns in refill ex-bourbon and new wood, respectively, and a 26 year old corn whisky aged in Hungarian oak, enhancing the fruit and wood quality of the palate while providing grip and tannin to the mouthfeel. Lastly, we used a 19 year Hungarian oak aged rye to provide Batch 008 with the spicy backbone and texture on the finish