Beam Suntory’s Hardin’s Creek line of uncommon whiskeys launched final 12 months to important fanfare — a minimum of for it’s Jacob’s Nicely mix of 16 and 15 12 months outdated bourbons. Now Beam is again with extra Hardin’s Creek — the primary of a trilogy in what it calls “The Kentucky Collection” — a trio which is able to discover the affect of growing old in Beam’s rickhouses in three totally different components of the state: Clermont, Frankfort, and Boston. All three whiskeys have been laid down with the identical mashbill on the similar time, 17 years in the past however aged in full at totally different campus areas.
“The Kentucky Collection is a testomony to the affect of location and the way nature performs such an important function in liquid maturation,” stated Freddie Noe, Eighth Technology Grasp Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery. “Whereas these three bourbons have been made with the identical mash invoice and aged in Kentucky, the micro-climates and environments at every location are distinctly totally different, which enormously impacts the style of every product. As my Granddaddy Booker Noe stated, ‘Set it and let nature take over.’”
First up is The Kentucky Collection: Clermont, a 17 12 months outdated bourbon aged at Beam’s Clermont facility. Frankfort will arrive in August, and Boston hits in September.
Let’s kick issues off with a visit to Clermont, which is centrally situated, simply south of Louisville.
As with Jacob’s Nicely, there’s lots to like right here. The nostril is exuberant and basic: Nicely-matured bourbon that by no means feels “outdated” or austere, a minimum of at first, although the upfront notes of darkish chocolate, vanilla, and spices are undercut with a layer of underbrush, giving the whiskey a decidedly savory high quality. This wants time in glass to develop, ultimately evoking one thing akin to a wealthy beef stew.
The palate is all the most effective of Kentucky in a glass: Brightly candy with spiced caramel, vanilla, and milk chocolate notes, it slowly unfolds to disclose a few of these denser, extra savory notes and a stronger affect of candied ginger and darkish chocolate. The basic peanut character of Beam is clear however restrained compared to different expressions. More and more smoldering because it builds within the glass, the sense of each turned earth and barrel char slowly grow to be palpable — and in the end dominant.
It’s a bit an excessive amount of at instances, really, in the end weighing the expertise down greater than it ought to, although it’s nothing that’s offensive within the slightest. The end is a curious mixture of candy and savory, some austerity lastly creeping into the expertise, a reminder that this spent 17 lengthy years within the barrel. It will not be on the extent of masterpiece as Jacob’s Nicely, however I nonetheless can’t wait to see what the following two whiskeys within the sequence carry forth.
110 proof.
A- / $170 / hardinscreek.com
Hardin’s Creek The Kentucky Collection: Clermont
$170
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