Hidden Barn Whiskey Seven-Year-Old Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes

 

During Prohibition, some distillers got very creative at eluding the revenuers and other authorities. Unless you were one of the very select few who were licensed to distill medicinal whiskey, getting caught would have meant an all-expense-paid vacation in an 8x10 prison cell.

 

One of the easiest ways to get caught was the observation of Baudoinia compniacensis, or black mold, growing on the sides of buildings. It was a telltale sign that there was a still inside. One distiller had the ingenious idea to paint his barn black. Others followed suit. Then, to show solidarity, the area farmers painted theirs black, too. Because the black mold was no longer visible, and every barn in the area was black, the illicit distillers had what was referred to as a hidden barn.

 

In a nod to that creativity, Hidden Barn Whiskey was founded in 2022 by Nate Winegar, who serves as its brand ambassador; Matt Dankher, who heads up finance and operations; Royce Neeley, its master distiller; and Jackie Zykan, its master blender. The brand was since acquired by Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, Kentucky.  

 

Jackie comes with plenty of experience. She was the master taster at Brown-Forman, who created the Old Forester 117 and 150 series. Royce has been the master distiller at Neeley Family Distillery for nine years and is an 11^th-generation distiller. Nate is the founder of the well-known 5280 Whiskey Society and a huge (figuratively and literally) people-person.  

 

“We’re excited to continue partnering with Jackie on Hidden Barn, and to release what is ironically, her seventh blend of Hidden Barn Bourbon. Jackie has access to all my inventory for her blending. Basically, I’ve given her the keys to the warehouse, and we can expect to see more one-of-a-kind releases in the future now that she’s got thousands of barrels to play with.” – Royce Neeley, Master Distiller and CEO

 

Today, I’ll dive deep into Hidden Barn’s newest release: Seven-Year-Old Bourbon. This whiskey was double-pot distilled by Neeley Family Distillery from a sweet mash of 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% malted barley. It includes the use of open fermentation tanks and wild-crafted Appalachian yeast.

 

The batch is blended from five barrels aged five years in 24-month open-air seasoned barrels before spending another two years in new, charred French oak casks. It is non-chill filtered and packaged at 54.7% ABV (109.4°). A 750ml carries a suggested $79.99 price tag. It is available online and at retail in Kentucky, Indiana, New York, California, Georgia, Colorado, and New Mexico.

 

Before I start this #DrinkCurious adventure, I must thank Neeley Family Distillery for providing me with a sample of this Bourbon in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

Appearance: I poured this Bourbon into my Glencairn glass and sipped it neat. It possessed an inviting, deep, dark, burnt umber color. A thin rim shed fast, thick tears.

 

Nose: An aroma of chocolate, wild berries, caramel, mint, and plums escaped the glass. I drew the air through my lips and tasted what could have been an almost meaty black raisin jam.

 

Palate: Full-bodied and viscous, the warm, spicy mouthfeel woke my tastebuds. The front of my palate encountered black raisins, figs, and toffee. Flavors of nutmeg, tobacco, and leather followed at the mid-point. The back consisted of charred oak, black pepper, and bananas.  

 

Finish: Long and lingering, it started slow and slowly ramped to a warm, drying sensation, with lots of old leather combined with black pepper, bananas, caramel, figs, and nutmeg. I clocked its duration at 2:21, making it very long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: This Seven-Year-Old Bourbon is my first foray into anything from Neeley Family Distillery. Let’s just say this: If this represents what the distillery offers, I’m intrigued. I can tell you Jackie did one hell of a job blending. The fruits, the spices, the mouthfeel, the finish… it is such a complex, enjoyable whiskey that seduces you into taking yet another sip.

 

If it isn’t already evident, Hidden Barn’s Seven-Year-Old Bourbon is a winner and earns every bit of my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.