What
does the term hidden barn mean? During Prohibition, one of the easiest
ways for illicit distillers to get caught was for the revenuers to find Baudoinia
compniacensis or black mold, growing on the sides of buildings. It was a
telltale sign that there was a still inside. Always thinking of a way to
outsmart them, a distiller had the ingenious idea to paint his barn black.
Others followed suit. Then, to show solidarity, the area farmers painted theirs
black, too. Since the black mold was now invisible, and every barn in the area
was black, they were nicknamed hidden barns.
In
a nod to that creativity, Hidden
Barn Whiskey was founded in 2022 by Nate Winegar,
who serves as its brand ambassador; Royce Neeley,
its master distiller; and Jackie
Zykan, its master blender. The brand was
since acquired by Neeley
Family Distillery in Sparta, Kentucky.
Royce
has been the master distiller at Neeley Family Distillery for nine years and is
an 11th-generation distiller. Nate is the founder of the well-known 5280 Whiskey Society and a huge (figuratively and literally)
people-person. Jackie comes with plenty of experience. She was the master
taster at Brown-Forman, who created the Old Forester 117
and 150 series.
Today,
I’m exploring Hidden
Barn Organic Wheat Bourbon.
“I’ve wanted to create an organic bourbon for a long time, so this has been a passion project for me. For me, blending barrels is all about finding balance and harmony while still showcasing individuality. The nine barrels used for this blend were meticulously selected from a very large pool of inventory with much intention. The combination of the high-quality organic grains used in the distillation with the variable entry proofs used in the maturation - that range in proof from low to high - led to everything integrating beautifully.” - Jackie Zykan, Master Blender
Distilled
in Michigan from a certified organic mash of 70% corn, 25% wheat, and 5% rye,
the Bourbon aged six years in new, charred oak barrels. Hidden Barn Organic Wheat
is packaged at 53.1% ABV (106.2°), and a 750ml will set you back $79.99.
I’m
grateful to Neeley Family Distillery for providing me with this #DrinkCurious
opportunity with a sample of Hidden Barn Organic Wheat in exchange for my
no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s do this!
Appearance: I
poured this Bourbon into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. The liquid presented
as a darker orange amber. It had a thin rim that produced thin, fast tears.
Nose: This Bourbon
smelled slightly soapy. I found buttered pecans, torched sugar, and candied apples.
When I drew the air through my lips, there was orange rind.
Palate: Hidden
Barn’s mouthfeel was slick and medium-bodied. Dark chocolate, molasses, and
caramel coated the front of my palate. The middle featured nutmeg, buttered
popcorn, and tobacco, while the back consisted of toasted oak, white pepper,
and orange zest.
Finish: The
finish tasted of tobacco, orange zest, toasted oak, pepper, and plenty of caramel.
The medium duration clocked in at 1:04.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: To say
that I enjoyed Hidden Barn Organic Wheat Bourbon would be unfair. I’ve had many
wheaters over the years. Some are good, others mediocre. Organic Wheat is what
wheated Bourbon should taste like. It provided the right texture, muted
the wood tannins, and featured a ton of sweetness. This Bourbon could easily be
the standard-bearer for what wheaters should be. That earns it 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.
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