1787 Provenance 7-Year Single Barrel Bourbon Review

 

Smack dab in the middle of Virginia’s wine and horse country lies the Provenance Estate, home of Middleburg Barrel Company. It is a brand-new operation, founded just this year. Its mission is to hand-select barrels and to create exceptional Bourbons.

 

In other words, every Bourbon that Middleburg Barrel Company offers is sourced. There’s nothing wrong in the world with that, so long as the brand is transparent.

 

Middleburg Barrel Company was founded by Viyas Sundaram, who is also the co-founder of The Bourbon Concierge. Jay West, also known by his nom de plume, t8ke, has written about over 1,000 whiskey expressions and serves as the brand’s Principal Whiskey Maker. He’s the guy who searches out the barrels and brings them back to the newly-built rickhouses, then determines if those barrels should be blended or if they can stand on their own as single barrel releases.

 

“Provenance is about honoring the past while shaping Bourbon’s future. We built this brand to showcase how exceptional barrels and thoughtful blending can create whiskeys that stand with the very best. Today’s consumers are more thoughtful about what they choose to drink, and Provenance is designed for that mindset; it’s an invitation to experience Bourbon in a way that’s immersive, personal, and meant to be savored with intention. My vision has always been to preserve history while building something new -- and with Provenance, we’re doing exactly that.” – Viyas Sundaram, Middleburg Barrel Company co-founder

 

Middleburg Barrel Company just launched two releases: 1787 Provenance Straight Bourbon Whiskey and 1787 Provenance 14-Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey. These are available via The Bourbon Concierge’s online store and select retailers in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

 

Today’s #DrinkCurious excursion is of the 7-Year expression, and I must thank Middleburg Barrel Company for providing me with a sample of it in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whiskey Type: Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: Undisclosed Bardstown distillery
• Age: 7 years
• Mashbill: Undisclosed
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 57.5% ABV (105°)
• Price per 750mL: $69.99

 

Appearance: I sipped this Bourbon neat from a Glencairn glass. The topaz color looked rich and inviting. It produced a thick rim that seemed to hold on for dear life. Then, big droplets formed but seemed to defy gravity. Eventually, it was too much to overcome.

 

Nose: My first impression was that 1787 Provenance was made with a high-rye mashbill. I based it on the smells of mint, allspice, and tobacco. I also found charred oak, butterscotch, and a hint of orange zest. The air inside my mouth tasted of milk chocolate and orange zest.  

 

Palate: Sometimes, there’s a mouthfeel that makes you stop and say, “Wow!” and this was one of those instances. It was dense. It was creamy. It was weighty. It coated every nook and cranny it could find.

 

The front of my palate encountered notes of toffee, hazelnuts, and milk chocolate. Next came nutmeg, freshly shredded tobacco, and leather. The back featured barrel char, black pepper, and clove.  

 

Finish: There was plenty of toffee, tobacco, leather, black pepper, and barrel char to go around. It started softly and slowly, growing in intensity very gradually. It never became more than warm on my tongue and in my throat. The duration lasted 1:58, qualifying for a long finish.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Remember how I mentioned during the nosing that I was certain this was a high-rye? Yeah, not so much after tasting it. The sweeter notes took center stage, whereas the spices were late to arrive.

 

The mouthfeel was luxurious. I could have stopped right there and been a happy camper. Yet, there were layers upon layers of flavors compounded with it, drinking several points below its stated proof, that made it an effortless sipper.

 

It is easy to emerge from nowhere and declare yourself a premium brand. What’s challenging is following through on that promise. Color me impressed. Jay knows his stuff. Viyas was smart to team up with him. I believe that 1787 Provenance 7-Year is a worthy pour, and it earns my Bottle rating. I’m curious what’s in store in the near future. 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.