Doc Holliday 16-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review

 

John Henry Holliday, better known as Doc Holliday, was one of the most famous gunfighters in American history. Born in 1854 in Griffen, Georgia. He was a dentist by trade, a notorious gambler, and renowned for his involvement in the gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona.

 

Doc Holliday obtained his dentistry degree when he was only 20. He actually won three awards for excellence in the field. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed shortly thereafter with tuberculosis, which had also killed his mother and sister. He left Georgia and headed to the desert Southwest because he was told it would be easier on his lungs. That’s when he became a professional gambler.

 

It was then that he earned his reputation as a gunfighter. In one such incident, he saved the life of Wyatt Earp, and the two became fast friends. In 1879, Earp and Holliday headed to Prescott, Arizona, and then settled in Tombstone, where City Marshal Virgil Earp deputized both of them to take on the Cochise County Cowboys gang. When the Earps and Holliday attempted to arrest the Cowboys, the result was the infamous gunfight, which killed Morgan Earp and seriously wounded Virgil.

 

Wyatt became the Deputy US Marshal and immediately deputized Holliday, and they went after the Cowboys. Member Frank Stillwell attempted to ambush Virgil as Virgil was boarding a train bound for California; Stillwell was shot and killed by Wyatt. That’s when the local sheriff issued warrants for the arrest of the Earps and Holliday. In the meantime, the Earps and Holliday killed off three more Cowboys, and then headed to the New Mexico Territory.

 

When they were in Colorado, Wyatt convinced Governor Frederick Pitkin to deny Holliday’s extradition back to Arizona. Holliday remained in Colorado until his death by tuberculosis in 1887.

 

The World Whiskey Society, which was established in 2020, bills itself as “creating the world’s most interesting whiskeys,” and has in its portfolio The Doc Holliday Collection. Its newest entrant is called Doc Holliday 16-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

 

"We are thrilled to expand the Doc Holliday Collection with this exceptional 16-Year Bourbon. The Doc Holliday portfolio knows no bounds, as this 16-year-old bourbon release embodies the unyielding craftsmanship that highlights what we're capable of. It's a remarkable addition to our portfolio and a celebration of truly extraordinary bourbon." - Alex Kogan, CEO of World Whiskey Society

 

Doc Holliday 16-Year Bourbon does not come cheap – it can be obtained through the World Whiskey Society’s online store for $399.99. World Whiskey Society doesn’t disclose the distillery responsible for its distillation.

 

So, how does it taste? To answer that, we’ll #DrinkCurious, and that opportunity is due to the generosity of World Whiskey Society, which provided me a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s get down to business and discover what it is all about.

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: Undisclosed Kentucky distiller
• Age: 16 years  
• Mashbill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
• Cooperage: 53-gallon, new, charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 62% ABV (128°)
• Price per 750mL: $399.99

 

Appearance: I poured this Bourbon into my Glencairn glass, intending to sip it neat. It presented as deep and dark, almost with a mahogany color. A microthin rim created a medium, tightly spaced, fast-tearing effect.

 

Nose: I waited about 15 minutes before exploring the aroma. There were notes of cherries, blueberries, Granny Smith apples, caramel, nutmeg, and charred oak. When I pulled the air into my mouth, bold caramel crossed my tongue.  

 

Palate: Doc Holliday’s texture was incredibly oily. The whiskey just slid down my throat. I tasted caramel-coated apples and candied cherries on the front of my palate. Next came shredded tobacco, pecan pralines, and vanilla ice cream. Clove, charred oak, and cinnamon caressed the back of my palate.

 

Finish: There were cherries, caramel, apples, pecan pralines, clove, and cinnamon. The oiliness coated my mouth and throat, leaving the flavors to linger. It was level and gently warming. I pulled out my stopwatch; the entire experience ran 2:04.

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: When we get into whiskeys that cost a fortune, I usually ignore the bang for the buck aspect of my rating. Few people can afford to drop $400.00 for a bottle of whiskey; at this point, it is a luxury purchase. The big question for me is, is a whiskey worth an extravagant sum? Let’s consider that.

 

Firstly, Doc Holliday 16-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon drinks nowhere near its stated proof. If I had tried it blind, I would have guessed around 100°. That may have been a bit high, even. I cannot recall something acting 30 proof points lower. To me, that’s special.

 

Secondly, Doc Holliday is a layered and well-balanced Bourbon. I found it delicious and something that I wish I had more of. As it stands, I was thrilled for this opportunity. If the price is something you can afford, I’d suggest buying a Bottle because it is excellent. 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.