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Whiskey Review: Hirsch Selection Special Reserve 20-Year-Old American Whiskey

We review Hirsch Selection Special Reserve 20-Year-Old American Whiskey, a super-aged American whiskey with a rather roundabout backstory.

OVERALL RATING

  • Katelyn Best, whisky writer & enthusiast.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Appearance:
Copper
Nose:
Sweet honey, vanilla, and caramel open the nose, followed by warm cinnamon and nutmeg and dried dark fruit. After a few minutes in the glass, a stale wood note nudges its way in.
Palate:
The palate opens quite pleasantly, with rich honey, spice, and dark fruit—cherry and blackberry—but the woodiness starts to creep back in on the mid-palate. By the finish, it’s shoved its way onto center stage and doesn’t want to leave. I also, curiously, get a distinct grass note. The texture is definitely tannic, but not unpleasantly drying. Final Thoughts: Hirsch Selection Special Reserve 20-Year-Old American Whiskey is certainly unique, and definitely not what I expected. Both the nose and the palate open invitingly, with all the warmth of a truly delicious bourbon, but quickly give way to sawdust and lawn clippings. Some whiskeys this age get pretty enthusiastic reviews, but this one is definitely past its prime—though if nothing else, it’s an instructive experiment in long aging. It’s also not one I’d want to shell out $140 for. Score: 82/100 [SHOP FOR A BOTTLE OF HIRSCH SELECTION SPECIAL RESERVE 20-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN WHISKEY]
Finish:
Comments:

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Katelyn Best

Katelyn Best, a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, is a regular contributor to The Whiskey Wash. She has a particular passion for exploring the unique and unconventional aspects of the whisky world.

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