Bourbon

Bourbon Review: Hidden Barn Kentucky Straight Bourbon Small Batch, Series Two

We review Hidden Barn Bourbon Series 2, the latest from a brand tied to master blender Jackie Zykan in her post-Old Forester days.

OVERALL RATING

7
Like Conversation
Hidden Barn Bourbon Series 2 review

Tasting Notes

About:

112 Proof (56% ABV). Mash fermented 3-4 days using Christian County, KY water. Double pot distilled by MB Roland Distillery (D.S.P. 15010) Pembroke, KY. Aged 5-6 years in Kevin Cooperage American White Oak Barrels. Sediment filtered only. Mash bill: 60% corn (Christian County grain) 35% rye (Walnut Grove Farms) 5% malted barley (Southfork Malt House.)
Appearance:
A rich, warm garnet color with very high viscosity.
Nose:
Dark grapes fil the nostrils instantly, giving way to notes of fresh-squeezed apple cider, chocolate, and a hint of thyme.
Palate:
Again sweet grape is present, but blackberry joins it to reinforce the dark fruit focus. A well-restrained note of chocolate covered cherries provides support. There is medium smokiness throughout, with a bit of fatty walnut underlying. The finish is quite strong and attempts to end cleanly with a pronounced mint note. Unfortunately, I found this somewhat unpleasant, arguably unnecessary, and at odds with the other flavors.
Finish:
Comments:
I came very close to loving this bourbon, right up until the moment I swallowed and the finish came in. Although it didn’t put me off from taking another sip, it was a bit like playing tug-of-war with my tastebuds as I went back and forth between the delicious palate and inappropriate finish. Even so, and despite my lukewarm rating, I would be more than willing to give Hidden Barn another shot out of respect for their transparency, passion, experience, and style.

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.

Austin Scarberry

Austin Scarberry is a Portland, Oregon-based writer and pastry chef. His culinary expertise uniquely informs his reviews, as he brings the gentle thoughtfulness of baking to his whiskey writing. Beyond The Whiskey Wash, Austin indulges his passion for creative writing, focusing primarily on poetry and fantasy/sci-fi genres. His literary works have been featured in Sci-Phi Journal and Oprelle Publications' poetry anthology "Matter — 2021 Edition II".

All Posts

Latest On The Whiskey Wash