Whiskey Review: Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof

Old Hickory tips its hat to whiskey maker and Former President Andrew Jackson. Founded in 1868, originally in Fayette, Kentucky, the brand has seen some history. Almost thirty years later, Old Hickory moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. This move essentially became their demise as the foundation for prohibition was making its way across the country. Tennessee banned the production of whiskey in 1910, a mere nine years before the Volstead Act. 

While there is an Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Rye, the latest release cannot be called a bourbon. Instead, the bottle is filled with barrel proof whiskey made of ninety-nine percent corn and one percent malted barley. Although the mash bill technically meets the requirements for bourbon, the Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof is not matured in brand-new American oak.

Tasting Notes: Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof

Vital Stats: 58.5% ABV, 117 proof. Distilled in Lawrenceburg, IN, and bottled by Old Hickory Spirits in Silverton, OH. Matured 10 years in 18-year-old ex-bourbon barrels with a mash bill of 99% corn and 1% malted barley.

Appearance: Citrine

Nose: The whiskey instantly hits the nose with bold butterscotch and sandalwood. The middle layer is surrounded by the fresh-baked aroma of cornbread. The dram is rich with fruit scents of lemon peel, black cherry, and green apple. 

Palate: The mouthfeel is starchy soft and oily with a bit of warmth. Juicy, ripe strawberry and vanilla engage the tastebuds with a bold punch. The whiskey is starchy from the corn but it lends a hand to the nuttiness found throughout. Marzipan and graham cracker linger in the background, but they fully come out at the end of the sip. The proof hits just right; any lower brings out more of the oak and it becomes lackluster.