Chattanooga Whiskey has unveiled the latest addition to its Experimental Single Batch Series with Batch 043: Pre Prohibition Style, commemorating a decade of experimental distilling at its Experimental Distillery, which became the city’s first legal production distillery since Prohibition in 2015.
The commemorative whiskey aims to recreate the flavors of early 20th-century spirits, offering whisky enthusiasts a taste of history.
Signup now to make sure you don't miss out on the latest whiskey news and deals.
By Signing up, you accept and agree to our Terms of Services and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. The Whiskey Wash is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
“For this Experimental Batch, our goal was to make a high malt whiskey that was evocative of a specific place and time: Chattanooga, Tennessee, pre-Prohibition,” said Grant McCracken, Founding Distiller. “To do that, our distillers used every ingredient and process step to mimic the flavors found in old-world whiskey. Although a lot has changed in the world of farming, malting, whiskey-making, and coopering over the past 100 years, our team relished the challenge to recreate the flavors of bourbon from that era.”
Pre-Prohibition-Inspired Production
The high malt bourbon mash begins with a harder variety of yellow corn similar to those grown a century ago. To create an authentic pre-Prohibition flavor profile, the distilling team carefully chose multiple slow-toasted barleys, alongside spelt and rye malts. This selection highlights the distinctive characteristics of heritage malting methods, featuring both a traditional heritage-style toasted barley malt and a specialized acidulated rye malt not commonly found in modern production.
A portion of the recipe underwent a two-part fermentation process designed to produce the pronounced fruitiness common in pre-Prohibition whiskey. This involved an overnight sour mash coupled with multi-strain fermentation using bourbon and malt whiskey yeasts, replicating the less-controlled yeast cultures of the era.
After traditional double pot distillation, the spirit was barreled at approximately 111 proof and aged for more than four years in custom toasted and charred oak barrels.
Tasting Notes & Availability
The whiskey is bottled unfiltered at 110 proof, representing one of the highest proofs available before the Alcohol Administration Act of 1935.
“What began as a project to recreate a whiskey style eventually became the blueprint of a dream whiskey from another era,” McCracken added. “If our distilling team had a time machine, we’d go back and make a whiskey like this. Then again, who says we didn’t? And who says this isn’t that whiskey?”
Trending Stories
Experimental Batch 043: Pre Prohibition Style is available at the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery for $69.99 (£53.35) per 750ml bottle. It’s also available for online purchase in selected states via Seelbachs.com.
Tasting notes include toasted raisin bread, chocolate chip cookie dough, caramel corn, dark honey, and fresh plum.
Latest News