Editor’s Note: The party behind this whisky gave us a review sample. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
Among the Tennessee whiskey distilleries not known as Jack Daniel’s or George Dickel, one that stands out with a diverse and attractive set of spirit offerings is Chattanooga Whiskey. Founded in 2011, Chattanooga is known for its Chattanooga Whiskey 91, Cask 111, and 99 Rye, as well as its Bottled in Bond Vintage Series and Barrel Finishing Series.
One of their more recent releases, which I’m reviewing today, is the Experimental Single Batch Series: Batch 035: Centenary Cask. Centenary is an annual release in this series, described as an evolving blend of experimental pot-distilled mash bills married and finished in a rare, 100-year-old Oloroso Sherry puncheon. It is refilled in the solera style, with each 100-gallon batch released being different from the last while containing traces of whiskeys from previous fills.
For Batch 35, the third Centenary release, Chattanooga Whiskey added two unique barrels into the mix, including the distillery’s “Barrel 91” recipe (mash bill: yellow corn, malted rye, caramel malted barley, honey malted barley) and a singular recipe made with a wide variety of malted barley and rye (mash bill: yellow corn, pale malted rye, pale malted wheat, honey malted barley, caramel malted barley, caramel malted rye, chocolate malted rye).
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These barrels were married together for a year in the antique cask, and then 100 gallons were removed for bottling before new barrels were selected to top up the solera-style barrel once more.
“Blending may be the final creative act of the distiller, allowing us a chance to further develop harmony and complexity in the final whiskey. What makes the Centenary Cask so distinct actually lies within its constraints,” said Levi Zehrung, Experimental Production Manager, at the time of this whiskey’s release. “Because the size of the Oloroso cask limits the blend to about 3-4 barrels, each barrel must therefore be carefully chosen to work well together and to balance the bold, antique notes of Oloroso.”
Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Single Batch Series: Batch 035: Centenary Cask is aged over four years, bottled at 100 proof, and priced at $69.99 per 750 ml bottle.
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