American

Review: King's County 5 Year Old Private Barrel (Exclusive to Hedonism Wines)

$180

OVERALL
RATING

9

Bourbon Review: King’s County 5 Year Old Private Barrel (Exclusive to Hedonism Wines)

King’s County 5 Year Old is a rare and fun addition to the American whiskey category, but it’s also accessible in terms of price.
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Tasting Notes:

About:
A marriage of a few different 15 gallon barrels from the King’s County Disitllery in Brooklyn. This product may display a 5 year old age statement, but there are some significantly older whiskeys kicking around in this liquid.
Appearance:
Maple Syrup
Nose:
Oh, that is indulgent! All of the melted down brown sugar, caramelised sauce, there’s even a rum like quality to it due to the hit of that brown sugar nose. Could easily be mistaken for molasses.

Some lovely autumnal spices of nutmeg and cinnamon, along with a nice touch of mint running around the back of it. More lovely sweet things like cherry cola, pecan pie, and even a hint of Cognac to it.
Palate:
That is big, sweet, and dry! You could easily think this is a rum, and I’m jumping ahead of myself, but possibly the easiest drinking 60%+ ABV liquid I’ve tried in a while.

The initial hit is all salted caramel, olive oil, a building level of remarkably soft spice. More of those autumn notes, mainly nutmeg. There’s a tobacco/pouch tobacco note that comes out of nowhere and is so pleasant as a contrast to the sweetness. This reminds quite a lot of Stagg Jr.
Finish:
Long and rolling with delicious wood notes, a slight bitter hit of some alcohol and almost a Campari orange note at the back of it. The tobacco thing has almost turned into a cigar style of chewy flavour that seems to stick to the sides of your cheeks and tongue.
Comments:
As a bourbon guy at heart, this is rather delicious and is right up my street. The flavour profile it offers is up there with some unicorn level stuff from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Russell’s single casks, etc.

If you’ve got the cash spare and want something genuinely delicious, this is for you.

A Long Time Coming

If you’ve had the pleasure of visiting King’s County Distillery in Brooklyn, it may well have become your favorite ever distillery tour to date.

They’ve got a jug of their first distillate sat in the visitors center, and from trying some innovative and classic stuff at their distillery, it’s a pleasure to finally see a single cask/batch program available for UK consumers.

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This place has enough history in its location to give any distillery a challenge. It’s in the old Brooklyn Naval Yard, and it’s based in the old tax officers building. And, it was the first place of note where a US tax official was killed as a result of a whisky raid on Vinegar Hill. Give these folks attention, they deserve it.

Availability Of The King’s County 5 Year Old Release?

This is an exclusive bottling to Hedonism Wines in London, a pretty well-suited place for something like this. A limited output of only 150 bottles and upon writing this, they have 108 bottles left to purchase…107 after we’re done writing these notes.

Comparisons To King’s County?

Bourbon and American whiskey are expanding rapidly, offering more variety than ever. However, when it comes to bottles comparable to King’s County 5 Year Old, many of the options you might be searching for are either unavailable or priced far higher than you’d want. Fortunately, King’s County doesn’t suffer from these challenges.

While it’s not a Sazerac 18 Year Old or William Larue Weller, it certainly sits in that same flavor territory that you’d expect from those bottles if they were more readily available. Plus, it’s a 75cl bottle, adding to its appeal. Given the monopoly that exists in whisky distribution and ownership today, it’s become harder to find the bottles you truly want. In this landscape, why not try something new?

King’s County 5 Year Old is a rare and fun addition to the American whiskey category, but it’s also accessible in terms of price. If you’re looking for a high-quality, flavorful experience without the hassle of hunting down more elusive bottles, this is an excellent option that won’t disappoint.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer's passion for whisky is undeniable. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil manages The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curates an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

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