American

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.

OVERALL RATING

9
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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.


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.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant. 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 managed The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curated an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

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