Jackie Zykan’s Hidden Barn Launches First Bourbon

Former Old Forester specialist Jack Zykan, who left Brown-Forman recently to pursue life as an independent whiskey consultant, has unveiled the first fruit of this change, debuting through the new Hidden Barn brand a small batch bourbon.

The new Hidden Barn Small Batch, according to those behind it, is the initial release of the Hidden Barn Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey line up. Zykan, working with Neeley master distiller Royce Neeley, brought together just seven barrels from the stock of Neely Distillery for this offering.

Comprised of distillate produced at Neeley, its master distiller is seen as being very hands on with his whiskey. This includes “personally hand-collecting wild Kentucky yeast, carefully monitoring a 5-day fermentation using traditional cypress fermenters, and personally distilling and hand-cutting the double pot distillation.” In this vein Small Batch “was fermented using wild yeast and is doublepot distilled. It was collected at 127 proof, and entered the barrel at 110 proof.”

Also, it is said, “to maintain the integrity and viscosity of the liquid, the bourbon is screened for sediment and sees no additional filtration.”

“We wanted to produce the kind of whiskey we would be proud to share, we wanted to lift the guardrails and pursue boundless creativity and unmatched quality in our process,” said Zykan in a prepared statement. “Hidden Barn whiskies are full of subtlety and nuance, emphasizing quality at every turn and crafted to be shared in the celebration of good friends and good whiskey.”

Plans call for Hidden Barn Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch #001 to be presented at an undiluted batch proof of 53% ABV and offered at a suggested retail price of $74.99. The initial offering will be available in Kentucky, Colorado, Florida and California, with more distribution expected before the end of the year.

Official tasting notes, among other details, are presented below. It should be noted as well the Hidden Barn brand was started by Zykan in conjunction with Nate Winegar and Matt Dankner of Colorado’s 5280 Whiskey Society.

• Product: Hidden Barn Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Small Batch #001 Whiskey Made the Hard Way series
• Number of barrels: 7
• Producer: Neeley Family Distillery (DSP-KY-20039) Sparta, KY
• Mash:70 percent Corn, 20 percent Rye, 10 percent Malted Barley
• Fermentation: 5 days using wild-caught Kentucky yeast and Northern Kentucky aquiferwater
• Distillation: Double pot distilled, collected at 127 proof
• Maturation: Between 4-5 years
• Barrel: Two-year seasoned American white oak
• Fill:110 proof
• Filtration:Sediment filter only
• What’s inside (in order of prominence): Almond, Butterscotch, Sweet Cherry, Dried Fig,Black Tea, Spearmint, Allspice, Black Pepper, Grapefruit Peel, Cardamom