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Bourbon

Milam and Greene The Castle Hill Series Batch 2

$149.99

OVERALL
RATING

9

Whiskey Review: Milam and Greene The Castle Hill Series Batch 2

Tasting Notes:

About:
Appearance:
Dark brown, with solid legs on the glass.
Nose:
Rich and sweet, like Bit-O-Honey candies and Twix. It brings large doses of traditional bourbon scents like brown sugar and vanilla. The intensity is mouth-watering.
Palate:
In the mouth, it’s very different than it was on the nose. This is a mild and well-mannered whiskey, which is a little surprising at 111 proof. Think brown sugar, caramel, and vanilla, with a slight touch of cinnamon spice and a long, luxurious finish.
Finish:
Comments:
Batch 2 is available in only 11 states, but if you see it at your local store, give some serious consideration to adding it to your shopping list – despite the somewhat steep price tag. Greene has blended a whiskey here that is distinctive and surprising, which is not something I find often.rnrn

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Milam & Greene. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link towards the bottom of this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.

The Texas Military Institute constructed and moved into a distinctive-looking building near the state capital in Austin in 1870. The prep school stayed in the Victorian Gothic building with a pair of castle-like turrets for only about a decade, before moving and eventually becoming part of Texas A&M. But the Castle Hill Historic District, named after the building, occupies 39 acres of west Austin to this day and has become a well-known mostly residential neighborhood.

Heather Greene, chief executive and master blender at Milam & Greene Whiskey, works out of “The Castle” and has adopted the Castle Hill name for a special release that leans hard into the art of blending. The second release in the Castle Hill Series includes 26 barrels of 13- or 14-year-old bourbons, reportedly sourced from Tennessee. It comes bottled at cask strength.

Milam & Greene says the special releases are intended to “celebrate… the art of batching well-aged casks.” Given the age of the whiskey involved and the number of different batches being blended – eight in this case – they seem to be backing up the promise of that premise.

Greene wrote the book on whiskey, or a book, anyway. These releases seem designed to give her an opportunity to play with the art of blending, which should be fun to see develop in future years. In the meantime, we’ll check in on Batch 2.

Milam & Greene Castle Hill Batch 2 review
Milam & Greene Whiskey just released its Castle Hill Series Batch Two, the second in its limited-edition batch of 13-year-old straight bourbon whiskeys bottled at barrel proof. (image via Milam & Greene)

Tasting Notes: Milam and Greene The Castle Hill Series Batch 2

Vital stats: Blend of 26 barrels of Tennessee straight bourbon, all aged at least 13 years in new American oak; reportedly sourced from George Dickel; 111 proof/55.5% alcohol by volume; MSRP of $149.99.

Appearance: Dark brown, with solid legs on the glass.

Nose: Rich and sweet, like Bit-O-Honey candies and Twix. It brings large doses of traditional bourbon scents like brown sugar and vanilla. The intensity is mouth-watering.

Palate: In the mouth, it’s very different than it was on the nose. This is a mild and well-mannered whiskey, which is a little surprising at 111 proof. Think brown sugar, caramel, and vanilla, with a slight touch of cinnamon spice and a long, luxurious finish.

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