Cathead Distillery
Old Soul
Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Aged 15 Years
Cask Strength, 102 Proof
The Old Soul Bourbon Aged 15 Years is a 2020 Rare & Limited Release. With a mash bill of 78.5% corn, 13% rye and 8.5% malted barley, it is Kentucky sourced, rumored to be Heaven Hill, but that’s not confirmed. What’s particularly interesting is that this bourbon went into the barrel at 125 proof but came out at 102. That’s a pretty huge drop over 15 years, and we’ve seen that happen before, but it’s not common. The Heaven Hill 27 year was another recent example. That one came out at an amazing 94.7!
I was wondering about the name Cathead, so here’s what they say about it on their website: “The term “Cathead” is a compliment in Mississippi, first coined back in the day by blues musicians as a nod to artists they respect. Mississippi artists and musicians went on to use “Catheads” in many forms of folk art, as a way to pay the rent and share their legacies.” Cathead Distillery is the oldest distillery in MS, being founded in 2010. Surprisingly, MS was the last state to repeal prohibition, and did so in 1966!
Cathead Distillery makes Cathead Vodkas, Old Soul Bourbon, Bristow Gin and Hoodoo Chicory Liquor. The regular Old Soul Bourbon is a blend of IN & MS bourbons: 55% Straight Bourbon Aged for 4 years 8 months, 35% Straight Bourbon Aged for 4 years 3 months, 10% Straight Bourbon Aged for 2 years 1 month.
Tasting Notes
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 20 minutes in a Glencairn
👉🏻Nose: Peanut, banana, oak, sweet rich toffee, sugar sweetness, cedar, leather, maple
👉🏻Taste: Caramel, oak, leather, honey sweetness
👉🏻Finish: The same flavors grow stronger into the finish and the peanuts appear again; some dryness and char rise to the forefront later on in the long finish. Mild burn.
Summary
The nose on this one is interesting. The peanuts are quite noticeable, which usually means Beam to me and the more I drink this, the more I think it is from Beam. Likewise, it has been rumored that Beam recently sold a bunch of 15 year bourbon, and this same unusual mash bill is also in the recently released Chicken Cock 15 year old, Doc Swinson’s Release #6 of their Exploratory Cask Series, Rare Release 15 year Kentucky Bourbon, and the Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #4. More evidence that it comes from Beam. Otherwise the nose has rich flavors, and the taste and finish have the classic bourbon flavors that I would expect from a well aged Kentucky bourbon. I am really enjoying this one. Have you had Old Soul Bourbon Aged 15 Years? What did you think? Cheers!🥃
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us?🙂 If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
Want to learn about another 15 year old boubon? Check out our review of Barrel Craft Spirits 15 Year Old Bourbon!
