Hancock’s President’s Reserve Bourbon Review

Hancock’s President’s Reserve
Single Barrel
Bourbon Whiskey
88.9 Proof
MSRP: ~$50
Review

Please enjoy our Hancock’s President’s Reserve Bourbon Review!

Hancock’s President’s Reserve Bourbon is an easy drinking bourbon that would make a nice every day drinker were it not so difficult to find

The Forgotten Bourbon

Hancock’s President’s Reserve, aside from being one of the only bourbons with two apostrophes in its name, seems to be the forgotten bourbon of the Buffalo Trace line. Hancock’s is rumored to be from Buffalo Trace’s mash bill 2, which is said to be the “high rye” mash bill. Of course, Buffalo Trace’s high rye is different than everyone else’s. Generally high rye is considered to be over 20%, but the rye percentage in this mash bill is thought to be 12-15%. The bourbons presumed to be from mash bill 2 include: Ancient Age, Blanton’s, Elmer T. Lee, Hancock’s and Rockhill Farms.

However, as rare as many of the mash bill 2 bourbons are, Hancock’s President’s Reserve seems to be one of the least, if not the least, frequently seen. Personally, I have only encountered it “on the shelf” once in the last decade. In addition, there is very little information about this bourbon available.

What’s In A Name?

What’s in a name? Well, according to Sazarac’s GreatBourbon.com website, “In 1775, the Leestown settlement was established along the banks of the Kentucky River by Willis and Hancock Lee. Soon this became a well-known shipping port for tobacco, hemp and whiskey. The Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey pays tribute to the pioneering spirit of Hancock Lee.”

And…that’s it. There is no more information given, nor any mention of this bourbon on Buffalo Trace’s website. So we will never know why it is “President’s” reserve. Honestly, I always assumed the Hancock on the label was John Hancock, of Declaration of Independence fame and who served as President of the Continental Congress, although that is apparently incorrect.

Tasting Notes

Let’s taste it:

🛌 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉Nose: Vanilla, apples, honey, rye spices; light caramel and oak; mild alcohol
👉Taste: Apple, caramel, vanilla, light honey & oak
👉Finish: Spice and dry oak grow with a lingering dryness; Moderately long finish with a mild burn.

Conclusion

Hancock’s President’s Reserve is a fairly light bodied bourbon, which is not surprising given its 88.9 proof. It has pleasant flavors and is easy to drink and is perfect for someone looking for a pleasant bourbon in the fairly low proof range. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to find, so although the flavor profile would be great for a daily drinker or for those just starting out in bourbon, I can’t really recommend it as such. Have you tried Hancock’s? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

I hope you have enjoyed our Hancock’s President’s Reserve Bourbon Review! Would you like to read about another Buffalo Trace Distillery Mash Bill #2 bourbon? Then check out our Blanton’s Bourbon Review!

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