Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey Review

Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve
Barrel Proof Corn Whiskey
Proof: 117
Aged: 10 years and older
MSRP: ~$65 average price
Review

Please enjoy our Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey Review!

The Old Hickory Brand

Old Hickory was originally founded in Fayette County, Kentucky in 1868. In 1896, the brand moved from Kentucky and E.R. Betterton & Co began producing Old Hickory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Following a hiatus due to prohibition, Old Hickory was then produced by Publicker Distilling Co subsidiary, Continental Distilling Corporation. Which brings us to the present. In 2011, the R.S. Lipman Company resurrected the Old Hickory brand, once again back in Tennessee. Old Hickory’s whiskeys are currently distilled in Lawrenceberg, Indiana. The line consists of Old Hickory Black Label Blended Whiskey, Old Hickory Straight Bourbon, Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Rye, and the whiskey I am reviewing today, Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey.

Mash Bill & Other Specifics

99% corn, 1% malted barley
Distilled at the Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana (MGP)
Matured in 18-year-old ex-bourbon barrels
Age stated at 10 years, however, the majority of the whiskey is 13 years old according to the Old Hickory website

Tasting Notes – Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey Review

Let’s taste it:

🛌 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉Nose: Milk chocolate, sugar cookie, honey sweetness, caramel; light fruit notes like maybe black cherries and a hint of orange citrus; touch of cedar; noticeable alcohol
👉Taste: Milk chocolate, caramel, orange peel, light brown sugar and honey; sweet cherry candy; light barrel char and smoke
👉Finish: Lingering light honey sweetness; orange citrus tang becomes much more dominant; light barrel char and oak; building moderate white pepper spice; fairly long finish with a moderate burn

Quite A Change From Start To Finish

There’s quite a change in Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey from the nose to the finish. The nose is largely dominated by sugar cookie, milk chocolate and some caramel. It is really quite pastry-like and enticing. Some of the flavors in the nose continue into the taste, although the orange peel becomes more evident. There’s also a sweetness throughout, from both honey and light brown sugar. The finish continues that trend, although tangy orange citrus continues to grow, becoming the dominant flavor, with the addition of a moderate degree of white pepper spice.

It’s A Corn Whiskey

The Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey is not called a corn whiskey on the company website. However, it won best of class and double gold in the corn whiskey category at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and its specs seem to match a corn whiskey’s, so I think it is fair to consider it a corn whiskey. That being said, we have an explanation for its somewhat unusual flavor profile. I find the milk chocolate and sugar cookie in the nose quite pleasant, although the tangy orange peel and zest later on are a bit of surprise.

Summary

If you are looking for a whiskey that is a bit of a change of pace from the standard fare, give Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey a try. It did win a double gold in San Francisco, after all! Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey Review! Would you like to read about another corn whiskey? Check out our Mellow Corn Review!

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