Colonel Randolph 16 Selected by Gordon Hue

Presenting an extraordinarily rare release: two single barrels of 16-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon, hand-selected by the legendary Gordon Hue.

Each barrel carries its own distinct proof one at 100 proof, the other at 110 proof. Bottles are allocated randomly (one per customer) with no choice of which barrel you receive.

Colonel Randolph 100 proof
Nose: Soft, floral, and approachable, but still robust and rich. Notes of molasses, maple syrup, buttered rye toast, vanilla bean are first. Cherry syrup and blackberry compote show up after it opens a bit, as do cinnamon graham crackers smeared with honeycomb, and a hint of mint arrives last. A faint trace of acetone on the nose (a hallmark of well-aged bourbon) is present.

Palate: The lightweight liquid begins very floral and fruityfresh dark cherries, to be precise. The barrel spice hits the back of your palate hardest, bringing cinnamon and cloves, before honeysuckle and candied ginger takeover.

Finish: Its medium long, and drying, though not oppressively heavy nor tannic. The ending note is Cherry Starburst. Its a really fun pour, one thats wide; it takes your taste buds on a journey from start to finish, as you pick apart a new flavor with each sip.

Colonel Randolph 110 proof
Nose: Darker, earthier, and more savory scents than its brother from another cask mother, though still decadent and round. Theres more acetone earlier, then butterscotch, dark baking chocolate shavings, stewed cherries, expressed orange zest thats been flamed, cinnamon, and fresh baked rye bread slathered with herbed butter.

Palate: The medium density liquid starts with a Cherry SweeTART candy, drying the front of your tongue quickly. The mid-palate has a blossoming of baking spices, dark chocolate, and a dash of cinnamon. Salted caramel arrives toward the end, along with oak spice and a hit of dark cherry.

Finish: Long, with a lot of oak spice and cinnamon, balanced by pops of caramel and sweetness. Theres an effervescent sensation that lingers. It adds a unique dimension to the whiskey. It’s like a packet of Cherry PopRocks fizzled in your mouth a while ago, and youre still getting those fun, lightly fruity tingles as aftershocks.