Holladay Distillery was founded way back in 1865 in Weston, Missouri. To celebrate its 170th birthday, the historic brand is launching its oldest bourbon yet. This week, it’s kicking things off by releasing Ben Holladay 10 Year Bourbon.
Ben Holladay 10 Year Bourbon
Even though the distillery’s 170th anniversary is on December 5th, it is launching this whiskey early so everyone can celebrate for a few months with toasts of this decade-old bourbon—Master Distiller Kyle Merklein hand-picked the barrels for this special release. Featuring the brand’s original Ben Holladay Bourbon mash bill, it’s bottled at a cask strength of 111 proof.
After ten years spent aging, the result is a balanced, multi-layered whiskey that begins with aromas of baking spices, caramel, toasted vanilla beans, leather, and maple candy. The palate is centered on flavors like dried cherries, oak, vanilla beans, and sticky toffee pudding. The finish is long and warm, ending with a balance of cinnamon, caramel, and oak. This epic release is best enjoyed neat or with a splash of water to open the aromas and flavors on a chilly evening.
“Ten years gives you a lot of time to watch how a bourbon develops and how the interaction between the whiskey, the barrel, and the environment continues to shape it,” Merklein says.
“What stood out about these barrels was the character they were showing. In creating the final batch, we wanted to maintain that incredible depth of flavor while building an even more balanced bourbon. At 111 proof, we felt like we found the sweet spot where you can really experience what those ten years gave us.”
Where can I buy it?
Sadly, you can’t just walk into your local liquor retailer and pick up a bottle. You’ll have to take a road trip to Missouri. Ben Holladay 10 Year Bourbon is currently available to the public at Holladay Distillery in Weston, Missouri. It’s available in limited quantities (one bottle per person, while supply lasts) at the suggested retail price of $125 for a 750ml bottle. For more information on this release and all the whiskeys from Ben Holladay’s portfolio, visit https://holladaybourbon.com/.
