Henry McKenna Single Barrel - Q

[Jono]

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3674

The original thread is closed but looking over Heaven Hills product list...I noticed this whiskey that seems to be reletively rare...Binny's does not list it...and as I enjoy regular Henry McKenna this version looks really appealing.

Does anyone know how widely it is distributed? It would be a definite pick up for me if I can find it.

http://www.heaven-hill.com/brands-bourbon.shtml

HH has so many brands - many appear to be export only...maybe you can find them in KY....Sam Clay 12 yr old?

Old 1889 4 YO 80 proof Bourbon ?

Old 1889 Royal Bourbon?

Sam Sykes Black Bourbon

Samuels 1844 Bourbon

These are just a few...are all produced currently?

If so, what an operation they run.

http://www.whiskyportal.com/distillery.asp?DistilleryID=1077&DistilleryName=Heaven+Hill+Distillery

[StraightBoston]

I see it occasionally in New England but have yet to pull the trigger.

[funknik]

Like Kevin said, it is available if you look, but for some reason, I gravitate away from HH products once they get above the $20-25 range....not sure why.

[jburlowski]

It's generally available here in Northern KY. A very nice pour.

[HighTower]

I got a bottle from Binny's last year. It wasn't on their site, but I just asked the question and they did have some.

I would suggest calling or emailing Brett Pontoni.

brett@binnys.com

Scott

[Jono]

Thanks! I will stop by my local store and check on availability.

[The Boozer]

Plenty of places carrry McKenna SB in my area. I see little discussion about it in SB. Picked up a bottle a couple weeks ago. Have not tried it yet but looking foward to opening it. Would like to hear what others have to say about it.

TJ

[jwevan01]

Plenty of places carrry McKenna SB in my area. I see little discussion about it in SB. Picked up a bottle a couple weeks ago. Have not tried it yet but looking foward to opening it. Would like to hear what others have to say about it.

TJ

This post inspired me to have a pour from my opened bottle. Barrel #357, 5/27/1997. Really like this expression, has a similar minty bite to the one I taste in OFBB 2007. A few drops of water seem to really open this bourbon up for me. I was in Raleigh NC for thanksgiving and they had the McKenna SB on sale for $23 ($5 off) and I've been kicking myself for not buying it then. I had this current bottle, but hadn't tried it. Goes for about $29 in Louisville - will be even higher after April 1 :hot:.

Enjoy,

Joel

[HighTower]

Binnys have added it to their site, $29.99

Scott

[Josh]

Plenty of places carrry McKenna SB in my area. I see little discussion about it in SB. Picked up a bottle a couple weeks ago. Have not tried it yet but looking foward to opening it. Would like to hear what others have to say about it.

TJ

It's OK. It's nice that it's a 10 y/o BiB, but I don't think it really distinguishes itself from rest of the HH pack, at least the couple bottles I've had. For the money I think FC or EC 12 are better choices.

[Stu]

Tastes differ, but I like it better than FC by a bunch. I've only had two bottles but they were consistent. It doesn't compare with EC 18 but I'd rank it equal =/- with EC 12. However regular H McK is one of my regular bar bourbons, the other being VOB. In fact we had H McK single barrel last night, unfortunately the bottle went with this mornings recycle so I can't tell you which barrel it was.

[funknik]

Tastes differ, but I like it better than FC by a bunch. I've only had two bottles but they were consistent. It doesn't compare with EC 18 but I'd rank it equal =/- with EC 12.

I agree with Stu. I had a blind taste of this the other night courtesy of Mr. Kickert and it was very tasty. Much better than FC in my opinion and maybe on par with EC12, but far less complex to me, so maybe it'd be hard to justify the extra $ to make it a regular pour, but it was very sweet....in a good way. I will definitely buy it next time I see it. Here are my tasting notes:

Color: light amber

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, tropical fruit

1st Sip: fruit continues & grass

Next: Tons of sugar and a little spice -- ultra sweet

Finish: clean but with some char but very little wood, a little grassiness, the hallmark of Heaven Hill