Henry McKenna 10 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon

Henry McKenna, you’re so hard to find but so worth the search. This B/B is straight forward and honest, it doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. This bourbon is strong but smooth, full & rich and doesn’t hide it’s rye upbringing. You get all the classic bourbon notes you expect, and it lingers pleasantly reminding you why you came here in the 1st place. This is 4.5⭐️ all day long.

For the $$$, this gets 4 stars from me. Smooth enough and tasty enough.

Terrible. tasted like mulch

Henry McKenna is a Heaven Hill produced expression that is somewhat rare in its class range, in that it is bottled in bond and age stated at 10 years. For a bourbon in the low $30 range, there are few competitors that can offer a higher proof combined with an actual age statement. Of course none of that matters if it doesn't taste good, so let's find out! Enjoyed neat in a Glencairn. Nose is certainly interesting on this one, compared to other 10 year options on the shelf. I'm picking up aromas of spicy vanilla and toasted marshmallows combined with dark fruits and maybe even spearmint. Palate is also very nice with generous spiciness but only a little burn despite the higher proof. Pretty smooth and creamy with rich balanced flavors of burnt sugar, dark fruits, citrus, and nice spice zest. Starts out fairly sweet but quickly fades. Finish is dry and somewhat short at first, but once the palate is adjusted it comes alive with dark cherries and dark chocolate and light barrel notes poking up. Just a bit longer in the finish I get a great honey note, maybe with a whiff of tobacco and even faint cinnamon. Well into the finish all I get is dusty old wood, almost like walking into a old wooden barn. Just fantastic all around! Overall a very nice sipper! I was not a huge fan of the highly rated Evan Williams SiB, but the HMcK is a very different animal from the same distillery. For just a few $ more the HMcK offers far greater flavors, complexity and depth than the EW. I'd rate this one as good as Eagle Rare 10 year with complex flavors, higher proof and different flavor profile that makes this one an interesting option. In fact I think it tastes fairly similar to Eagle Rare in flavor profile, only the McKenna has more lively spice and citrus zest. The only other option on the shelf at this price with a 10 year age statement is Russell's Reserve 10, which is fantastic in its own right. Definitely a must buy or must try for the HMcK! Cheers!