Guitar_mann
Henry McKenna 10 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
July 8, 2019 (edited August 24, 2019)
This is not a bad pour, but not a great one either. It has heat and spiciness in areas of my mouth I am not used to. I am just not a fan of the overall flavor profile. It seems disjointed and a bit harsh. This might have been better at 8 to 9 years. It may have missed the sweet spot.
I had heard so many positive things about this bottle that I was cautiously optimistic. Unfortunately, the drink did not live up to the hype. I am already expecting the replies saying, " you just got a weak bottle." "You need to try this store pick or that barrel number." et al. I know the nature of single barrel whiskey. Unfortunately, I just can't suggest this pour. Even if it was a weak barrel, how can "good" whiskey be this average after 10 years in the cask??? A famous NFL football coach once said, "...you are what your record says you are..." With Bourbon, you are what your nose, palate, and finish say you are. IMO, Henry Mac 10 year is average ~2.75 stars. It gets extra points for being a 10 year SB for $38 in NC. However, there are better $40 bottles regardless of age or otherwise(Four Roses SB, EW SB, JB SB). I guess the older I get the less time I have for average. Thanks @ridethalightin for sharing more from the, "GSO Buyers Club" private stock.
38.0
USD
per
Bottle
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@BeppeCovfefe makes sense ...10 yr old at those prices.
@PBMichiganWolverine In the state of Georgia, Eagle Rare is almost less common than the jackalope, I've seen it on the shelf only once in the first half of 2019. The assumption by most I have talked to is the supply will never catch up with demand and it will be sold like Blantons.
@BeppeCovfefe wait, Eagle Rare is now allocated?!?
yes, @PBMichiganWolverine I was told this by someone who is supposedly in the know and sell liquor. Apparently they're working to make McKenna BiB an allocated product. If you see it sitting around below 40$ suggest buying one just in case. We all know what happened to Eagle Rare.
@BeppeCovfefe they’re buying it back from distributors?
@BeppeCovfefe wait...what? They’re buying it back, for what?
It's interesting how these bottles collected dust through much of the recent "bourbon craze", winning a pseudo award has put the HM BiB back in vogue. It;s said Heaven Hill is buying back product from distributors for relabeling purposes. We'll see how that goes, with the new marketing trend.
@Guitar_mann, This tends to be readily available here in Brunswick County, but if you cross over into New Hanover, it is definitely hit and miss.
@Zachary-Robbins. Up until about 6 months ago, I saw this very abundantly in the Triad area stores. Now... I saw a few bottles in the Brunswick County beach area stores late last month. I wonder how many folks have sub-par cracked bottles of Henry Mac SB on their home bar shelves ready to be forgotten??? I have a few mistakes at home myself taking up valuable space. Even with lots of research resources available I miss on a flier every now and then and end up giving it away.
I don't think I've seen this in 2 years in NC, so who knows how I feel about it now lol. Years ago I remember liking it less than others around $30.
I liked this one myself, at $40ish at least there’s alternatives. I really liked your comment about getting too old for average, this Old Dude can relate lol.
@BDanner. You are very correct. At $29.99, I could learn to overlook its flaws. A SB 10 year BIB for the old price is a Double Buy!
Our opinion differs on this one as far as flavor profile, but I haven’t purchased a bottle since the price increase here in NC. It was an easy buy at $27-$30. At almost $40? Too many other options.