BACKGROUND: Produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, Henry McKenna 10-year Single Barrel Bottled-in-Bond is named for an Irish immigrant who moved to Kentucky in 1838 and operated a distillery on his farm. Initially a producer of corn and wheat whiskey, McKenna moved to Louisville in 1880 and built a new distillery in 1883, which, at its capacity, never produced more than nine barrels of bourbon a day. He passed away in 1893, and his sons took over the bourbon business. Because McKenna set new standards for sanitation and aging during his time, Heaven Hill named one of its bourbon brands after him. Once easy to find on store shelves, Henry McKenna 10-Year SB BiB became quite scarce and subject to a bit of secondary market pricing after it was named “Best In Show Whiskey” at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. It had also won Double Gold in the bourbon category the year prior. Because this McKenna is a single barrel product, some consumers have complained on the Internet about experiencing significant variations from one bottle to the next, but, overall, it remains a highly-sought and admired bourbon. NOSE: The McKenna offers an ethanol-heavy nose with deep, rich notes that remind me of caramel simmering on the stove. There is also a significant layer of oak in the nose as well as a bit of citrus. PALATE: The palate presents loads of mint, which is often present in higher rye bourbons though Henry McKenna uses the same 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley mash bill as other Heaven Hill products. The oak, caramel, and trace of citrus appearing in the nose also linger on the palate. A buttery mouthfeel coats the jawline and sticks to the mouth. FINISH: Loads of oak dominant the finish and dry the mouth. Rye spice and mint also remain. The finish is a long one that lingers like a talkative houseguest who just won’t leave. I notice that the finish is significantly spicier than the palate. FINAL ASSESSMENT: The Henry McKenna 10-Year SB BiB is a complex bourbon that transforms from the front of the palate to the finish. It is heavy with oak, which I enjoy in bourbons despite its drying effect. I can certainly understand why this bourbon is so prized, and I would make it a daily drinker if it weren’t so hard to find. I’ll make it a point to pick up a bottle whenever one is spotted in the wild.