Hooten Young 12 Year
Quick Stats:
Distiller: Hooten Young Distillery
Spirit: American Whiskey
Aged: 12 Years
Price: Around $64.99
Proof: 92
About The Distillery
“Bonded by decades of friendship with Tim Young, Hooten Young American Whiskey was discovered by Master Sommelier George Miliotes. Miliotes brings his renowned expertise to Hooten Young, as one of only 268 Master Sommeliers in the world.”
About The Bottle
“Hooten Young was crafted to help folks slow down, bond with the people around them, and remember those who are no longer here. Rare distillation and barrel aging practices, coupled with over a decade’s rest, have produced an American Whiskey with notes of maple, vanilla, ripe apple and a long smooth finish.
The whiskey is aged 12 years and made with a mash bill of 99% corn and 1% barley. The spirit was distilled to 189 proof, barreled at 140 proof, and then bottled at 92 proof from second fill barrels.”
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Nose
(4)
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Palate
(4)
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Finish
(3.5)
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Smoothness
(4)
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Value
(4.5)
Notes & Review
Nose: The nose comes in with thick and aromatic vanilla cream and butterscotch notes. After that initial wave of sweetness, there’s a nice bouquet of honeysuckle, rose hip, and hibiscus that blend into a nice wood-fired black currant. Light notes of spice, dried cherry, and citrus can be detected on the tail end of the nose.
Palate: The body is light and airy with subtle notes of caramel cream and vanilla Demerara sugar on the front that transition into more savory sawdust, black pepper, black currant, and the ever so slightest hint of citrus and stone fruit.
Finish: The finish has familiar notes of charred oak and tanned leather alongside notes of cinnamon spice and toasted praline.
Review: Hooten Young is something that has just recently come into our radar. And, we were lucky enough to sit and try it with our good friend Vincent Lendorio from Tampa Bay Whiskey Society.
There, he shared information about the bottle, and commented on the complexity found in the bottle even with it being a more delicate pour. As he walked us through what his highly-attuned pallet was experiencing, we couldn’t help but agree.
The pour is something of an enigma (in a good way).
I’m used to loving the bold flavors that come with higher proof whiskey. I love the Kentucky hug and rush of flavor that lets you know you’re drinking something… well… bold. However, with Hooten Young, it seems that they’ve been able to marry that subtleness with enough complexity to make the pour very enjoyable.
You get a very sweet and floral nose that matches the sweetness of the initial taste, but then on both the nose and palate they open up to some more classic flavors and the intensity of the pour ramps up to a more classic level of flavor and heat.
It really creates a very unique experience, and the dance between subtle and sweet to bold and savory creates a great experience that really sets you up to ease into the next sip.
If you’re not carful, you can drink more than intended, as we discovered.
Thanks again to Vincent for the Hooten Young! Much appreciated!
User Review
( vote)
Greg Sinadinos started his spirits journey writing a whiskey periodical for Fine Tobacco NYC Magazine. He began answering review requests under a social media page he named “Whiskey Culture,” which quickly merged with Greg’s passion for connecting with others and his interest in history.
Today, Greg travels the country not just looking for great whiskey, but also exploring the history and individuals that the whiskey community is founded upon. He has authored “Whiskey History From Around The World” and is the host of “The Rickhouse” web series.
