2021 Pinhook Flagship Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA

The latest vintage release from Pinhook is a collection of their casks with an average age of three years and four months with a citrus, floral, and nutty profile.

The story of Pinhook Whiskey starts in 2014 with its first release. You see, each fall the folks in the newly restored Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, create a single batch of Bourbon and a single batch of Rye. Each release is named after a thoroughbred racehorse coming up in the Bourbon Lane Stables — the horse’s stats are even printed on the labels. So each issuance is a bit different, just like each racehorse is different. It’s a great story and they sell out every year. In 2016 they refurbished the Old Taylor Distillery (mothballed in 1972) and are now bottling their first completely in-house Spirits.

Pinhook does and exceptional job of holding our interest. not only is the Bourbon a tasty treat, but each year’s annual release of their vintage series is unique and named after a racehorse. In this case, Pinhook Bourbon Heist Crop ’21 is named after a two year-old colt from Bourbon Lanes Stables named “Bourbon Heist” who is just starting his racing career.

The Spirit named after him has an average age of three years and four months. The mash bill is 75% corn, 15% rye, and 10% malted barley and it’s bottled at a powerful 49% ABV that is sure to lead around the bend and steal the win down the stretch.