Kings County 7-Year Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Kings County 7-Year Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a single-barrel bourbon bottled at 107 proof after seven years in wood.

This may well be the oldest age-stated bourbon distilled outside traditional bourbon country, and it is certainly the oldest age-stated pot-distilled bourbon. It was laid down in July 2013 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard distillery and spent its whole life in the upstairs ageing room, a glasshouse-like space where summers push the spirit hard into the wood. The angels took 34 per cent of the barrel over those seven years, which is a heavy toll and explains the concentration. Kings County was founded in 2010 by Colin Spoelman and David Haskell and works with organic New York corn and English malted barley on Scottish-made copper pot stills.

Deep and resinous, with dark caramel, dried cherry, tobacco leaf and toasted oak, the 107 proof carrying it long. Drink it neat in a heavy glass, with a couple of drops of water if you want the fruit to come forward. A single large cube is the most you should do.