Kings County Barrel Strength Bourbon 64% 200ml 2021

Kings County Barrel Strength Bourbon 64% 200ml is a cask-strength Brooklyn bourbon in a small-format bottle.

Once a standard part of the range, this has become an allocated release as pressure has mounted on the distillery's older stock. It is drawn from barrels well beyond the age of the flagship bourbon, anywhere from two to five-plus years, and lands between 116 and 128 proof depending on the batch. Batch 14, bottled in 2021, carries a four-year age statement while including components up to six and a half years old. Colin Spoelman points out that this is where pot distillation shows its hand: narrow head cuts, 72 per cent in this case, strip the harsh early compounds and leave a finer spirit.

Burnt brown sugar, marzipan, caramel and vanilla wafer with black pepper, then an oak-driven palate of wild cherry, clove and leather. Bold but smooth. Neat with a drop of water; the 200ml bottle makes it an easy one to try before committing.