Toasted barrel Blend
Deciding what to name our first batch of Toasted Barrel Blend was a tough decision. This is our first opportunity to share our product with consumers, and it’s based on a blending technique that isn’t really “mainstream.” We knew we had the opportunity to open consumers’ eyes (and palates) to a whiskey that was worth being celebrated.
A gamble? No. We did our homework, so we saw what we were doing as more of a calculated risk—a gambit.
Gambit is a blend of 6yr 6mo 10% rye (finished in our three signature toasted oak barrels), 6yr 8mo 36% rye, and 7yr 7mo, 20% rye, Kentucky bourbons. The 10% rye barrels were aged on the lower levels of warehouse B (BBC) before spending their last six months on the sixth floor. This allowed for their final months in toasted oak barrels to undergo maximum temperature shifts, increasing the whiskey’s interaction with oak. The 36% rye barrels slept on the fourth floor at the center of warehouse A (BBC) and the 20% ryes on the cool and damp first floor of warehouse A (GR – Tile Warehouse).
After each sip, we invite you to nose again to experience the whiskey transform. On the palate, it delivers buttered pancakes with syrup, transitioning to toasted coconut crème pie, complemented by hints of cigar box and toffee.
The finish is gripping, leaving lingering notes of sweet oak, brown sugar, and light tobacco.
Cigar lovers, give it a try with a Boneshaker Full Body Cast.
AROMAS OF MAPLE BAR, MARZIPAN, CRANBERRY COMPOTE, AND CREAM SODA
116.6
58.3%
Alc. by Vol
Proof
#1: “Gambit”
Deciding what to name our first batch of Toasted Barrel Blend was a tough decision. This is our first opportunity to share our product with consumers, and it’s based on a blending technique that isn’t really “mainstream.” We took an idea and went all-in on it months before we could even confirm it would be worth pursuing. If it didn’t work? Back to the drawing board. But if it did work, we knew we had the opportunity to open consumers’ eyes (and palates) to a whiskey that was worth being celebrated.
A gamble? No. We did our homework and conversed with many master blenders, oak experts, and industry professionals. They all agreed this could work out in grand fashion. Therefore, we saw what we were doing as more of a calculated risk—a gambit.
Gambit is blend of 6yr 6mo 10% rye (finished in our three signature toasted oak barrels), 6yr 8mo 36% rye, and 7yr 7mo, 20% rye, Kentucky bourbons. The 10% rye barrels were aged on the lower levels of warehouse B (BBC) before spending their last six months on the sixth floor. This allowed for their final months in toasted oak barrels to undergo maximum temperature shifts, increasing the whiskey’s interaction with oak. The 36% rye barrels slept on the fourth floor at the center of warehouse A (BBC) and the 20% ryes on the cool and damp first floor of warehouse A (GR – Tile Warehouse).
This batch greets you with a nose that is hard to depart from. Aromas of maple bar, marzipan, cranberry compote, and cream soda take the stage. After each sip, we invite you to nose again to experience the whiskey transform. On the palate, it delivers buttered pancakes with syrup, transitioning to toasted coconut crème pie, complemented by hints of cigar box and toffee.
The finish is gripping, leaving lingering notes of sweet oak, brown sugar, and light tobacco.
Be careful with this batch, it is 116.6 proof of flavor that will keep you going back for more.
Cigar lovers, try pairing it with a Boneshaker Full Body Cast.
Aromas of maple bar, marzipan, cranberry compote, and cream soda take the stage.
116.6
58.3%
Alc. by Vol
Proof
#2: “Panacea”
In Greek mythology, Panacea is the goddess of cure. By modern definition, panacea means “a solution or remedy for all difficulties.” Now, it is the name for the second batch of our H.K. Young Toasted Barrel Blend. Batch #2 distinguishes itself from Batch #1 with its nearly medicinal-like, oily viscosity, reminiscent of the early apothecaries blending ingredients to ward off ailments, and the days when whiskey was considered a medicinal remedy. “Panacea” embodies the rich outcomes achievable when blending select whiskies finished in our toasted oak barrels. While Batch #1 focused on higher tannins for a drier mouthfeel, Batch #2 dramatically increases viscosity, aiming to provide an experience that is not only delicious but also evocative of a time when a sip of whiskey was a trusted remedy for both body and soul.
On the nose, “Panacea” opens to delightful aromas of maraschino cherries, candied pecans, and vanilla, with hints of cigar smoke in the background. The palate is layered and viscous, offering notes of artisan chocolate-covered cherries, raw honeycomb, and babelutte toffee. As the flavors transition into the finish, notes of sweet oak, peanut brittle, and tobacco harmonize to create a memorable and incomparable pour.
In Greek mythology, Panacea is the goddess of cure. By modern definition, panacea means “a solution or remedy for all difficulties.” Now, it is the name for the second batch of our H.K. Young Toasted Barrel Blend. Batch #2 distinguishes itself from Batch #1 with its nearly medicinal-like, oily viscosity, reminiscent of the early apothecaries blending ingredients to ward off ailments, and the days when whiskey was considered a medicinal remedy. “Panacea” embodies the rich outcomes achievable when blending select whiskies finished in our toasted oak barrels. While Batch #1 focused on higher tannins for a drier mouthfeel, Batch #2 dramatically increases viscosity, aiming to provide an experience that is not only delicious but also evocative of a time when a sip of whiskey was a trusted remedy for both body and soul.
On the nose, “Panacea” opens to delightful aromas of maraschino cherries, candied pecans, and vanilla, with hints of cigar smoke in the background. The palate is layered and viscous, offering notes of artisan chocolate-covered cherries, raw honeycomb, and babelutte toffee. As the flavors transition into the finish, notes of sweet oak, peanut brittle, and tobacco harmonize to create a memorable and incomparable pour.
Aromas of maraschino cherries, candied pecans, and vanilla.
Aromas of maraschino cherries, candied pecans, and vanilla, with hints of cigar smoke in the background
114.4
57.2%
Alc. by Vol
Proof
114.4
57.2%
Alc. by Vol
Proof
#3: “From Georgia, With Love”
In the closing days of Cole's year stationed in the country of Georgia, he returned—one last time—to the blending table. “From Georgia With Love” is more than a bourbon; it’s the final chapter of a journey that began before he headed overseas, when Gambit set our toasted barrel tradition in motion.
We pulled once again from the exact same stocks that built Batch #1—a trio of distinct mashbills, married to create the complexity and balance we loved in our first release. But now, each component had one more year of maturity, a patient reflection of the year Cole spent abroad. That extra time deepened the oak, rounded the edges, and layered in new subtleties without losing the structure of the original.
The recipe stays true to Gambit’s blueprint but now delivers added depth. On the nose, dark honey, ripe fig, and Georgian stone fruit lead into baklava-sweet pastry, candied walnut, and spiced caramel on the palate. The finish lingers with sweet oak, tobacco leaf, and a fading echo of black tea, like a final toast shared with comrades before heading home.
“From Georgia With Love” honors a year of commitment, camaraderie, and craftsmanship. A bourbon built on the foundation of our first, yet carrying the quiet wisdom—and warmth—of time well spent.
In the closing days of Cole's year stationed in the country of Georgia, he returned—one last time—to the blending table. “From Georgia With Love” is more than a bourbon; it’s the final chapter of a journey that began before he headed overseas, when Gambit set our toasted barrel tradition in motion.
We pulled once again from the exact same stocks that built Batch #1—a trio of distinct mashbills, married to create the complexity and balance we loved in our first release. But now, each component had one more year of maturity, a patient reflection of the year Cole spent abroad. That extra time deepened the oak, rounded the edges, and layered in new subtleties without losing the structure of the original.
The recipe stays true to Gambit’s blueprint but now delivers added depth. On the nose, dark honey, ripe fig, and Georgian stone fruit lead into baklava-sweet pastry, candied walnut, and spiced caramel on the palate. The finish lingers with sweet oak, tobacco leaf, and a fading echo of black tea, like a final toast shared with comrades before heading home.
“From Georgia With Love” honors a year of commitment, camaraderie, and craftsmanship. A bourbon built on the foundation of our first, yet carrying the quiet wisdom—and warmth—of time well spent.
Aromas of dark honey, ripe fig, and Georgian stone fruit
Aromas of dark honey, ripe fig, and Georgian stone fruit
117.4
58.7%
Alc. by Vol
Proof
117.4
58.7%
Alc. by Vol
Proof
#4: “The Reckoning”
For those who’ve followed our toasted barrel blends over the years, you know these releases are the foundation of what makes H.K. Young distinct. It’s hard to believe Batch #1, The Gambit, launched two years ago.
From the beginning, each batch has pushed a different part of our blending philosophy forward. The Gambit leaned fully into a technique that still isn’t widely explored. Panacea brought a richer texture and deeper viscosity. From Georgia, With Love added another layer of depth and complexity.
But throughout every release, one note kept revealing itself in our 78/10/12 mashbill and blends: cinnamon.
It was always there, woven through the profile and our 78/10/12 mashbill blend, especially when paired with our custom toasted oak barrel finishes. But with Batch #4, we decided it was time to stop treating it like a supporting note. Cinnamon and baking spice were ready to take center stage. That’s how we came to it. And honestly, it only felt right to go all in on The Reckoning.
From the first pour, there’s an immediate richness: dark brown sugar, caramelized sweetness, and waves of vanilla that pull you back in before the sip is even finished. Stewed cherries begin to unfold underneath, adding depth and warmth.
Then the palate opens completely.
A silky, velvety texture carries notes of buttery shortbread, butterscotch, and deep toffee, layered against the unmistakable warmth of cinnamon and allspice. There’s a nostalgic quality to it. Warm red-hot candy, baking spice, something familiar (like from your childhood) in the best possible way.
The finish lingers long after the sip fades: toasted oak, roasted walnut, and a final wave of that cinnamon heat that settles in comfortably rather than overpowering.
The Reckoning feels like the culmination of every batch that came before it, built from everything we’ve learned and refined along the way.
Cinnamon, Dark Sugar, and Everything That Came Before
117
58.5%
Alc. by Vol
Proof
Aromas of dark honey, ripe fig, and Georgian stone fruit
117.4
58.7%
Alc. by Vol
Proof
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