Hooten Young American Whiskey Batch 001

A little background

Hooten Young was founded by retired Master Sgt. Norm Hooten and Tim Young, who came together to form a partnership focused on creating fine whiskey that honors the men and women of the armed forces. To that end, a portion of the profits from the company are donated to charities that support veterans. Hooten and Young’s first batch of American Whiskey clocks in at 12 years old and 92 proof, with a mashbill composed of 99% corn and 1% barley. Distilled in Indiana, this would be a bourbon, except for the fact that the whiskey is actually aged in second-fill barrels meaning it does not meet the “aged in new charred oak containers” requirement for bourbon (no word on what the barrels held previously). Hooten Young American Whiskey Batch 001 has a retail price of round $65.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Light Gold

Nose

Molasses and pear rise from the glass quickly, with a rich french vanilla note not far behind. After a few moments, a light doughy note akin to a puff pastry becomes evident, followed by a gentle floral note emerging deep in the glass.

Palate

Vanilla cream and cherry coke are the dominant notes on the palate, with a mild apple note close to a red delicious on the mid-palate. The pastry dough note returns on the mid-palate as well. After a few moments, the cherry coke note becomes a little medicinal and a little drier than the initial impression, although the mouthfeel is medium thickness throughout.

Finish

The finish is medium in length, and starts with buttercream and artificial vanilla, with a touch of the medicinal cherry returning after a few breaths, although it dissipates quickly.

In closing

Hooten Young American Whiskey Batch 001 is a rather unique pour. I’ll admit when I read that it was a 12y Indiana product I went into it expecting something similar to a classic bourbon profile, and it is far from that. The impact of using second fill barrels for over a decade creates a uniquely light American whiskey that does not suffer from the same flaws of many lighter, low-age American whiskeys. Where new charred oak casks usually impart dark notes of oak, toffee, char, and chocolate over the course of a decade, this pour has developed complex, lighter notes that are not lacking in age. At this price point, I’d except a bit more out of a proofed down light whiskey.