Wathen's Single Barrel Bourbon Review

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: Kentucky, USA.
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
Distillation and Maturation Process: Aged for 8 years in fresh American oak casks.
Age Statement: 8 years.
Color and Clarity: Dark, indicative of its maturation in fresh American oak casks. No coloring added.
Bottle Design: Features the barrel number (1136) and bottling date (February 1, 2016), hand-bottled with a paper seal and plastic cork. The bottle also includes a background story of the Wathen and Medley families.

Balance of Flavors: A mix of sweet and fresh notes, with a balance between bakery-like sweetness and fresh, citric notes.
Unique Characteristics: Not as sweet as typical bourbons, with notable flavors of caramel, cheesecake, crumble cake, wild flowers, berries, and a bittersweet chocolate finish.
Comparison: Described as more premium compared to the more mass-produced Medley whiskey, offering a unique and less typical bourbon flavor profile.

Ancestry and Family Ties: The bottle shares the background story of the Wathen family's ancestry and their close ties with the Medley family, suggesting a lineage of distilling tradition.
Production Insights: The whisky is produced by the Charles Medley Distillery, indicating a premium approach by a distillery known for more mass-produced offerings.

Kentucky Heritage: Emphasizes the bourbon's Kentucky origins, a state renowned for its bourbon production, and the traditional craftsmanship involved in its creation.
Family Legacy: Highlights the significance of family heritage and legacy in the bourbon industry, particularly the connection between the Wathen and Medley families.

"It's definitely something sweet and a mixture of some bakery, yeah." - Describing the unique flavor profile.
"Not the typical bourbon I would say." - Highlighting its distinctiveness from standard bourbons.
"This is their way of saying yeah we can do premium as well." - On the Charles Medley Distillery's approach to producing Wathen's Single Barrel.

Wathen's Single Barrel is an 8-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon with a unique flavor profile that balances sweet bakery notes with fresh, citric tones.
The bourbon is dark in color, aged in fresh American oak casks, and features no added coloring.
It offers a more premium experience compared to the more mass-produced Medley whiskey, with a distinct flavor profile that includes caramel, cheesecake, wild flowers, berries, and a bittersweet chocolate finish.
The bottle shares the Wathen family's background story, emphasizing the cultural and historical significance of family legacy in bourbon production.
Produced by the Charles Medley Distillery, it represents a premium offering from a distillery known for more widely available products.

Bourbon Enthusiasts: Those with a deep appreciation for Kentucky bourbons and an interest in unique, single barrel expressions.
Whisky Collectors: Individuals looking for bourbons with a story, family heritage, and distinct flavor profiles to add to their collection.
Beginners with a Sweet Tooth: Newcomers to whisky who enjoy sweet and bakery-like flavors but are looking to explore more complex profiles with fresh and citric notes.