Emma Jones
Hirsch The Cask Strength | Batch AHH0722
Nose:
Hirsch The Cask Strength greets the senses with an initial burst of big and rich baking spices, ripe plum notes, aged oak, and a hint of vanilla. It’s a very inviting aroma that is hard to miss.
Palate:
Making its way to the tongue, the sip is dry and leathery with aromas of sweet cinnamon stick, dark fruits, light rye spice, chocolatey malt, and a splash of aged oak providing a nice and complex flavor profile. The rye spice helps to not make the sip too sweet while still providing a nice complexity.
Finish:
That complexity continues through to the finish thanks to the addition of baking spices, hint of dark berries, and a simmering heat that lingers on the palette. It’s a carefully crafted balance not often found in barrel finished whiskeys.
Overall:
Hirsch The Cask Strength is a great example of how a barrel finishing program can add some extra depth and complexity to already great base whiskey. The addition of the Hine Cognac XO barrels takes this expression to the next level and provides a truly unique sip. The sip is wonderfully balanced, and the price point is high, but it’s well worth it.
Classification: Straight Bourbon finished in Cognac Casks
Company: Hotaling & Co.
Distillery: Distilled by Hirsch Distillers at an undisclosed distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky
Release Date: November 2022
Proof: 127
Age: 7.5 Years
Mashbill: 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Malted Barley
Color: Mahogany
MSRP: $200 (2023)
I would highly recommend Hirsch The Cask Strength to any whiskey lover looking for a complex and unique sip. The combination of baking spices, dark fruits, and aged oak make for a delicious and well-balanced whiskey that is worth the higher price point. The addition of Hine Cognac XO barrels adds an extra layer of complexity that sets this expression apart from other barrel finished whiskeys. Overall, a fantastic choice for any whiskey connoisseur.
Hirsch The Cask Strength Batch AHH0722 offers a beautifully complex and well-balanced sip thanks to the addition of Hine Cognac XO barrels. The careful blend of spices, fruit notes, and oak make for a truly enjoyable experience. Highly recommended for lovers of barrel finished whiskeys.