Powdered deep-fried dough | Tropical fruits | Toasted barley | Toasted oak

Ripe dark plums | Glazed fruit cake | Life Savers Assorted Fruit candy | Light rye spice | Touch of dry oak | Sweet notes dominate

Fruit salad | Confectioners’ sugar | Ripe dark plums | Life Savers Assorted Fruit candy | Lingering & delicious

Known for their Dragon’s Milk Beer (along with many others), New Holland Spirits has slowly been building their whiskey portfolio over the last several years. In 2022 they released their Dragon’s Milk Origin Small Batch Bourbon. To create this bourbon, New Holland uses 100 barrels when blending Origin Small Batch. The brand took things a step further recently by releasing four limited edition toasted barrels. Each barrel had a unique proof and was given a unique batch letter along with an identifying name. These particular barrels were a distillery exclusive, however, the brand has worked with barrel clubs in the past and allowed them to release their own Dragon’s Milk Origin Small Batch Toasted Barrel Bourbon.

When a brand provides their tasting notes, I set them aside until after I review the whiskey in question and give them an afterthought glance. Normally I might agree with a few, but sometimes none at all and shrug my shoulders and move on. In Dragon's Milk Origin Toasted Barrel - 2023C “Stay Classy” case, the brand not only nails the tasting notes but boy does this bottle taste delicious. It starts with a nose that is part sweet, part earthy and does little to impart the proof that the bottle contains. In fact, the rest of the sip also hides the proof, which makes this one dangerously delicious high proof bourbon to enjoy. The palate goes all in on sweet notes with plum, fruit cake, and an undeniable Life Savers Assorted Fruit candy note being present. Many of these flavors I thought I’d never write out in conjunction for a review, but I’m more than happy to do so here. The finish is the peak of the sip, delivering similar notes from the nose and palate and stretching them out in a lingering fashion that makes it a delight to enjoy.

The biggest fault of this whiskey is that it’s a single barrel and a distillery exclusive. From our experience, other batches such as Batch A and Batch B were both great, and Batch C is just as much so and more. Dragon’s Milk Origin Small Batch Bourbon clearly works well when finished in a toasted barrel and released at barrel proof. Here’s hoping that the brand releases more of these single barrels on a national level. Or better yet, creates a whole new small batch line at barrel proof and of a blend of toasted finished Dragon’s Milk Origin Small Batch Bourbon barrels. I for one will certainly be the first in line to buy more.