Earthy undertone | Aged oak | Hazelnut | Baking spices | Maple sugar candy

Caramel | Cigar box | Raw grain | Raisin | Blackberry | Seasoned oak | Malty base

Rye spice | Caramel | Tobacco | Medium length

Hidden Barn is a relatively new brand, and released their first whiskey in 2022 which was a Kentucky Straight Bourbon aged for about 4-5 years. According to the company’s press release, “The brand has been acquired by Royce Neeley from the Neeley Family Distillery, and continues to be created in partnership with Master Blender Jackie Zykan. This acquisition elevates the brand from its inception as an NDP (non-distiller producer) into having a brick-and-mortar home. The first release for Hidden Barn under the Neeley family of brands is a seven-year-old expression, aged five years in 24-month open-air seasoned barrels, and then barreled in new charred French oak barrels for an additional two years.”

This bourbon was made using wild-crafted Appalachian yeast, and then double pot distilled which is a process the Neeley family has used for many years. For fermentation they also used sweet mash and open cypress fermentation tanks. Only five barrels were used for this batch, making it a relatively small release.

The resulting whiskey is an earthy, grain-forward bourbon with a malty base and accents of additional flavors throughout. It starts off with an earthy base that’s accented by aged oak, hazelnut, baking spices, and maple sugar candy on the nose. At its midpoint, cigar box, caramel, raw grain, seasoned oak, raisin, and blackberry rest on a malty base. Rye spice kicks off the medium lengthy finish, with bouts of tobacco and caramel adding a layer of dimension.

Overall this whiskey is surprisingly grain-forward for its age, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s full of flavor and ultimately lets the unique process Neeley Family Distillery uses to make their whiskey show through, even with 7 years of barrel aging behind it. Layering in the French oak finishing barrels likely brings a lot of what elevates this whiskey from the distillery’s first batch. It’s a non-traditional style of bourbon overall, but if you enjoy exploring outside the typical box you’ll find a lot to love.