Cinnamon stick | Buckwheat waffle | Light oak | Slight baking spices | Faint syrup | Dark cherry | Well balanced

Rye spice | Slightly dry oak | Cinnamon stick | Syrup | Brown sugar

Cinnamon spice | Dry oak | Leather | Peppercorn spice | Red Hots candy | Cinnamon powder | Dry notes push against spice

Now in its 5th year, the Pinhook Bourbon War Vertical Series continues to be one of the most interesting experiments taking place in the bourbon space. The series started with Bourbon War 4 Year and will end in 2027 when the bourbon is 12 years old. Up until now, the proof has increased year over year. However, the 8 Year release comes down in proof by 0.8 proof points compared to Bourbon War 7 Year’s 115 proof. This year’s release consists of 20,880 bottles from 120 barrels, with 800 barrels remaining to create the final 4 batches.

The bourbon opens on well-balanced breakfast scents, with cinnamon, waffle, and syrup flowing from the glass. As the sip enters its midpoint, cinnamon and rye spice lead with sweeter notes of syrup and brown sugar, adding intrigue. The bourbon ends on a long finish combining dry and spicy notes, which continue to add a really nice balance to the overall sip. This series seems to be hitting its stride as Pinhook Bourbon War Vertical Series 8 Year is the best release to date, and gets me excited to see how the remaining bourbons will deliver in the back half of this race.