Orange zest | Peaches | Honey | Floral undertone

Rich honey | Clove | Caramel | Butterscotch | Splash of rye spice | Delicate mouthfeel

Cinnamon | Allspice | Raw sugar | Slightly earthy | Lingering rye spice

Bourbondini is Pinhook’s flagship 2022 bourbon. Like all of Pinhook’s releases, the name celebrates a race horse. In this case, “Bourbondini,” is a Colt that was foaled May 13, 2019, bred in Kentucky, and as noted on the bottle’s label is 16.1 hands tall.

Now three years deep into Castle & Key distillate (specifically Pinhook’s flagship bourbon brand as other products were distilled elsewhere), the product has made some good headway. The signs of youth are gone, instead replaced with a more robust, rich honey base that’s complemented by fruit, floral, sweet, and rye spice attributes. It drinks well under its 100 proof point, delivering a delicate mouthfeel but still maintaining a nice lingering rye spice in the finish. However, all of the flavors feel a bit as if they’re holding back, which is both a complement and a critique. With more time as barrels reach higher ages, I think this line is on its way to greatness.