Rich brown sugar | Cinnamon cake | Raisin | Aged oak | Molasses | Well-aged leather

Cherry cola | Aged oak | Rye spice | Baking spices | Cinnamon stick | Brown sugar | Rich

Rye spice | Brown sugar | Cinnamon cake | Leather | Light cigar box | Aged oak | Raisin | Lingering spice & aged oak

Watch Hill Proper was founded in 2022 by Tommy Craggs and Josh Howes and has become known as a premier American whiskey bar in Prospect, Kentucky. The company offers an extensive bourbon selection and caters to members and nonmembers alike. Since opening, the company has also created its own line of bourbons, which includes the Chef, Discovery, and Exceptional Series.

While Batch 01 and Batch 02 of the Exceptional series were single barrels, Batch 03 marks the first time the company has used a blend for a release. According to the company, “Batch 03 is a blend of three hand-selected barrels, each an 18-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon chosen for its depth, richness, and rarity.” A limited release of only 102 bottles, batching also allowed the company to nearly half the price compared to Batch 02, although its SRP is still an eyepopping $499.

Aged flavors in various forms are presented from start to finish in the sip. The bourbon starts off with an aroma that is incredibly pleasing, as rich brown sugar, raisin, molasses, and aged oak draw you in. A delightful cherry cola note kicks off the palate as aged oak and more traditional flavors layer in. Leaning slightly more into its time spent in the barrel, aged oak, leather, and a cigar box are the stars, while resting on top of a bed of spices.

Blending 18 year old barrels together can be tricky, as you need to balance noticeable aged oak against the other flavors in the sip. In the case of Watch Hill Exceptional Series Batch 03, the company does this exceptionally well, no pun intended. While aged oak is clearly noticeable throughout the entirety of the sip, other flavors are able to shine and add character to this bourbon. Nearly perfect, the finish leans a little too heavily into its aged notes compared to the rest of the sip. However, anyone who gets their hands on a bottle will most likely not mind, as Watch Hill Propper is proving that their Exceptional Series can go toe to toe with the best of the best.