This New Bourbon and Rye Blend Was Finished in Vermont Maple Syrup Barrels

Jonah Flicker
·2 min read

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As we reported earlier this year, Preservation Distillery is a name that whiskey drinkers should be more familiar with, particularly fans of unicorn bottles like Pappy Van Winkle. The latest release from this Kentucky operation is called Very Olde St. Nick Winter Maple, and what’s in the bottle sounds like an intriguing new release.

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Preservation Distillery and Farm has been around since 2015 and releases whiskey under names like Rare Perfection, Wattie Boone & Sons, and the brand in question here, Very Olde St. Nick. The distillery makes its own whiskey in pot stills in small batches, but it also sources whiskey from other distilleries in states like Kentucky and Indiana. Very Old St. Nick was created nearly 40 years ago in 1986, and according to the distillery it has always consisted of vintage stocks of whiskey sourced from other distilleries.

This new expression is sort of a sequel to the previously released Winter Maple Rye, a Canadian rye with maple flavoring. For this blend, the bourbon was sourced from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery and the rye from Indiana (likely MGP), with both whiskeys aged between four and seven years. The blend is finished with French oak staves for three to six months, a step that is similar to the process used by distilleries like Maker’s Mark that use staves to finish its Maker’s 46 expression. Then the finished barrels were infused with first tap Vermont maple syrup. The whiskey is bottled at 102 proof, and according to official tasting notes, limited as they are, there are notes of sweet maple that complement the “rich, warm tones” of the bourbon and rye.

Very Olde St. Nick Winter Maple is available now, but might be a bit hard to find at the moment from online retailers. While you’re looking, you can try the previous Winter Maple release which is available from websites like Total Wine.

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