The Old McBrayer is another heritage brand revived by the McBrayer Family a few years ago. The family is proud of the fact that Judge McBrayer was reputed in the 19th century to make the best whiskey in Kentucky since James Crow passed away. The family returned to the whiskey industry about ten years ago and started contract distilling whiskey at ten barrels a year. They also purchased some barrels of new make whiskey and that is the whiskey they are bottling as Old McBrayer. The whiskey is now six years old and they have bottled it in bond. Bill McBrayer and his father stopped by my house for drinks on the porch the other day and gave me a bottle of this latest version of Old McBrayer. Matt and I sat down and tasted it and here are our tasting notes.
Old McBrayer Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
Proof:100
Age: No Age Statement, but I was told it is six years old.
Nose:
- Mike: Corn, vanilla, a hint of milk chocolate, baking spices and oak wood.
- Matt: Malted milk balls, milk chocolate, and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Vanilla, milk chocolate, apples, pepper and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and nutmeg spice comes out to join the party. Tasted with a pecan and a citrus note comes out with milk chocolate and oak wood.
- Matt: Milk chocolate, peanut butter, mint and oak wood. The dried cranberry brought out nutmeg and peanuts. The pecan made it taste of a peanut butter cup with a hint of lavender.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak and spice. The dried cranberry made the finish longer with oak and cinnamon spice. The pecan made the finish long and dry with oak wood and spice.
- Matt: Medium long with oak and peanut butter. The dried cranberry brought out a nutmeg spice. The pecan added a leather note to the finish.
I would pair this fine Bourbon with a My Father The Judge cigar. The chocolate notes in the smoke would pair well with the chocolate flavor in the Bourbon.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller