The Hillsboro Society is an organization for the fans of Leiper’s Fork Distillery in Tennessee. Being part of this organization allows you to get bottles such as the McCoy Cask. The McCoy Cask is the Leiper’s Fork Bourbon finished in a rum barrel and bottled at 100 proof. I received my bottle the other day and Matt and I sat down to taste it. Here are our tasting notes.
The Hillsboro Society McCoy Cask Bourbon Finished in a Rum Barrel
Proof: 100
Age: Four Years Old
Nose:
- Mike: Vanilla, rum, apricots, baking spices and oak wood.
- Matt: Vanilla, cinnamon and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Vanilla, rum, apricots, cinnamon, ginger and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and brown sugar comes forward. Tasted with a pecan and the whiskey becomes very sweet with caramel, brown sugar, apricots and oak wood.
- Matt: Vanilla, caramel, cinnamon and oak wood. The dried cranberry brought out a rye grassy note. The pecan made it a rich caramel with cherry and oak wood.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood, cinnamon and lingering rum flavor. The dried cranberry added some apricot notes to the finish. The pecan made the finish long with oak and caramel.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood and cinnamon spice. The dried cranberry added a cherry note to the finish. The pecan made the finish longer with oak wood and caramel.
I would pair this whiskey with a cigar that has a lot of rich vanilla and tobacco in the smoke. I would reach for a My Father Le Bijou 1922 cigar.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller