Wathen s barrel proof bourbon and wathen s single barrel bourbon. Whereas wathens single barrel bourbon shines on the nose, the palate is clearly under aged and overly alcoholforward on the tongue. I know these numbers are hand written with an ink pin because when i poured it into a glass, some bourbon leaked down the side of the neck and smeared the ink a bit. Now, nearly 75 years later, we are bringing it back. In 1840 there were 22 wathen families living in kentucky.
Wathens single barrel bourbon whiskey master of malt. Top 10 whisky education books the spirits business. Tasting and collecting tips not only for bourbon, but for scotch, irish and other international whiskeys. Mar 05, 2016 bourbon books are essential in helping to build your bourbon knowledge. The most wathen families were found in the usa in 1920. Ive never been a huge fan of wathen s but i respect what they do. Wathens is a brand that everyone had been telling me i needed to try.
Overall and score if i had just one word to describe this bourbon it would be fresh. Bourbon whiskey, best bourbon, bourbon brands, buy online. The brainchild of american singersongwriter tyler boone, the bourbon is sourced by striped pig in charleston, sc and goes through a unique process before bottling. Yes, he s the same charles wathen medley who used to be the master distiller at glenmore. Charles medley distillery is releasing another specialrelease, wathens barrel proof. Sister athanasius and the spirited wathens loretto community. The whiskey makers, the wathen medleys, have a bit of history with the current distillers being the 8th generation of the family to be i. All that mystery aside, there s no mystery as to the quality of the bourbon inside my wathen s bottle it is excellent.
That s because dane huckelbridge brings bourbon to life with the sort of witty, characterrich zeal amc writers might employ if they took over the history channel. Lawlessness, however, is the mere tip of the proverbial iceberg for bourbon the real history of bourbon, hidden beneath the surface, is the foundation of american commercial law and its relation to american history as a whole. Wathen june 26, 1917 march 14, 2001 was an american indiana politician, journalist, and author. Kentucky is a state in the centraleastern united states with a long history of alcohol production. The views and opinions expressed in the following book chapters are those of the. The story of wathens single barrel bourbon starts off much the same as that of the old rip van winkle distillery. Join our mailing list to receive blog post updates, breaking news, special offers, and entry into our bourbon themed giveaways. A history of the american spirit by dane huckelbridge. It is an enjoyable story of some of the twists and turns that shaped the american whiskey from the rough early unassuming brew to the aged and refined bourbon we know today. Henry hudson wathen whose family kept the old granddad label alive in. This single barrel bourbon clocks in at 47% abv making it extremely user friendly to mix with and just as. So it is with american whiskeythe original concept may have been imported. The aroma is amazing, the fresh raw corn aroma is so crisp and unusual its alluring and fun. Wathens american whiskey based in owensboro, kentucky, wathens is currently run by charles w medley.
Wathen s single barrel kentucky straight bourbon whiskey is a 7 yr, low rye bourbon packing spice, complexity and 250 years of bourbon making tradition into every bottle. Hitting the samuels, the beams, and everyone inbetween, this is a fantastic guide to just who forged the trail for bourbon today. So it is that the history and science of american whiskeymaking was. Bourbon whiskey is an unblended american cornbased whiskey made from one or two different kinds of mash. Unfortunately, like so many bourbon brands, old medley changed hands multiple times, the original distillery in owensboro, kentucky was eventually closed, and the brand was lost. This single barrel straight bourbon whiskey from the medley family utilizes a mash bill of 77% corn, 10% rye, and % malted barley. Old medley 12 years is the rebirth of a brand that s been around since the 1930s and was started by thomas aquinas medley. Today, under the tutelage of charles and samuel medley, the distillery continues to distill bourbon using the same recipes and techniques that the previous generations of medleys perfected decades ago. Whereas wathen s single barrel bourbon shines on the nose, the palate is clearly under aged and overly alcoholforward on the tongue.
But as their histories progress they follow divergent paths, and in spite of wathen s having a clear lineage, the current source of the whiskey has become shrouded in mystery. In this entertaining tour dhorizon of bourbons birth and long, healthy life, the author dispels plenty of bogus historybourbon is not americas founding drink. A single barrel bourbon from wathens, produced in kentucky. Mike is not only the single most knowledgeable man ive ever met on the topic of bourbon, hes a genuinely nice guy. According to what he told us, it s a classic case of followthetwistytrailofwhoownswhat in the bourbon business. Aged under the intense kentucky sun, this single barrel bourbon is the product of 225 years of. Oct 27, 2019 old medley has roots dating back more than 100 years prior to prohibition when the medley and wathen families began distilling bourbon in kentucky. Its affordable, its highly drinkable and its not hard to find.
There s a lot of history and lore behind bourbon so discuss both here. According to gerald carson in his book, the social history of bourbon, one such tax collector, who had employed the services of a dozen soldiers to guard his house, had it burned to the ground nonetheless. Wathen s american whiskey based in owensboro, kentucky, wathen s is currently run by charles w medley. Wathen s single barrel kentucky straight bourbon whiskey is made from a mash of corn, rye and malted barley. This was about 61% of all the recorded wathen s in the usa. Aug 15, 2019 first released in 2017, these wathens barrel proof bourbon whiskey are highly allocated limited releases. Shop wathen s single barrel bourbon at the best prices. Wathen june 26, 1917 march 14, 2001 was an american politician, journalist, and author.
The wathen family name was found in the usa, the uk, canada, and scotland between 1840 and 1920. He was a republican member of the indiana house of representatives between 1973 and 1990. It is from charles medley and his son, sam, who have been producing wathens single barrel for about 15 years now. Marie wathen author of be all goodreads share book. Wathen s single barrel bourbon is named for the bourbon famous wathen family with a brand that was made by charles wathen medley of the charles medley distillery of kentucky. With no age statement, rumors online suggest the age could be anywhere from 4 to 8 or 9 years. Powered by whiskey, coffee and the pursuit of happy hour. Inextricably intertwined, america shaped bourbon and bourbon shaped america. The brief and unsatisfying relationship ive had with the brand leaves me very suspicious of it s possibilities. Dec 14, 2017 bourbon was born on the american frontier and came of age on madison avenueand everything about its history reflects the nation that invented it. Timing couldnt have been better for the bernheims, wathens, and. The indispensable tasting guide to the world s spirit.
Wathens single barrel kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. Here is a medley distillery time line i did at united distillers. Taste it and we think you will agree wathen s kentucky bourbon is the proudest achievement of bourbon whiskey s royal family. Wathens bourbon premium bourbonsspecialty bottlings.
That said, i have loved a few barrel proof ncf versions of other brands with which i have had lessthanauspicious earlier experiences. This bottle of wathens single barrel barrel number 5833 uses the standard mashbill that all of the medley bourbons use. An american heritage is the standard by which others are most often judged. The whiskey makers, the wathenmedleys, have a bit of history with the current distillers being the. The distillery has a long history, involving the two families whose bourbon background intertwines back to the early 1800s.
Buy wathens single barrel kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. My wife linda and i had the pleasure of visiting with charlie last february. Buy wathens barrel proof kentucky straight bourbon. From bourbon women to malt scotch production, these are the top 10 whisky education books any spirits boffin should own. Ive never been a huge fan of wathens but i respect what they do. Charles is the son of wathen medley, who is second from the right on the label above. It is one of the top 10 wineproducing states in the country, responsible for some 2 million gallons 7. You are bidding on an original release bottle of wathen s bourbon whiskey. Whats on the shelf wednesday wathens single barrel. Wathen s kentuckybourbon is a single barrel bourbon. The father and son team produce wathen s single barrel straight kentucky bourbon and the recently released old medley. Mar 22, 2018 chuck cowdery s bourbon straight and bourbon strange and his bcr newsletter i have read both books several times, have annotated my hardcopy b. Zoeller does it again by offering the stories of many of bourbon s great names throughout history.
Wathens single barrel bourbon wathen s kentucky bourbon is one of those whiskeys that is a bit hard to figure out, at least in terms of exactly where, how, and by whom it was made. Only 25 barrels of this singelbarrel bourbon will be released, with proofs ranging from 109. Charles medley distillery is releasing another specialrelease, wathen s barrel proof. An insiders guide to the unique pleasures of the worlds finest spirits, by lew bryson. Kentucky had the highest population of wathen families in 1840. Wathen s is produced in charles wathen medley distillery. Here youll find all of the latest bourbon news and links to bourbon distilleries and brands, the rich history, how it s made, events, blogs, retailers and great bourbon bars.
This very short book is jampacked with information about all facets of bourbon production, from early farm distilling to nineteenth century commercial distilleries to the craft distillery movement, and everything inbetween. Bourbon was born on the american frontier and came of age on madison avenueand everything about its history reflects the nation that invented it. This book was written to encourage everyone to resort to the scriptures as the ideal book of devotion, instruction, and moral guidance. The only sure thing you can count on is that this bourbon has a consistent mashbill 77% corn, 10% rye, and % malt. Explore thousands of wines, spirits and beers, and shop online for delivery or pickup in a store near you. Medley distilling company 1634 john medley immigrated to maryland from england. Bourbon is dane huckelbridge s artful and imaginative biography of our most wellliked, and at times controversial, spirit, that is also a witty and entertaining chronicle of the united states itself. The wathen family, through their medley family descendants, still make bourbon today at their distillery in, ironically enough, owensboro, ky. Wathens original release 1998 kentucky bourbon whiskey. Like many a wellaged bourbon, this book went down just fine as a slow and easy sipper. Michael veach s first book is the seminal work on kentucky bourbon heritage and american whiskey in general. This wathens single barrel is a ndp bourbon with research pointing to. Georges son married into the wathen family, who were also catholics active in kentucky whiskey.
Like many old whiskey brands it s changed hands many times over the years and was eventually discontinued. Charles medley and his son sam wathen medley carry a 250 tradition with this kentucky bourbon whiskey. A solid option for all of you single barrel bourbon needs. Strange, and give hard copies to friends expressing an interest in bourbon. While nostalgic in many respects, those connections focus on lawlessness. The bottle says that it was distilled in kentucky, but it also says bottled by charles medley distillery, san jose, ca. Medley s neck on the potomac river is named for the. It is from charles medley and his son, sam, who have been producing wathen s single barrel for about 15 years now.
New adult author of the all series, book one be all released july 20. Charles medley distillery releases wathens barrel proof bourbon. You will never find a bottle of this magnitude again. Once free of historic connection to generic spirits the book follows the life of american bourbon from george thorpes letter in 1620 1st documented reference into the whiskey rebellion of 1791, through the great experiment of prohibition to the modern resurgence of high quality smallbatch bourbons. But, weird bottle the history is purposefully muddled. The story is cast with immigrants, industrialists, farmers, and hustlers, and set in fields, factories, boardrooms, and back rooms. Dec 12, 2015 wathens is a very popular everyday bourbon. Other tiles in the series are, all is lost, all this time, wo. Wathens eight generations single barrel kentucky straight. Flavor profile of this american whiskey typically features notes of caramel, honey, citrus and vanilla. Daniel yaffe explores the fascinating historyand current stateof americas signature spirit.
Bottled at 102 proof, it is the ideal addition to any classic bourbon cocktail. Mike is not only the single most knowledgeable man ive ever met on the topic of bourbon, he s a genuinely nice guy. Untangling the twisted branches of sister athanasiuss family tree is challenging at best. The story of wathens single barrel bourbon starts off much the same as. The story of wathen s single barrel bourbon starts off much the same as that of the old rip van winkle distillery. While charles medley distilled bourbon up until the late 1900 s, the medley family now sources all their bourbon. A rich tawny caramel color, this mellow premium straight bourbon whiskey is the essence of smoothness. Palate is heavy on the raw corn but the oak and spice help keep the grain and candy sweetness in check. Although bourbon is most certainly a history book, you wont even realize it. Distilled in ky, under contracted time at a major distillery, this is some of the most unique, and seemingly polarizing whiskey coming out of ky.
Bourbon whiskey america s native spirit with roots dating back to the 18th century. Only 25 barrels of this singelbarrel bourbon will be. Wathen s bourbon is refined, delicate and deep at the same time. First released in 2017, these wathen s barrel proof bourbon whiskey are highly allocated limited releases. In fact, around 95 percent of the world s bourbon is made in kentucky. Wathens single barrel kentucky straight bourbon whiskey is made from a mash of corn, rye and malted barley. The medley family recently revived this brand, along with wathens, both of which are made from the same recipe. Old medley 12 yr bourbon is a richer, sweeter style of bourbon with a lower abv to allow the spirit and age of the whiskey to really shine. While this will be the first release of wathen s barrel proof, the wathen s brand has been available at 94 proof in kentucky for 20 years. The whiskey makers, the wathen medleys, have a bit of history with the current distillers being the 8th generation of the family to be in the business.
Bourbon is one of the most popular american whiskies produced in the southern state of kentucky, although you will find a lot of popular bourbon brands from other states within the usa. Not only are you the favorite drink of adventurers, artists, accountants, and members of other professions that dont start with the letter a, youre also americas spirit. Some of the most popular expressions of wathen s include. Other than that, little else is known about this bourbon. Today, the medley company consisting of charles and his son, sam the 8th generation are nondistilling producers who bottle various whiskeys under the names medley, wathen s, or some derivation thereof. The social history of bourbon attempts to tell the story of bourbon from its humble beginnings as unaged corn whiskey on the american frontier to its revered place in the society of the early 1960 s when the book was originally published. But neat, this one needed another year or two before hitting the shelves. An excerpt from the upcoming book, bourbon, strange, by charles k. Wathen s single barrel kentucky straight bourbon whiskey is made from a. A single barrel bourbon from wathen s, produced in kentucky. Wathens is a solid bourbon, great for sipping alone or for cocktails, with a great briny sour. From the charles medley distillery in owensboro, ky, wathen s is 8 years old with approachable floral notes complimented by a leathery, mild oak and vanilla. Untangling the twisted branches of sister athanasius s family tree is challenging at best. Here s a list of 12 must have bourbon books to round out your collection.
A conversational style gives us a fastmoving story of bourbon s history woven within the history of america. For when isabelle zarelda wathen first entered loretto on nov. While many books and hundreds of theses have since been published on this subject, father wathens book remains the classic work. While this will be the first release of wathen s barrel proof, the wathen s brand has been available at. At one point in 1791, a mob of over 5,000 men advanced on pittsburgh threatening to burn down the whole city. The charles medley distillery is named for charles wathen medley, scion of generations of bourbon making in the intertwined medley and wathen families. A distiller himself until the 1990s, charles is the 7th generation of wathens and medleys to be in the bourbon biz. The locals here in louisville always speak highly of wathens, but it wasnt until recently that i actually bought a bottle and tried it.
The wathens and medleys came together by marriage around 1900. Wathens barrel proof bourbon is adored for its caramel, pecan, apple and pie flavor notes. Charles medley distillery releases wathens barrel proof. This bourbon is carefully distilled at charles wathen medley distillery, united states.