PINHOOK BOURBON TRUE SMALL BATCH S3B22

The standard approach to American whiskey relies on blending and a fixed proof to replicate an established flavor profile, batch after batch. Breaking with this tradition, Pinhook treats each set of barrels as a new vintage, shaped by the natural variations in the ingredients and environment. Working in small batches, they craft each vintage to express the best whiskey—not the same whiskey—and set the proof to optimize the unique attributes of that group of barrels.

"True Small Batch" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a limited annual program that showcases Pinhook's vintage approach to whiskey making through micro-blends of two or more barrels of proprietary Kentucky distillate. This specific release is comprised of barrels #3125 and #3169.

From Lee Diaz, Topflight Series Panel Member:

It has been a lot of fun to closely follow the growth and evolution of Pinhook. Of particular acclaim is the "vintage" release strategy of Co-Founder and Master Blender Sean Josephs, which borrows from the world of wine—developing releases based on what the barrels (and, in this case, the distillate) offer each blending season. This means that every core release, small batch, and single barrel is uniquely selected and curated for its individuality—and, as we’ve experienced many times before, its depth of flavor and wonderfully surprising character and tasting notes. This past year, we joined Sean in Louisville to develop our own "True Small Batch."

For us, the True Small Batch became a blend of just two incredible barrels that, on their own, each brought something special to the table. After working our way through five barrels and a few corresponding blends, we set our sights on just two: #3125 and #3169. One was a clear "Alpha," packed with bold core bourbon flavors, while its partner was more delicate, balanced, and wonderfully nuanced.