Review: Pinhook Kentucky Bourbon Cask Strength 5 Years Old 2024

By Monica Uhm | June 24, 2024 |

Pinhook is a non-distilling producer of ryes and bourbons and has been on a steady clip of releases since 2014, albeit somewhat an uneven and quizzical one. After a run of limited releases, Pinhook only then began building a stable of core expressions. (Spoiler alert: Horse racing analogies abound, both in their marketing and from yours truly in this review). At last they have completed their self-labeled trifecta of core expressions with a 5 year old Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon, fast on the heels of their Flagship Rye from earlier this year and Flagship Bourbon from 2023. We’ve only occasionally grazed on their offerings over the years since 2018, and all our reviews are of limited expressions (e.g. 2018 Bourbon, 2019-2020 whiskey roundup, 2021 Tiz Rye Time). Given mixed results from the Drinkhacker stands, the odds on how this Cask Strength will perform today is anybody’s guess. Worth mentioning though is a new collaboration with notable producers Castle & Key, so I’d ante up a cautious initial bet. (This is a change-up from their long-standing collaboration with MGP, which is no slouch by any means.)

Let’s open the gates.

The nose starts off quite sweet and minty, akin to red and white peppermint swirl holiday candies, but with bold helpings of warm dates mixed in. Effervescent lemon-lime soda notes stride in as well, along with burnt caramel. If one lingers to contemplate the full range, you’ll encounter Maraschino cherries and raspberry coulis with a side of dark chocolate lava cake. Coming up from behind is meringue. Its looking like the nose is leading the pack with its complexity.

As for the palate, a spice bomb bursts forward with loads of mint, burnt vanilla, and dusty dark cacao — plus ample heat here. More dates, plus a hint of cardamon and licorice, converge eventually into a complex, nutty profile. The finish settles resolutely on notes of oak and dark cacao, shedding some of the spiciness and settling into a brooding ascot-and-velvet jacket character. The finish is dense and woody, fading into cornflakes. Dates and peppermint both manage to place and show.

This pour is quite a ride, showcasing the complexity and range across the most vibrant parts of the spectrum of sweet, spicy, and oaky. Worth a slow motion replay.

118.2 proof.

A- / $65 / pinhookbourbon.com