Pinhook Bourbon War Vertical Series 7 Year
Pinhook · Castle & Key Distillery
Pinhook's vertical series concept — a different age each year from the same distillate — is a masterclass in transparency. This 7-year release hits a sweet spot where barrel influence and grain character are in full conversation. An honest bourbon that doesn't need gimmicks.
Nose
Rich caramel and toasted oak lead, followed by dried cherry and a hint of baking spice. Deeper sniffs reveal a gentle butterscotch sweetness with faint leather.
Palate
Medium-full body with immediate caramel and vanilla, transitioning to dark cherry and brown spices. A thread of rye spice keeps the sweetness in check, with charred oak emerging mid-palate.
Finish
Long and warming with lingering oak tannins, caramel, and a touch of tobacco.
- Mash Bill
- Corn, rye, malted barley (high-rye mashbill)
- Barrel Type
- New charred American oak
- Bottled in Bond
- No
- Single Barrel
- No
- Wheated
- No
Cocktail Suggestion
Autumn Derby — 2 oz Pinhook 7 Year · 0.75 oz apple cider syrup · 0.5 oz lemon juice · 2 dashes Angostura bitters · Shake and strain into a coupe, garnish with a thin apple slice.
Food Pairing
The caramel and charred oak in the bourbon mirror the smoke on the pork, while the cherry and spice notes echo the sweet-tart apple chutney.
Pinhook takes its name from thoroughbred horse trading and applies the same philosophy to bourbon — spotting potential early and letting time prove the bet right, with each vintage release tracked from a single season's barrels at Castle & Key in Millville, Kentucky.
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