Peter E. Hart is a newcomer non-distilling producer with bottling operations at Left Financial institution Whiskey in Louisville. Lizzy and Aaron Haynes pay tribute to her ancestor, Peter E. Hart, who was a Union Sargeant from Bristol, Tennessee. Hart fought on the Battle of Perryville in October 1862 and returned to buy a farm in 1892. Eight generations later, Hart’s household nonetheless occupies his farm.
Peter E. Hart enters the whiskey market with Peter E. Hart Kentucky Rye and Peter E. Hart Restricted Version Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon. The US abolished the day by day whiskey ration for troopers in 1832, however through the Civil Struggle, troopers continued to hunt for whiskey at each alternative. Is the whiskey named in honor of Peter E. Hart price searching in fashionable days? We tried each.
Peter E. Hart Kentucky Rye – The Haynes household initially bought rye whiskey distilled at Wilderness Path with one yr of maturation and let it proceed to mature at Left Financial institution Whiskey in Louisville. The rye mashbill is the usual utilized by Wilderness Path, consisting of 56% rye, 33% corn, and 11% malted barley. Beginning as customary Wilderness Path, the rye entered the barrel with a #4 char at 105 proof. The youngest whiskey within the mix has matured for at the very least 3 years, however the common age of the mix is 4.5 years outdated. After crafting the mix, the whiskey was transferred to a freshly dumped bourbon barrel that was smoked for 8 hours for a ending interval of three months. Hart notes that the whiskey entered the ending cask on a sizzling day and was dumped on day with a temperature of 43 levels Fahrenheit, at a cask energy of 109 proof.
The uniquely completed rye whiskey opens with aromas of freshly drizzled honey, meshing with lemon pudding. Brown sugar {couples} with wintergreen so as to add layers of depth. Because the nostril opens with time, barely oxidized crimson apples add a fruity character. The smoked cask isn’t distinguishable on the nostril, however a wisp of smoke is the primary be aware to look on the palate. Because the smoke passes, lemon zest mingles with Cherry Pepsi and a hint of anise, driving a medium viscosity mouthfeel. The end carries a energetic kick of rye spice, softened by butterscotch. Delicate floral notes floor, however are met with hints of smoke that depart the ultimate impression.
Peter E. Hart Kentucky Rye is a superbly pleasurable rye whiskey with the fascinating twist of smoke, however I didn’t take pleasure in it greater than rye beneath Wilderness Path’s branding at an analogous age and value level. When you take pleasure in smoky notes in your whiskey, that is price searching for out. For many customers, merely going with Wilderness Path is the higher possibility. 100 proof. B / $67
Peter E. Hart Restricted Version Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon – In 2024, I reviewed one other newcomer NDP for Drinkhacker, Limestone Farm Non-public Inventory Kentucky Straight Bourbon and acknowledged that it was arguably the perfect bourbon I attempted in 2024. The wheated bourbon bottled by Peter E. Hart originates from the identical contract distillation run because the Limestone Farm launch above. Whereas the exceptional Limestone Farms bourbon was from a really small batch of barrels, Peter E. Hart is a single barrel with slightly below 9 years of complete maturation. Mike Safai is among the unique companions of Rabbit Gap and had New Riff run contract distillation with a novel mashbill that was initially meant to be used in a wheat beer: 70% corn, 10% honeyed wheat, 10% honeyed malt, and 10% distillers malt. The intriguing distillate went into the barrel with a #3 char at 110.6 proof. Whereas the bourbon exited the barrel at 124 proof, it was bottled at 112 proof at a temperature of 60 levels Fahrenheit.
The bouquet opens with a contact of freshly floor espresso beans and roasted almonds. Layers of a light-weight brown sugar add a delicate sweetness together with figs. The general aroma composition is fantastically balanced. The intricate fragrance results in excessive expectations on the palate. Blackstrap molasses opens the gustatory expertise, adopted by toasted almonds. Nicely-worn leather-based provides an earthy part, as burnt orange peel follows. The wheated bourbon comes with a velvety texture that clearly makes recognized the excessive malt content material. On the end, candy tobacco dances with plump raisins because the the dram transitions to notes of Terry’s Darkish Chocolate Oranges. That is the type of end you want would final ceaselessly.
The whiskey contracted by Mike Safai is simply now beginning to hit the market, together with beneath Safai’s personal branding with a $300 price ticket. The batched Limestone Farms Non-public Inventory stays implausible and understandably shares many widespread options with Peter E. Hart’s single barrel, however Peter E. Hart emerges as the higher possibility with an asking value of $123 in comparison with $190 for Limestone’s product. At $123, Peter E. Hart Restricted Version Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon is one thing that needs to be bought with out hesitation, do you have to encounter a bottle. 112 proof. A / $123
Peter E. Hart Kentucky Rye
$67
