Best of Ben Holladay Bourbon. Will the Soft Red Wheat or Bourbon Lore Bottle Win?

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#Whiskey
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Tonight we do the best of Ben Holladay Distillery. Which Ben Holladay Bourbon is best? Is it the soft red wheat, the bourbon lore pick, or an ancient cave collection release?
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[@timbuma3693]

Bourbon Bill out here giving the people the comparisons they want and need!!

[@bourbonbill]

Haha I always strive to please

[@holdenmullaney1081]

Great vid as always. The people want a Bourbon Bill barrel pick.

[@bourbonbill]

Haha I would do one but I don’t think Jack Daniel’s would let me pick a 15yr barrel proof lol

[@johncashion8428]

Thanks for the thorough review. It’s a really neat place making great whiskeys

[@bourbonbill]

Thanks for watching John and I agree they are doing great things

[@AMWhiskey-kl8qh]

Love the Ben Holladay lineup, all pretty darn good especially for a smaller craft distillery. Cheers, great episode!

[@bourbonbill]

Thanks! And yeah they had a super strong showing I’ll definitely be on the lookout for some picks

[@jamesstreet1144]

I’ve got a few of the Ben Holladay offerings and they are all good. Great video today.

[@bourbonbill]

Thanks James I’m adding Ben Holliday to my list of great craft distillers

[@AlwaysChamps]

I have the BH 7 year bib shelfer and find it one of my favorite pours. Thanks for the great content!

[@bourbonbill]

Of course if you like that try and find a pick of a rickhouse proof bottle really ups the flavor

[@JordanVanderLaan]

Totally agree with your rankings. I paid 75 for the standard single barrel and 80 for the wheater. Ancient caves are on par value wise at 45 for the 375. Glad you enjoyed them!

[@bourbonbill]

Thanks again sir for the samples made a great video. That 7yr pick was killer and those prices are not bad at all

[@Best_Served_Neat_On_Ice]

Jordan, First off, thanks for getting these samples to BB so that we might all benefit! If you don't mind ... Of the two Rickhouse Proofs, what do you see as the main difference(s) and which one do you prefer?

[@JordanVanderLaan]

@@Best_Served_Neat_On_Ice The standard recipe Ben Holladay is going to give you traditional flavors which I typically prefer but I might steer you toward the Holladay soft red wheat. It has a unique combination of flavors and age that I don’t think you’ll find in many other brands, legacy or craft.

[@The_Profezor]

Great job with the samples, Jordan. I've always wanted to know more about this distillery.

[@msutton01]

Great review BB!

[@bourbonbill]

Thanks Mike this was interesting not having had their stuff before I’m definitely interested in the rickhouse proof picks

[@davevogelsang6791]

Nice review BB. I have the 2 standard Holladay’s and both Rickhouses. Like them all. 🥃

[@bourbonbill]

Thanks Dave and yeah the rickhouse proof spoke to me I’m definitely on the lookout for picks

[@Best_Served_Neat_On_Ice]

*Very* helpful for making buying decisions in the standard lineup. Appreciate you putting them in overall ordering (i.e. first place, second place, third place). I did have a question, though ... As far as *spiciness* in the standard lineup, did you notice anything regarding cinnamon or pepper? Light? Medium? Heavy? None?

[@bourbonbill]

Standard lineup had some cinnamon on it but I wouldn’t consider any of those spicy. The only one that had some baking spices kick was the French oak ancient cave but that’s vary on par for French oak

[@SigSauerSauce]

I'm like you, Wheaters aren't my preference. That said Seelbachs has a single barrel soft red wheat pick available for $85 and the rickhouse proof rye bourbon for $75. Thoughts?

[@bourbonbill]

Add shipping and tax on that and it’s almost $100. If your like me and don’t love wheaters I’d skip them and wouldn’t pay more than like $65 next time you find one in a store physically.

[@SigSauerSauce]

@bourbonbill I picked up some of the soft red wheat rickhouse proofs that I found in store by chance. $70 + the 9 or 10% MD alcohol tax. Seelbachs has a coupon for free shipping right now, no min order. I've also been looking at the Bardstown discovery 12 (all KY blend again) that was just released and seems to get reviews more favorable than disco 11. I'm sure I'll find some at some point but it'll be around $130. So I'm thinking get 2 Holladay RHP rye bourbon or 1 Disco 12.

[@bourbonbill]

@@SigSauerSaucei haven’t had the disco 12 yet but if it’s better than last years I’d say go with that

[@The_Profezor]

28 minutes? Damn, that has to be a record right? Spectacular lineup and comparisons, and a great "class" on a distillery I knew very little about. Btw, you read my mind when you reached for the Larceny, although you were wrong about one thing: B523 is the best batch. ;) Cheers.

[@bourbonbill]

Haha it is a record I think I took too long on this one. And haha we will have to disagree on the LBP but B523 is my second favorite batch I’ll give you that

[@SigSauerSauce]

I have tried the Holladay BiB and the Holladay Soft Red Wheat BiB, and for the money I think the Bardstown Origin series is the better buy.

[@bourbonbill]

That would have been a good comparison but don’t have any Bardstown origin on hand. I did have a sample once of one of them I remember thinking it was decent

[@stephenhumma4772]

Could not agree more with you that the Bourbon Lord batch was overhyped and priced . why I watch here for your honest reviews

[@bourbonbill]

Yeah it’s quite good but that 7yr sib beat it for me and that bottle was only 70-80 so I think it was priced too high at 100 and it’s certainly not bottle of the year material

[@thomasgallagher1945]

Great review ---- unfortunately, its difficult to find these Holladays in Northern NJ. I hope to see you compete in the ADHD Matt Madness 2024 Contest! Cheers!

[@bourbonbill]

Yeah I think their distribution will increase next year they have been well reviewed this year. And thanks we will see if I make the cut

[@davel_ggw]

I managed to get the Bourbon Lore release, and while it is good, I did feel a bit let down after there was sooo much hype. I still don't regret it though, and I have yet to see either of the rickhouse proof bottles in my area (Central NY). Speaking of smaller distilleries, being just a state away in PA (I think?), have you ever tried any of the central/western NY based ones, such as 1911, Southern Tier, Black Button, or Fingerlakes/McKenzie? Sadly, I have been disappointed by everything I have tried from all of them, and they all taste very similar. I am very new to bourbon, coming from drinking Scotch and Japanese single malts exclusively, and I don't know what the actual note is that I pick up on all of them, but the best I can describe it is that it tastes the way corn husks smell, if that makes sense lol. Anyway, cheers!

[@bourbonbill]

Yeah it’s a solid bottle but people went crazy on the hype. We don’t see any Ben Holladay in Pa either I’m not sure it’s well distributed yet to the northeast. As for the distilleries you described they all taste young it’s all grain hay grass notes I hate that as well and honestly avoid any of that stuff. I like older aged stuff these days but I always call out distilleries doing young bourbon well and right now it’s peerless, wilderness trail, Chattanooga, blue note, and Ben holladay. Some local can be good but a lot fall into the grass hay taste profile

[@davel_ggw]

@@bourbonbill Thank you! Yes, grass/hay is the better description, it is very off putting, and water or ice only makes it worse. I have enjoyed what I have tried from Ben Holladay and Chattanooga, and those others are on my list to get too, once I can find them!

[@Best_Served_Neat_On_Ice]

@@bourbonbill, Speaking of distilleries doing young bourbon well, ever try New Riff? I hate that hay note, too, and I've tried three of the New Riff Single Barrel Bourbons (barrel proof, non-chill filtered) and the Bottled In Bond Bourbon (non-chill filtered) and *no hay* .

[@bourbonbill]

@@Best_Served_Neat_On_IceI haven’t had new riff but I am planning to review their 8yr got a sample of that although it’s 8yrs old so I wouldn’t expect any youth notes per say

[@Best_Served_Neat_On_Ice]

@@bourbonbill, The New Riff 8 Year is one I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on! I know that it's been in my area but have yet to see it. The number of bottles distributed by me must be very limited; it sold out quickly at the couple of places that got it in.