Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey

[@BrianVaughn]

I've got the Smokeye Hill barrel proof and found this to be the best bourbon I had this year. It won my end of year blind. The blue corn might be cheat code for my flavor profile. I get a a creme brulee on the nose and a ton of vanilla, cherry and oak on the pallet. My bottle is an older version without the age statement.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I think it was a perfect bottle to kick off 2025. It's fantastic and will be in the running for 2025 Whiskey of The Year. Cheers!

[@aldodioverti8467]

Great review again Peter. Keep up the great job you do! This Smokeye Hill was one if the best in 2024.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I can see why. I really am enjoying mine. Cheers!

[@CGsYTChannel]

Congrats Keith and Scotty. Not sure if you notice when you were saying "I'm sure this drives people crazy when they see there name almost pick" as my name was flipped to Scotty on the last click lol. Now to the Smokeye Hill BP, I love it. It got a lot of hype in 2024 for winning an award against a GTS. People were calling it a GTS killer. It's not close to that. However, it's in my top 25 bourbon tournament for 2024 (coming soon). Maybe it will beat the 2024 GTS? We will see.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I agree. I don't see the comparison to GTS, but it is good in its own way. I should probably figure out what to call the wheel. The Wheel of Frustration, Dashed Hope, Crushed Dreams, Anticipation. I am not creative enough to come up with a witty name.

[@CGsYTChannel]

@whiskeyisajourney just called it the Carlos Garcia wheel.. lol jk.. looked like a lot of names on it this month, congratulations!!!!

[@OldFashionedWays]

this is one I still have not tried. But keep hearing good things. thanks for sharing cheers

[@whiskeyisajourney]

In my opinion it's worth a try if you can find it. Cheers!

[@Concert-Fan]

I love this bourbon. One of the best from 2024. I love their 134.2 five year old. Great value.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

It really is a good one. I need to get a backup. Cheers!

[@chrisdunning5481]

Great review. Found your channel thank to Josh and Erin’s recommendation at S&W. I think it is absolutely fantastic. Been available in Northern CA for a few months. Picked up 3 or 4 of them over that time span with varying proof levels. All above 130. Will continue to buy as long as I can.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Welcome. Josh and Erin are fantastic people and I really enjoy the channel. I need to get a backup of this bottle before they are gone. I was not expecting to like it as much as I did. Going in as a contender for my 2025 whiskey of the year. Hopefully the bottle will last a year or I can get a backup. Cheers!

[@RyanDickey-lp3sn]

Ordered this online after hearing all the hype around it and can’t wait for it to get here so I can try it! Doubt it is a “GTS killer” but I have heard it stands its own against some Stagg Jr batches and most ECBP batches. Great review!

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I didn't think it was similar in profile as the other buffalo trace products, but it is equally as good in its own way. If that makes sense. I have it in my blind samples with stagg jr batch 15. Cheers!

[@Surfin808allday]

Just did a blind. stagg 24a, EHBP, ECBP, bookers mighty fine batch, 1792 FP, and Smokeye BP. Smoke came in 1st place. Stagg was dead last. Unreal. Cheers

[@whiskeyisajourney]

It doesn't surprise me. I really enjoy my bottle. Once I realized I liked it so much I put it in my blind sample pool up against Stagg jr batch 15. I can't wait for that matchup to be drawn. Cheers!

[@CPGumby]

I'm finding that blue corn is becoming my jam - I got the first batch of the barrel proof when this was initially released, and I man oh man do I LOVE that "richness of flavor" that you mentioned in your review. I know the words "GTS killer" were thrown around a lot when it was first getting reviewed last year (2024), and though I have never had GTS to compare, I have to say I REALLY like this bourbon and I'm happy I was able to get one.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I like it a lot as well. Not sure it compares to GTS, but it's good regardless. Cheers!

[@markking1402]

Thanks!

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Thank you Mark!

[@MaltAndGrains]

Great review - been looking at this one for a while, might need to pick it up.

[@nickp5511]

Nice review! I picked both of them up about three months ago. I really like the cask strength. It reminds of Stagg Jr. the way it drinks but not so much flavor. The standard offering is a really nice easy pour! Cheers!

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I think both bottles offer something different and both are worth checking out in my opinion. Cheers!

[@teamnolegs]

Got this, batch 2. Was good until the finish. Has a white wine or champagne finish to it that overwhelms.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Wow. That's interesting. The next time I have it I will look for that kind of finish. Power of suggestion is a powerful thing.

[@TheReal_DeanD]

If this ever gets into my area I’ll give it a go. Sounds delicious

[@whiskeyisajourney]

It's a good one. I have it in my sample pool with Stagg Jr. Batch 15 and the lower proof bottle up against Elmer T. Lee.

[@lyacoubian]

I had a feeling you were going to like this one Peter. It is sweet..!!! I prefer mine with a splash of water to bring the heat down a bit and reveal the rye spice. Good stuff.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

It is good stuff and I was happy to see water didn't cause it to take a turn for the worst. I need to go back and get a backup. Cheers!

[@skywes2710]

Great review , smokeye hill rocks got me 3 bottles on hand.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I need to buy a backup before they disappear. Cheers!

[@jimreichel1466]

Nice review Peter. I have two bottles tbat I bought back in July, I think. Both do not have an age statement. One has an ABV of 131.2 and the other 131.4. Both were under $80 and bought on-line from Bottle Shoppe. I really like it, but haven't had it for awhile so I don't remember the notes it had. Have a great 2025. Cheers!

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Thank you! Cheers to 2025 and retirement! It is going to be an interesting year.

[@Redevil667]

TW near me had one of these on Thursday but I passed it up for the EHT Straight Rye. Might have to pick it up if I see it again. I'm trying to buy less bottles this year but I'm not off to a good start.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I cut way back last year. I hope to carry that into 2025. So far so good. I think I only picked up 1 bottle so far in January. EHT Small Batch. Cheers!

[@osamashatat]

Antiseptic hand sanitizer is typically 65% alcohol.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Does that mean you don't like this bottle or are you just throwing out random facts? Cheers!

[@osamashatat]

@ I just bought this bottle from seelbachs Awaiting delivery now Just stating random silly facts about abv

[@thomasanderson2870]

Supposed to have one coming from Out of state tomorrow 😬👍😉💯 Cheers 🥃

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Enjoy it. Check back in and let me know what you think of it. Cheers!

[@lxvsxleah]

we start school tomorrow i’m so nervous and scared omg it’s gonna be so weird without you😭

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I guess they did not hire the person I thought was going to take the job. Until they hire someone you will have a teacher from the campus teaching. You will be fine.

[@lxvsxleah]

thank goodness it wasn’t as bad as i thought it was gonna be also we had a substitute

[@Oggi7777]

Thx vm

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Cheers!

[@TheBloody81]

I have a backup just because it's that dang good! I noticed the newest release has the 5 yr age statement and curious if there's any difference. Cheers!

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I don't have a backup yet. I need to get one. Cheers!

[@Best_Overserved_--_No_Ice]

You mentioned it was very effervescent on the tongue. Are you meaning that it was prickly? Like prickly spice?

[@whiskeyisajourney]

like carbonation of a soda that is just about to go flat. Could be a tingle of spice on the tongue yes.

[@therifftones2198]

thx Brother

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Cheers!

[@javieracosta3439]

Thank you for the video Peter. Its not available here on shelves in CT yet but I would have an interest in trying if I saw one. As far as the use of different corn, New Riff did a twin release of a Blue Clarage corn and an heirloom Yellow Leaming corn both 5 year bottled in bond bourbons and both utilized the standard New Riff mash bill % of 65/30/5 so they could be directly compared to the regular shelf BIB and you could find the differences each heirloom varietal brought to the table. I mention this as the Blue Clarage corn comes off very grapey and reminds me of a more robust Eagle Rare 10. Being that this Smoke Eye Hill is such an unusual mash bill from MGP it makes it difficult to compare to anything else they distill and find the contrasts. But nothing wrong with taking it as it is. Cheers.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I wonder if we are going to see more corn varietals and more American Single malts hitting the shelf in 2025. 2024 was the year of the rye and 2023 was all about finishing or finishes. What is going to be the next big thing in 2025?

[@javieracosta3439]

@whiskeyisajourney you might hage tried Still Austin's blue and red corn bourbons (not here in my market) but another distiller Savage & Cooke released a Bloody Butcher red as well as a Howling Mob heirloom corn. We see New Riff having success with it's Balboa rye and I see a lot of new Rosen rye whiskey coming out (albeit in very small quantities) but it shows distillers are interested in using these different grains to drive the flavor of a particular release. Sounds like more fun times ahead!

[@SHHDADDYSWORKN]

I think the 5 yr age statement is the second batch

[@whiskeyisajourney]

That makes sense. I'm loving this bottle. Cheers!

[@cindylowman4495]

I'm in Denver. I just bought this for $84.99 but havent cracked it yet. How does this or the lower proof Smokeye Hill compare to other blue corn bourbons (like Still Austin's Blue Corn)?

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I like this more than the Still Austin. BUT I have only had the 6 year BiB bourbon from SA nothing else with blue corn from them. The Still Austin wasn't bad it just wasn't my flavor profile. Although, my sister really liked it. As far as how they compare flavor wise...I think Smokeye Hill is much sweeter.

[@osamashatat]

What do you think of the KZbin channel American Whiskey Cookers?

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I have not heard of them. I'll go check them out. Cheers!

[@osamashatat]

@ *great American whiskey cookers

[@osamashatat]

@ I’d appreciate your opinion

[@whiskeyisajourney]

It plays like a TV series with voiceovers. I watched a few videos and it's good with good production.

[@joeappleton6849]

Review smoke head scotch whiskey high voltage

[@whiskeyisajourney]

It's on my list. Cheers!

[@Oggi7777]

$55 bottle all day. Anything above $55 is Bs.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Oh man...I'd love to see this at $55. Cheers!

[@ds-uu1if]

Thanks!

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Got you down for 1 entry. Good luck. As always I really appreciate the support.

[@markking1402]

Thanks!

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I appreciate the support! Cheers.

[@mikereyna4955]

Thanks!

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Thank you Mike. I have you down for 1 in January. Best of luck!