Age: 8-year

Finish: Hickory syrup barrel

Proof: 123.44

Mash bill: 74/21/5 Corn/Rye/Malted barley

Tasting Notes: The nose begins starts with lemon-lime soda, but like our previous hickory barrel, there are plenty of fruit notes ranging from raspberry to cantaloupe to grape and apricot before fresh honey emerges. It still moves into that beautiful vanilla cream soda and sweet oak note we love in these 21% barrels.

About: Selected by Seelbach’s, this 8-year single barrel from Nashville Barrel Company showcases what happens when thoughtful finishing meets an already outstanding bourbon foundation. Distilled at MGP with a classic high-rye mash bill (21% rye), the whiskey spent eight years developing rich structure before undergoing a distinctive finish in hickory syrup crafted locally near Nashville using the shag bark of native shagbark hickory trees.

That finishing step brings a uniquely American twist. Hickory syrup carries a character all its own—gently smoky, subtly earthy, and naturally sweet—and those qualities weave seamlessly into the bourbon’s spice-driven backbone. The result is a layered whiskey where the rye spice provides structure while the hickory finish adds depth, warmth, and a slightly smoky sweetness that lingers on the palate.

Bottled at 123.44 proof from single barrel #1662, this release captures both the bold intensity of mature MGP bourbon and the distinctive nuance of a rarely seen finishing technique. It’s a pour that balances spice, smoke, and sweetness in a way that feels both familiar and entirely new—one that stands out even among the growing world of finished bourbons.