Review: Joseph Magnus Murray Hill Club Special Release #4 (2024)

Joseph Magnus’s Murray Hill Club Special Release (aka MHC-SR) line got its start back in 2017, and the company has been trickling out editions ever since. Drew last reviewed the whiskey in 2020. Now, in 2024, a new edition is finally available — only the fourth in the series, all designed to explore the combined power of smart sourcing, meticulous blending, and a shrewd use of finishing casks.

MHC-SR #4 is a blend of 8- and 17-year-old bourbons (reportedly MGP stock) which was distilled from a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. The blend is finished for four months in Calvados casks before bottling at 55.5% abv.

These releases are always busy and complex, and this is no exception. The nose has exceptional depth, showcasing well-roasted nuts and brewed tea like I’ve never quite smelled before in a bourbon. A wide array of spices spanning ginger, cloves, and nutmeg all fill the bowl of the glass, tempered with lots of vanilla and, to a lesser degree, milk chocolate. It’s sharp with an alcohol-driven punch, so tempering with a little water isn’t a bad idea.

Honestly I liked the nose a bit better than the palate, but there’s plenty to delve into here, much of it in new dimensions. A toasty dark roast coffee note pairs with the aforementioned brewed tea element, with some of the Calvados-driven apple character coming at last into focus. Here it’s more akin to apple chips than the more common fresh or baked fruit, surely the impact of a lengthy period of barrel aging. Sweetness is more molasses, slightly sulfury, with a nod toward brown sugar. Finally, the finish builds toward notes of raisins, cherry, and more chewy, gooey molasses. It’s balanced well between sweet and dry, never pushing too far into fruit territory while also keeping the barrel’s influence in check.

Solid stuff as usual from Magnus — and extremely unique.

111 proof.

A- / $199 / josephmagnus.com

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