Review: World Whiskey Society Doc Holliday Bourbon 7 Years Old and 10 Years Old
World Whiskey Society’s Doc Holliday bourbon is hard to miss on the shelf, featuring a brass steer skull attached to the front label and a stopper embossed with six faux bullets embedded into the top, mimicking a revolver cylinder.
The original Doc Holliday was 6 year old MGP stock, made from a standard mash of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% barley. Now the brand owner, World Whiskey Society, is back with two line extensions — the same whiskey bottled at 7 and 10 years of age. Again, these are single barrel releases, so proof will vary based on which bottle you get.
Let’s give them a try.
World Whiskey Society Doc Holliday Bourbon 7 Years Old – Nice depth of spice here on the nose, heavy with cloves, barrel char, and anise. After the initial rush fades, a big barbecue beef quality takes hold, laced heavily with black pepper. While intensely savory on the nose, the whiskey shows its sweeter side on the palate, which features classic overtones of vanilla, maple, and brown butter. Hints of coconut emerge late in the game along with a bold cinnamon and nutmeg note. Red fruits, some dried, kick in for the finish, which is medium in length but the sweetest part of the experience, almost like vanilla cake frosting. It’s a different animal than the 6 year old, but, again, these are single barrels with more variability than you might expect. 118 proof. Reviewed: Barrel #175. A- / $134
World Whiskey Society Doc Holliday Bourbon 10 Years Old – Another twist. Bold and peppery on the nose, with lots of well-toasted spices, again showcasing cloves but also ginger and nutmeg, alongside a hearty cola and black tea note. The palate is initially much sweeter than expected, with a showcase of cherries and raspberries chased by chocolate sauce. Rather minty as it develops on the palate, a more savory quality soon takes hold, evoking elements of darker chocolate, tanned leather, and tobacco. Leathery on the back end but also quite pruny, with a slightly oxidized plum and cherry quality enduring just about forever. As the experience fades away, a gritty note of gunpowder and unbrewed black tea leaves lingers, clawing at the back of the throat a bit. And the whiskey ain’t done yet… there’s an odd chaser of dried figs after that. Perhaps a bit past its prime, though a different barrel might leave a different impression. 124 proof. Reviewed: Barrel #667 (hard to read). B+ / $184
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