Review: J. Mattingly 1845 Private Barrel Select Bourbon
J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery shook things up in late 2024 with Double Staved Kentucky Bourbon 6 Years Old. To craft the release, J. Mattingly utilized a proprietary double-staving process. The finishing method involves adding specially charred staves into the barrel to increase surface exposure for the bourbon. J. Mattingly applies the double-staving to whiskey without a tremendous amount of maturation to add extra oak character in a relatively short amount of time. The finish worked for the Kentucky bourbon with 6 years of maturation, but J. Mattingly is also offering it with bourbon carrying less age via J. Mattingly 1845 Limited Edition Private Barrel Select Small Batch Bourbon.
Dubbing the release One Hell of a Pick, J. Mattingly is offering consumers a chance to customize a bottle of whiskey by purchasing at the distillery or online. Whiskey enthusiasts are given the option to bottle MGP rye with the 95% rye mashbill, MGP bourbon with the 75% corn mashbill, or bourbon distilled by Heaven Hill with a 78% corn mashbill. After selecting their whiskey of choice, three different bottle shapes are available for further customization. Adding additional flare, customers get to choose from 21 different colors of wax for dipping. For the finishing touch of personalization, up to 25 characters of personalized text may be hand-written on the label. The customizable text portion of the experience allows consumers to potentially feature a name or to commemorate some special event or occasion. In essence, this experience allows whiskey enthusiasts to get their create their own private selection label without having to purchase an entire barrel.
Drinkhacker was offered the chance to create one of these customizable bottles for review, and we chose the Kentucky bourbon. During the creation process, J. Mattingly discloses that the Kentucky mashbill is 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. While not acknowledged on the website, the bourbon was distilled by Heaven Hill for Lux Row. The Kentucky bourbon is officially without an age statement, but the contents of this bottle are aged for at least 5 years in a barrel sporting a #3 char. Distillate entered the barrel at 125 proof and was bottled at 126 proof after the proprietary double-staving finishing process.
How does the finishing process work with bourbon aged for at least 5 years? The customization experience is fun, but does the actual bourbon warrant the price of $99? Let’s find out!
To start the nosing experience, herbal notes of green tea offer a fresh and slightly tannic aroma. The buttery sweetness of Danish butter cookies follow. Traces of milk chocolate develop, countered by the brightness of red applies. As the bouquet concludes, a touch of vanilla rounds things out. Leading the way on the palate, caramelized brown sugar sets the stage for a burst of Cherry Coke. Pumpkin pie spice offers complexity, while black tea adds some tannic grip, grounding the experience. The mouthfeel is incredibly juicy, and the finish brings creamy milk chocolate along with more Danish butter cookies. A final echo of Cherry Coke leaves a vibrant, slightly spiced fruitiness that gradually fades, inviting another sip.
J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery has put together a fun experience that is surely to be popular with lovers of bourbon. I fully enjoyed the bottle and will happily share pours with friends. Coming with a reported age of 5 years old, it’s not something I would buy off the shelf at a liquor store for $99. However, it’s absolutely something I would purchase to give as a gift to a friend or to commemorate a special occasion. If you’re looking for a fun wedding, birthday, or retirement gift, this is an excellent option with a personalized touch. The actual whiskey is quite good, though it doesn’t warrant the $99 price on its own without the customization feature.
126 proof.
B+ / $99 / jmattingly1845.com
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