Review: Hogsworth The 10

The recent launch of Raj Bhakta‘s Hogsworth came with raised eyebrows and OK reviews — the blend of Armagnac and bourbon being a head-scratcher that at least sort of worked.

Now Bhakta is back with a new Hogsworth — not a new Batch release of the original bottling but a whole new expression called Hogsworth The 10. This blend — still bourbon and Argmagnac — is made with whiskey that carries an average age of 10 years old — though note that’s an average, not “the youngest in the blend,” which is traditional for pure whiskey age statements. But this isn’t whiskey. It’s something else, made from a mix of 80% bourbon (source unstated, but the prior Hogsworth was a blend of distillate from Tennessee and Minnesota) and 20% single vintage Armagnacs, bottled at 44.4% abv.

Did we mention it’s 35 bucks? Let’s taste.

Hogsworth The 10 Review

As with the NAS Hogsworth, the modest dosing of Armagnac does a lot of the work in the blend, for better or for worse. The nose is very perfumed, intense layers of dried florals iconic to racy, funky Armagnac immediately evident, to the point where this doesn’t really smell much like bourbon at all. Big lilac and sandalwood elements feel like you’re running the gauntlet through cosmetics at the entrance to Macy’s. Dig deep and well-hidden notes of barrel char and almonds percolate up, but neither is remotely dominant — nor overtly whiskeylike.

The palate does a clearer job of explaining what this spirit is trying to do. A sweeter core, showcasing glazed walnuts, caramel apples, and some grated orange peel all come together, if haphazardly, to offer a festive quality touched with nougat and coconut. If things ended there all might be well, but finishing notes of tannic barrel char and anise give the conclusion an exceptionally drying end. A heavy grind of back pepper notes feels like something of a kick in the pants on the way out.

88.8 proof.

B- / $35

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