The term “will work for whiskey” has been uttered in jest, I recently had the pleasure of doing just that when I attended the interactive debut Heaven’s Door Spirits new 10 Year-Old Tennessee Straight Bourbon at Brooklyn’s Craftsman Ave Studios.
We tasted the 10 YO and then followed in the footsteps of Bob Dylan, a partner in Heaven’s Door, via a hands-on welding workshop, learning the tools of the trade he’s embraced. Welding is also a big part of Heaven’s Door as each bottle of features the distinctive iron gates of Dylan’s Black Buffalo Ironworks studio.
This new expression is said to be a testament to the company’s mission of creating an ever-evolving catalog of small batch whiskeys featuring uncommon blends, special barrel finishes and rare stocks. It is mellowed using charcoal columns made from Tennessee sugar maple trees, a method traditionally known as the “Lincoln County Process.” The low rye content and a decade of barrel-aging results in notes of baked apples, carmel, citrus and butterscotch.
“We are passionate about challenging whiskey convention through unique barrel finishing, wood experimentation, and blending,” says Ryan Perry, Head of Whiskey Development at Heaven’s Door. “At 100 proof and with a low rye mash bill, this whiskey is perfectly balanced and rich in character. After spending ten long, hot summers in a Tennessee rick house, this bourbon was so perfect that we felt any tinkering would have been a disservice.”
The 10 Year Tennessee Straight Bourbon comes in a beautifully composed case, with the delightful surprise of a reprinted lyric sheet featuring the hand-typed words to Dylan’s beloved songs “Maggie’s Farm” and “Subterranean Homesick Blues.”
The Heaven’s Door Limited-Release 10 Year Tennessee Straight Bourbon retails for $129.99 and is available at select retailers in California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina and Washington, please check with your local retailer for availability. It is also available online at www.HeavensDoor.com.
