Milam & Greene Whiskey introduced its fifth and final release in the 2023 Wildlife Collection, White-Tailed Buck Single Barrel Bourbon.
The whiskey was distilled in Tennessee with a mash bill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley. It was barreled in Tennessee on March 8, 2016, where it was aged for six years and eight months. It was then brought to Texas on November 10, 2022, to further age for one year and sixteen days palletized on end, where it rested undisturbed, unrotated, and without climate control on the northside of the Milam & Greene Rickhouse 2 in Blanco, Texas. This whiskey is pulled from cask #518, with only 259 bottles available of this extremely limited, 131.2 proof cask-strength release.
This single-barrel bourbon is named for an iconic symbol of the region, the White-Tailed Buck. Texas is home to a large population of white-tailed deer which can be found from the dense forests of East Texas to the arid regions of the west.
Each release in the Milam & Greene Wildlife Collection highlights how the weather in the Texas Hill Country impacts the aging process of their whiskey and honors the local Texas wildlife that thrives in this challenging environment. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each bottle of the Milam & Greene Wildlife Collection will benefit Texas Parks & Wildlife.
“This year our distilling team has used our Wildlife Collection of Single Barrel Bourbons as an opportunity to explore the influences of climate on aging whiskey,” said Milam & Greene Whiskey CEO and Master Blender Heather Greene. “We’ve closely analyzed structural and qualitative aspects of whiskey matured in other states before coming to Texas for further aging. We then monitor atmospheric conditions, humidity, temperature fluctuations, and differences in positions in both of our rickhouses to determine how that influences flavor extraction and texture of the whiskey. We’re dialing in on how to manage barrel aging to get the classic characteristics that whiskey lovers demand. Our White-Tailed Buck Single Barrel release captures the dedication to craftsmanship and the exploration of the unique influence of the Texas Hill Country environment on our whiskey.”
“We named our final Wildlife Collection release for the white-tailed deer that is often seen in the Texas Hill Country and frequently grazing on the distillery property,” added Milam & Greene Whiskey distillery manager, Rikk Munroe. “Labeling this whiskey as our White-Tailed Buck Single Barrel Bourbon in December is timely as deer hunting season in Texas is underway from November to January. The beautiful and sometimes unpredictable animal is abundant in our state. We encourage drivers to be careful when traveling down Highway 281 during ‘rut,’ or deer breeding season, as the white-tailed deer can bolt across the highway at the worst times.
Milam & Greene White-Tailed Buck Single Barrel Bourbon is available for $149.99 only on the Milam & Greene website and in the distillery tasting room.
