Distillery Edition Batch 5 Five-Year-Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Photo: Milam and Greene)
This week, Milam and Greene unveiled a pair of limited-edition bourbons that aged in the sweltering Texas heat.
First comes the brand's Five-Year-Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the fifth batch in its ongoing Distillery Edition series. Made with a mash bill of 70% corn, 22% malted rye and 8% malted barley, the 59.8%-ABV expression represents an unexpected melting pot of influences.
2023 was the second-hottest recorded summer in Texas history — especially so for Milam and Greene, located just shy of the state's southernmost regions. The brand says its recipe interacted with the adverse conditions to create a one-of-a-kind product unlike previous iterations in the series. Reflecting on its unique influences, director of distillery operations Rikk Munroe commented:
“The Texas climate had a big influence on the flavors of this whiskey. It has been extremely hot, super cold, bone dry, and recently oppressively humid during the span of aging this fifth release of Distillery Edition. [...] This particular whiskey has been subject to some of the most extreme heat and cold that Texas can throw at it, resulting in a complex yet well-balanced easy sipping whiskey."
Reflecting the scarcity of an especially hot summer, just 171 bottles of Milam and Greene Five-Year-Old will hit the market at $139.99. A portion of proceeds will go toward Panhandle Proud, a non-profit dedicated to rebuilding Texas following a recent scourge of wildfires.
[caption id="attachment_72933" align="aligncenter" width="600"] 2024 Wildlife Collection: Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon (Photo: Milam and Greene)[/caption]
Next comes Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon, the third release in the brand's 2024 Wildlife Collection. While previous bottlings paid homage to the golden eagle and the white-tailed buck, this year's bourbon recreates the bright-red birds that fly through the distillery during migratory season.
Notching up the sweetened flavor, Cardinal Bourbon is made with a mash bill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley before aging for a total of eight years. Bottled at cask strength, the 64.9%-ABV release is also said to wear its summery influences on its sleeve.
“Our rickhouses are not temperature controlled, allowing for the Texas climate to make a distinct mark on each Wildlife Collection release,” Heather Greene, Milam & Greene Whiskey CEO said. “The intense prolonged dry heat last summer and a couple of extreme cold snaps this winter exposed our Cardinal whiskey to climate extremes that have had a tremendous impact on how it aged, and the amount of liquid lost to the angel share from the barrel."
Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon is now available through the Milam and Green website at $149.99, limited to a total of 130 bottles.
Distillery Edition Batch 5 Five-Year-Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey Tasting Notes, Per the Brand
Color: Deep Mahogany
Nose: Coffee, fresh-cut grass, graham cracker, almond, baking spice, cherry cobbler, and chocolate malt.
Taste: Smooth and grain-forward with an oily mouthfeel and notes of honey, creamed corn, dark cherry, and biscuit
Finish: Long finish punctuated by hints of peppercorn and spearmint
Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon Tasting Notes, Per the Brand
Color: Mahogany
Nose: Honey, Nila wafers, cherry cordial, and marshmallow fluff
Taste: Creamy sweet mouthfeel with notes of pecan Sandie cookies, creamed cornbread, and baking spices
Finish: Long finish with hints of black pepper and eucalyptus
2024 Wildlife Collection: Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon (Photo: Milam and Greene)[/caption]
Next comes Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon, the third release in the brand's 2024 Wildlife Collection. While previous bottlings paid homage to the golden eagle and the white-tailed buck, this year's bourbon recreates the bright-red birds that fly through the distillery during migratory season.
Notching up the sweetened flavor, Cardinal Bourbon is made with a mash bill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley before aging for a total of eight years. Bottled at cask strength, the 64.9%-ABV release is also said to wear its summery influences on its sleeve.