Hey Fellas, Nancy here. I really enjoyed your review of MHC Special #4! @walkerhines635 is absolutely right, I think I got a little greedy with the Bourbon in the Calvados barrel a little too longer than what I should have. Those Calvados barrels really, really are what give it that dark, dark color, as well as the fall leaves, tobacco, burnt caramel, smoke, baked apple, etc., that you all are finding. Also unique to this version is that the 17 year old MGP 21% rye Bourbon is made from "Q" yeast rather than the usual "V" yeast that most people are familiar with from MGP. Since what is now MGP/Ross & Squib was once owned by Seagrams, as was 4-Roses, they used to share all the same yeast profiles. The "Q" yeast profile is more floral when made at 4 Roses, but it has a lot more fusel oils when distilled at MGP. And because of the extra fusel oils, it means that those Q yeast barrels need a LOT more maturation time. When I first got those Q yeast barrels back in 2017, they tasted very funky and I couldn't really use them. Now, however, they are really hitting their prime, and they're also part of the "secret sauce" to this particular version of MHC Special Release. I should also say that the Light Whiskey component in this particular blend are really negligible, just enough to fit the requirements for the category of a Blended Bourbon (sometimes also seen as "Bourbon, a blend"). At any rate, I'm thrilled you enjoyed it! It really is apples to oranges with Cigar Blend, just a totally different beast. Hope you enjoyed learning a little more behind the scenes. Cheers!
wow that is some really good information and explains why this one didn't give me the classic MGP notes outside of rye spices. Or at least not as much as I'd expect with 17 year 21% rye.
Nancy 💯 blended this one and she said it’s her second favorite of the four special releases she’s done (her first MHSR was her favorite). The base is a 75/21/4 MGP bourbon blend of 8 and 17 years. She expressed some worry that she may have left it in the calvados barrel too long after getting greedy (I think it was in the calvados barrel for 4 months and in retrospect, she thinks it should have been 2.5 months). I’ve been waiting to get this bottle for months and finally found one at msrp on the way to me. Sounds amazing!
Great info, I always debate doing more research on these, but sometimes I feel it taints the review as I'll be looking for the notes Nancy gives out or reading her details on the makeup and trying to get all that. Sometimes we'll get lucky and she'll share her thoughts on these videos. But no such luck yet!
Sounds fantastic!! Congrats to Nancy and Calvados. My favorite all time is the JoeMag CB Batch 28.
“Sounds good man. You deserve it.”😂😂😂
That sounds like something I would say but I can't remember what I was talking about... lol
Hey Fellas, Nancy here. I really enjoyed your review of MHC Special #4! @walkerhines635 is absolutely right, I think I got a little greedy with the Bourbon in the Calvados barrel a little too longer than what I should have. Those Calvados barrels really, really are what give it that dark, dark color, as well as the fall leaves, tobacco, burnt caramel, smoke, baked apple, etc., that you all are finding.
Also unique to this version is that the 17 year old MGP 21% rye Bourbon is made from "Q" yeast rather than the usual "V" yeast that most people are familiar with from MGP. Since what is now MGP/Ross & Squib was once owned by Seagrams, as was 4-Roses, they used to share all the same yeast profiles. The "Q" yeast profile is more floral when made at 4 Roses, but it has a lot more fusel oils when distilled at MGP. And because of the extra fusel oils, it means that those Q yeast barrels need a LOT more maturation time. When I first got those Q yeast barrels back in 2017, they tasted very funky and I couldn't really use them. Now, however, they are really hitting their prime, and they're also part of the "secret sauce" to this particular version of MHC Special Release. I should also say that the Light Whiskey component in this particular blend are really negligible, just enough to fit the requirements for the category of a Blended Bourbon (sometimes also seen as "Bourbon, a blend"). At any rate, I'm thrilled you enjoyed it! It really is apples to oranges with Cigar Blend, just a totally different beast. Hope you enjoyed learning a little more behind the scenes. Cheers!
wow that is some really good information and explains why this one didn't give me the classic MGP notes outside of rye spices. Or at least not as much as I'd expect with 17 year 21% rye.
We always appreciated the comments, Nancy… and the whisky 🫶🏻
Cheers, Mike
Nancy 💯 blended this one and she said it’s her second favorite of the four special releases she’s done (her first MHSR was her favorite). The base is a 75/21/4 MGP bourbon blend of 8 and 17 years. She expressed some worry that she may have left it in the calvados barrel too long after getting greedy (I think it was in the calvados barrel for 4 months and in retrospect, she thinks it should have been 2.5 months). I’ve been waiting to get this bottle for months and finally found one at msrp on the way to me. Sounds amazing!
Great info, I always debate doing more research on these, but sometimes I feel it taints the review as I'll be looking for the notes Nancy gives out or reading her details on the makeup and trying to get all that. Sometimes we'll get lucky and she'll share her thoughts on these videos. But no such luck yet!