Doc Holliday 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon Selection - Review

RELEASING JULY 1, 2025

World Whiskey Society's Doc Holliday 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon – Barrel 416

Selected by Whiskey Library, The Whiskey Fly, Bourbon Apprentice, and myself, The Bourbon Whiskey Library

Single Barrel 416

Stats:

• Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

• Barrel: #416 – Single Barrel Edition

• Age: 10 Years

• ABV: 62.5% (Cask Strength / 125 Proof)

• Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 13% Rye, 9% Malted Barley

Tasting Notes

Nose:

Rich and inviting right from the pour, the nose opens with Mexican sweet bread—that soft, yeasty sweetness laced with delicate spice. Notes of caramel corn bring a playful, fairground nostalgia, while vanilla and bright apple add a crisp, aromatic lift that keeps it from becoming too heavy. The complexity grows as it breathes, revealing the maturity of its 10-year aging.

Palate:

A bold, full-bodied entry greets the tongue with fresh warm pastry—think flaky crusts and sweet, buttery layers. Apple tart takes center stage mid-palate, soaked in caramel and topped with a brown sugar crust, delivering a balance of fruit, sweetness, and bakery spice. Even at cask strength, the integration is smooth and nuanced.

Finish:

The finish is where this barrel truly shines: viscous, oily, and endlessly coating. It wraps the palate in a luxurious texture with a final whisper of nutmeg, leaving you savoring the experience long after the sip is gone.

World Whiskey Society's Attention to detail

Overall Impression

Barrel 416 of Doc Holliday’s 10-Year Single Barrel release is a standout example of high-proof elegance. It shows that cask strength doesn’t have to mean brash heat—it can mean depth, texture, and character. This is a dessert-in-a-glass bourbon that never veers into gimmickry. The selection panel—Whiskey Library, The Whiskey Fly, Bourbon Apprentice, and The Bourbon Whiskey Library—clearly had a shared vision for richness, balance, and flavor-forward impact.

A decadent pour with bakery shop charm and a finish that doesn’t quit. A must-try for fans of sweet-spice complexity and barrel-proof beauty.

15 Stars Fine Aged Rye - Founder's Reserve Batch 001 - Review

Review: 15 Stars Fine Aged Rye – Founder's Reserve (Batch 001)

47.5% ABV | 95 Proof | $140 SRP

Delightful from start to finish.

15 Stars continues to make its mark on the premium whiskey scene with its Founder's Reserve Fine Aged Rye, an artful blend of straight rye whiskeys aged 14, 13, 9, and 8 years. Sourced from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee, this expression showcases balance, depth, and luxurious texture—an elegant rye built for slow sipping.

Nose:

Delicate yet expressive, the nose opens with a cool wave of creamy mint, followed by soft green tea leaf and a touch of white pepper for brightness. There’s a subtle herbal quality here that hints at age and layered complexity.

Palate:

The mouthfeel is velvety smooth, bordering on decadent. Flavors of Italian sweet cream and milk chocolate dominate the front palate, offering a dessert-like richness uncommon in rye. Mid-palate, a soft backbone of mature spice begins to hum—controlled and refined rather than aggressive.

Finish:

The finish lingers medium-long, leaving a full oily coating and a whisper of gentle spice. It’s polished and composed, with no rough edges—just an elegant tapering of sweetness and warmth.

Final Thoughts:

15 Stars’ Founders Reserve Rye is a sophisticated pour that bridges traditional rye spice with refined dessert-like smoothness. For those who enjoy the structure of rye but crave a silkier, more luxurious expression, this batch delivers. The price point reflects its age and blending pedigree, and for fans of high-end, well-aged rye, it feels justified. A contemplative sipper—best neat, and best unhurried.

Shop HERE for the 15 Stars portfolio

Loch Lomond 12 Year & Cavalier Geneve Project Broadleaf Skywalker - Review

This pairing brings together a bright, fruit-forward Highland single malt and a rich, complex broadleaf cigar—resulting in a striking balance of elegance and depth.

Whisky: Loch Lomond Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years

ABV: 46% | Proof: 92 | Cask: American Oak | SRP: $60

On the nose, Loch Lomond 12 is inviting and vibrant—ripe pear and citrus zest take the lead, softened by a drizzle of caramelized vanilla. The palate is light yet layered, offering stewed pear and red apple with a creamy tartness that keeps things fresh and almost pastry-like. The finish is on the shorter side but warm, with a pleasing viscosity and mellow sweetness that leaves a graceful impression.

Cigar: Cavalier Genève Project Broadleaf Skywalker

Size: 6.25” x 50 | SRP: $15.60

Wrapper: USA Broadleaf | Binder: Mexican | Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua

Profile: Medium+

Part of the Luxury Cigar Club Palladium Subscription Box

The Skywalker opens strong in the first third with rich cocoa and robust espresso bean notes that immediately assert its boldness. The second third darkens, deepening into dark chocolate with a trace of bitterness that adds structure without becoming harsh. In the final third, the flavor ramps up with bold cedar and a dense earthiness that grounds the cigar beautifully.

The Pairing Experience:

This pairing shines through contrast and synergy. The bright, fruity profile of the Loch Lomond acts as a foil to the dense, dark richness of the Skywalker. Early in the cigar, the whisky’s stewed pear and creamy tart notes lift the cocoa and espresso, evoking the experience of a well-paired dessert course—think chocolate tart with a citrus glaze.

As the cigar transitions into its second third, the darker chocolate and bitter edge meet the whisky’s residual sweetness and viscosity, creating a satisfying tension. The whisky doesn’t overpower, but rather refreshes the palate between puffs.

In the final third, as the cigar becomes more robust with cedar and deep earth tones, the short-to-medium finish of the whisky allows the cigar’s complexity to shine, while the whisky’s sweet remnants subtly echo in the background—like the last soft note of a symphony.

Verdict:

A thoughtfully contrasting pairing. Loch Lomond 12 brings levity, brightness, and subtle creaminess to the table, while the Cavalier Genève Skywalker provides gravity, depth, and evolution. Ideal for an evening where you’re looking to explore both vibrancy and richness without either element overpowering the other.

Pairing Score: 8.5/10 – Balanced, flavorful, and harmonious across all thirds.