Calumet Farm 16 year Bourbon Review
Single Rack Black
“Citation”
It is a pleasure to do this Calumet 16 review while sipping some of this great bourbon! Calumet Farm was initially established as a regular farm in 1924, but transitioned to breeding and racing horses in 1933. They were so successful that they have won world glory through their racing pedigree, including Citation (see below for more details). In 2013 they produced their first small batch of bourbon, and since that time they have released several age-stated releases including 8 yr, 12 yr, 14 yr, 15 yr, and 16 yr. Calumet 16 year bourbon is crafted from just 19 barrels.
They also continue to breed and race horses.
Series: Single Rack Black – “Citation”
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: 16 years
Proof: 106
Batch Designation: Small Batch
Proof Designation: na
Filtered Status: Non-Chill Filtered
Mash bill: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley
Distillery: Undisclosed, but rumored to be Barton 1792
Company: Western Spirits Beverage Co.
Bottled By: Three Springs Bottling Company, Bowling Green, KY
Distilled/Aging Location: Bardstown, Kentucky
Release Date: July 2022
Batch Notes: batch size is 19 barrels
Rack No.: W4008.09
MSRP: $150
Availability: Low/Rare
Calumet 16 Review
My tasting reviews are unique in that I include the notes of several well-known whiskey critics. The hope is that this format will help me and others to explore and expand their tasting experience.
Nose
Butterscotch, vanilla, caramel.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: Dark cherry like Luxardo cherry syrup, dark barrel char smokiness, chocolate, dark fruit, light citrus-like orange or lemon, burnt caramel.
Whiskey Raiders: rich and funky, loaded with tobacco, cocoa, cherries, toffee, and a chunk of barrel char. Complex.
Whiskey Jar Blog: heavy vanilla, dark fruit, stone fruit, and oak. Very nice.
Palate
Caramel, white pepper, butterscotch, vanilla, oak, semi-sweet, dried cherries.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: Pleasant oak flavors, citrus, dark fruit, chocolate, a nice spice, hint of cherry, deep rich caramel. Spicy and sweet. He prefers the 16 yr over the 15 yr.
Whiskey Raiders: moderate to viscous mouth field, heat is very much in check. A funky, nutty, cherry, toffee profile, with a great balance of oak and sweetness.
Whiskey Jar Blog: vanilla, dark fruit (cherries, cranberries) with some lemon and orange zest, a hint of cinnamon, and clove on the back. Very nice.
Finish
Long finish, butterscotch, sweet oak, baking spices.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: Rye spice, smoked chocolate, smokey oak char, dark fruits.
Whiskey Raiders: long finish, dry, funky, loaded with butter cream, honey, brown butter, pepper, and oak.
Whiskey Jar Blog: the clove and orange zest comes to the fore and mingles with oak tannin on an incredibly long finish.
Notes and History
The back label tells the story and tribute for Calumet 16 “Citation”. Here is the story.
“After a stunning 2-year-old season in 1947, famed trainer Ben Jones knew that their horse was set to have a breakout 3-year old season. In 1948, Citation furthered his campaign toward becoming a legend. He began the season with a handful of wins. Then Eddie Arcaro was tapped to jockey Citation. The first race pairing the two was a disappointing loss at the Chesapeake Trail Stakes. This would be the last race that Citation would lose for nearly two years.
Citation would go on to capture the 1948 Triple Crown and be named Horse of the Year. By the end of his 3-year old season, he had a total record of 27 victories and two 2nd place finishes out of 29 starts. Citation would go on winning and be the first major North American horse to amass a 16 race win streak and to top $1 million in career earnings.
To honor the legacy of Calumet Farm and its second Triple Crown winning horse, this exquisite bourbon has been crafted with the same passion and dedication that led Citation to victory.“
~ Calumet Farm
Calumet Farm was established simply as a small farm in 1924 in Lexington, Kentucky by William Monroe Wright. In 1933 his son Warren began moving the business toward Thoroughbred horse racing. In 1939 the Wrights hired famed horse trainer Ben A. Jones and the farm and over time Calumet Farm rose to world fame in the horse racing world. Their rise to fame cemented Calumet Farm as one of the most prominent and respected names in horse racing history. The farm has produced 2 Triple Crown winners, 8 Kentucky Derby winners and 8 Preakness winners. They also have 11 horses in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. These include Citation (Calumet 16) and Whirlaway (Calumet 15).
In 2013 their horse Oxbow wins the Preakness Stakes and marks the return of Calumet Farm to the winner’s circle of a Triple Crown race for the first time since 1968. Calumet Farm Bourbon is also launched and released in a singular, extremely small batch.
Since then they have released an 8 year, 10 year, 12 year, 14 year, 15 year, and now the 16 year bourbon.
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