Name: Old Soul – Tintype Series #1 “Captain Luke”
Color: Copper
Nose: Corn, rye/malt mix, vanilla, orange, spices
Taste: Corn, malt, rye, spices, oak, vanilla, caramel
Cathead Distillery was founded in 2010 and is based in Jackson, Mississippi. This expression is from their “Tin Type Series” and is Series #1 “Captain Luke” inspired by the Southern States influence on American music. Series #1 is distilled in Indianna and has a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. It is aged 7 years, is unfiltered/uncut, and bottled at 60.9% abv which equates 121.8 proof.
When took my first sip of Series #1 I thought of famous quote from Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid movie. So if I ever get the chance to meet the distiller I will ask, “Do you think you used enough dynamite there Butch?” At 121.8 proof Series #1 is the strongest whiskey I think I have ever sampled in my life. I am struggling to remember a stronger one and if you read my reviews I generally do not like cask strength whiskeys, but this one is very good once you soften it up a little bit.
On my first tasting I really struggled to nose and taste this whiskey neat. I added a few drops of water and I struggled less, but it was still a challenge. I added a small ice cube and tried again, but I think I was in a bit of a shock so I stopped tasting. I re-tasted two weeks later and I was prepared for the shock. The second tasting was only with a small ice cube and that allowed me to really detect and enjoy the flavor profile. Old Soul Series #1 is a very strong whiskey, but the mash bill and the vanilla, orange, and spice notes on the finish are very good.
Old Fashioned Cocktail: This cocktail has a lot of kick to it and now is giving my go-to mixer (Sagamore Rye Cask Strength) a real run for the top spot. Series #1 holds the flavor for a long time and works very well in a cocktail. I need to do a side-by-side cocktail tasting with Series #1 vs. Sagamore Cask in the near future.
Other Cathead Distillery Expressions: Cathead Original Vodka, Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka, Cathead Satsuma Mandarin Vodka, Cathead Raspberry Vodka, Bristow Gin, Hoodoo Chicory Liquor, and Old Soul Bourbon Whiskey Series, Cathead Sparkling, and canned cocktails.
Priced around $100 and well worth the price. This stuff needs to be in the NYC bars and stores immediately!
If you like it, drink it! – Chris
If you like it, drink it!
Note: I contacted the distillery to purchase some samples and they sent me this bottle for gratis.
