Heaven’s Door 10 Year Old Bourbon Review (Decade Series #1)

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B

Liquor generally and whiskey specifically is so popular these days, it seems many celebrities want to get in and own their own brand, and musicians in particular seem drawn to whiskey. Keeping that in mind, it probably shouldn’t be a surprise that Bob Dylan partnered with an outfit called Spirits Investment Partnership (“SIP”) to create Heaven’s Door Whiskey, although it should be a surprise that this is the first time he has ever lent his name to a brand endeavor. Bob Dylan needs no introduction; as for SIP, their CEO is one of the co-founders of Angel’s Envy, Marc Bushala. SIP is also behind the Stolen brand, which has been covered here in the past; and Rare Hare (so rare that this is the first I’ve ever heard of Rare Hare).

The brand started with a Tennessee bourbon, a double new oak-aged whiskey and a rye. To this they added a 10 year old example of that 10 year old version of their Tennessee bourbon, and then a version of that 10 year old finished for 15 months in ex-Redbreast 12 Year Old casks.

Recently the company launched what they call the Decade Series, and if the first installment combined with their past work is anything to go on, it will be riffs on sourced, 10 year old whiskey. In fact, it’s appears to be a revamped bottling of the 10 Year Old Tennessee Bourbon, because it’s 10 years old and still sourced from Tennessee. Please keep in mind the thing that separates Tennessee Whiskey from the state’s bourbon is the Lincoln County Process: what Jack Daniel’s, George Dickel, Nelson’s Greenbrier and others is filter what would otherwise be bourbon through sugar maple charcoal prior to barreling and aging. Subtract that extra step, and it’s just bourbon from Tennessee. In this case, said bourbon was bottled at 100 proof.

The Bourbon
This pour takes on a middle amber look in the glass. In keeping with the Tennessee style of high corn whiskey, it’s an all around sweeter whiskey than most anything you will find outside of the Volunteer State.

The scent coming out of my glass delivered caramel, cedar, a non-descript citrus zest a pinch of chopped up mint in equal measures. The flavor led with the cedar and closed with the caramel coming up on the back end (it’s interesting to lead with wood and close with the candy), with a peppermint and ctirus current running through the middle. So, same elements on the palate as on the scent, but the balance shifts all around. The finish jinks back to the cedar note, which morphs into oak as it runs along.

The Price
This first Heaven’s Door Decade whiskey should set you back by $99.