A 10-year blend that drinks older than its age statement, marrying dusty Kentucky bourbon character with high-malt complexity and remarkable texture.
Stats
- Age: 10-14 year
- Proof: 115 (57.5% ABV)
- Mashbill: Blend of 80% Corn │ 10% Rye │5% Wheat │ 5% Malted Barley, 74% Corn │18% Rye │ 8% Malted Barley, 51% Corn │ 15% Rye │ 34% Malted Barley
- Origin: Now-defunct Georgia distillery; 1792 Barton — Bardstown, Kentucky; Ross & Squibb (MGP) — Lawrenceburg, Indiana
- Blend:
- 10% 14 yr (defunct) Georgia craft
- 68% 10 yr Barton
- 22% 10 yr High Malt MGP
- Blend Size: 1600 bottles
- Finish: Straight blend
- Release: Limited release, blended
- MSRP: $100 (Silverthorn Reserve)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: The nose opens with fresh baked bread, Nerds Rope candy, toffee, and dusty Kentucky rickhouse character. Beneath the sweetness are layers of dried wood, mature oak, and a subtle malt-driven earthiness that continually evolves in the glass.
- Palate: A rich, coating mouthfeel immediately stands out. Notes of Dr Pepper, caramel, toffee, baking spice, and malted grain build across the palate while an underlying depth from the older Georgia bourbon lends maturity beyond its age statement.
- Finish: The finish carries lingering toffee, dark maraschino cherry, and antique Kentucky bourbon notes. White pepper steadily builds while hints of nuttiness and restrained smoke from the high malt component create additional complexity.
Disclosure: I provided limited pre-release sensory feedback on early iterations of the High Malt Bourbon Blend and Rye Blend during development. My role was advisory only, and the final blending decisions remained entirely with Drew. As always, this review reflects my independent assessment of the final released whiskey.
Silverthorn’s High Malt Bourbon Blend may be one of the most polarizing releases in the lineup—and arguably the most fascinating.
Built from mature stocks of Barton, MGP, and a small but influential component of 14-year-old Georgia bourbon, this whiskey manages to bridge several worlds at once. It carries the soul of an older Kentucky bourbon while introducing characteristics often associated with wheated bourbon and American single malt.
At 115 proof, the result is a bourbon that feels significantly older than its stated age while remaining vibrant, textured, and endlessly engaging.
Presentation
Silverthorn’s presentation leans into a minimalist, commandingly restrained aesthetic that immediately signals intent. The flattened cylinder bottle shape feels deliberate rather than decorative, with typography and labeling that place key information front and center without distraction. There’s a quiet confidence in how everything is laid out. Nothing is trying to compete for attention, yet everything feels considered.
The design language mirrors the whiskey itself: process-driven, not performance-driven. It avoids the temptation toward excess or ornamentation, instead emphasizing clarity and structure. Even at a glance, you understand this is a brand that prioritizes what’s inside the bottle over visual theatrics.
What stands out most is how the presentation reinforces the personality behind the whiskey. It’s minimal, thoughtful, and slightly reserved, but undeniably premium. Much like the craft behind the blends, it doesn’t need to announce itself loudly to be noticed. It simply earns attention through restraint and precision.
Distinctiveness
This is arguably one of the most distinctive bourbons I’ve tasted this year.
While only 22% of the blend comes from MGP’s high malt bourbon recipe, that component leaves an outsized impression. The whiskey often drinks like a cross between an old Kentucky bourbon, a wheated bourbon, and an American single malt. The result is something genuinely difficult to compare directly to anything else currently on the market.
“…arguably one of the most distinctive bourbons I’ve tasted this year.”
Transparency
Silverthorn continues to set a standard few independent bottlers match.
Every component of the blend is disclosed, including distillery source, age, mashbill percentages, and blending proportions. Consumers are given virtually everything needed to understand what is in the bottle and how it was constructed.
Value
At $100 MSRP, this bottle lands directly on the traditional “$10 per year” benchmark while offering considerably more than the math alone suggests.
The maturity of the whiskey, the complexity of the blend construction, and the successful integration of multiple styles of bourbon make this feel like a premium release that justifies its price tag.
Buy if:
- You enjoy older Kentucky bourbon profiles
- You appreciate high malt or American single malt influence
- Mouthfeel is one of your most important buying factors
- You seek unique blends rather than traditional shelf staples
Skip if:
- You only enjoy classic sweet-forward bourbon
- You dislike noticeable malted barley influence
- You prefer softer, lower-proof pours
- You’re looking for a strictly traditional Kentucky profile
Verdict
Silverthorn’s High Malt Bourbon Blend won’t be for everyone… and that’s precisely why I admire it.
Rather than chasing the broadest possible audience, it explores territory that few bourbons dare touch. The combination of mature Kentucky bourbon, older Georgia stock, and high malt influence creates a whiskey that feels both familiar and completely its own.
For drinkers willing to venture beyond traditional bourbon flavor profiles, this may be one of the most compelling blends released this year.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 6.1 / 7
- Palate: 6.1 / 7
- Finish: 6.2 / 7
- Presentation: 5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 6.75 / 7
- Transparency: 6.75 / 7
- Value: 6 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 6.13 / 7 – Holy Heaven
Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn.
| Score | Descriptor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Hell No | Drain pour. Seriously undrinkable. |
| 1.1–2 | Purgatory | Bad, but could be worse. Only in extreme cases. |
| 2.1–3 | Only Earthly | Just okay. Best used as a mixer. |
| 3.1–4 | Bliss | Passable to Good sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. Often high value for the price. |
| 5.1–6 | Divine | Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style. |
| 6.1–7 | Holy Heaven | Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn. |
Disclosure: This bottle was provided to me free of charge for review. All opinions are my own.
About Silverthorn Reserve
Silverthorn Reserve is the passion project of Drew Thorn — a builder at heart with over 30 years in fermentation and spirits.
His path runs through Flying Dog Brewery and the founding of Sagamore Spirit, where he helped establish modern Maryland rye. Silverthorn, though, is more personal — smaller scale, highly controlled, and rooted in precision blending and finishing.
That precision shows up in everything from barrel selection to blending technique. Even un-finished releases benefit from his approach of re-entering blends into used barrels to marry and further age, rather than bottling immediately.
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