Georgia Distillate. Kentucky Influence. Maryland Restraint.
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.
A Personal Note
I spent about three hours with Drew over lunch at a local brewery, just talking whiskey, backgrounds, and community.
There’s no rush in how he approaches this brand. No urgency to scale for the sake of it. Just a clear intention to do things the right way, even if that means slower releases and tighter control.
That mindset carries straight into this bottle.
Stats
- Age: 13 year
- Proof: 104 (52% ABV)
- Mashbill: 80% Corn │10% Rye │ 5% Wheat │5% Malted Barley
- Origin: Now-defunct Georgia Distillery, split aging between GA & KY
- Finish: Straight, non-chill filtered
- Release: Limited release (3 of 4 barrels are sold out)
- Barrel: 12A18
- MSRP: $140 (Silverthorn Reserve)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: A deep wave of blackberry jam leads immediately — rich enough to pick up even off-glass. Behind it, ripened banana peel, heavy leather, and aged tobacco leaf build structure. There’s a grounding layer of dark chocolate that keeps it from leaning too sweet.
- Palate: Coating molasses and caramelized fruit sugars arrive first, followed by a surprising thread of sweet corn. The mid-palate is where it wakes up. Peppery tobacco and old charred oak take over, giving it a defined pulse of intensity without excess heat.
- Finish: A brief peppery linger fades into chocolate-covered blackberry, spiced cookie, and a faint chili warmth. Long, steady, and layered.
This drinks like an older Kentucky profile in structure: think oak, tobacco, and weight but with a slightly different fruit expression driving it.
Notably, the proof shows itself mid-palate, not upfront. It builds, peaks, then slowly unwinds into dark fruit and sweetness across the tongue.
On a second pass, it evolves: more dark fruit on the nose, a softer finish, and that sweet corn note becomes more apparent.
This is a pour you sit with — not one that demands attention, but one that earns it over time.
Distinctiveness
What separates this isn’t flash, it’s structure and evolution.
- Dark fruit profiles that feel integrated, not layered on
- A mid-palate proof presence that’s uncommon at 104
- A tannic oak depth that rivals that of the oldest Kentucky bourbons without ever being too much
It doesn’t try to reinvent bourbon — it refines it.
Presentation
A minimalist, commanding design.
The flattened cylinder shape feels intentional, with key details front and center. It aligns with the brand’s identity — process-driven, not decorative.
Transparency
Silverthorn Reserve is open about nearly every detail from mashbill to process and finishing methodology.
The only omission is the exact source of the Georgia distillate. That isn’t evasive — it’s contractual. In some cases, producers simply aren’t permitted to disclose origin, even when they’d prefer to.
I’ve encountered this same distillate through another NDP under similar restrictions, and it’s worth saying plainly: there’s nothing being hidden here.
This is thoughtfully sourced, well-executed whiskey, not anonymous bulk dressed up as something it’s not.
Value
At $140, this sits in competitive territory for aged bourbon — but it justifies itself.
- 13-year age statement
- Unique Georgia distillate + Kentucky aging influence
- Distillate from a defunct distillery – these barrels will never be seen again.
- Strong 6.25+ scoring across the board
This lands as fair-to-strong value, especially for drinkers who prioritize depth, maturity, and rarity of a barrel over high proof.
Buy this if you:
- You enjoy oak-forward, tobacco-rich bourbons
- You value age and balance over high proof
- You want something that evolves in the glass
Skip if you:
- You’re chasing high heat or intensity upfront
- You prefer bright, fruit-forward bourbon profiles
- You want something immediately expressive vs. slow-building
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 6.5 / 7
- Palate: 6.25 / 7
- Finish: 6.25 / 7
- Presentation: 5.5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 6.75 / 7
- Transparency: 6.5 / 7
- Value: 5 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 6.11 / 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 sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. 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.
Looking for more whiskey reviews? Browse my latest reviews here.
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