Martin Mills 1974 24 Year Old

An incredibly rare bottling from Heaven Hill distillery in Bardstown.

This whiskey was barreled in December 1974. It was finally bottled in February 1999.

Produced for the Japanese market, who preferred the flavour of older bourbon at the time, while the US mostly consumed younger whiskey.

One of 4,284 bottles.

EYE
Dark caramel with red highlights.

NOSE
Dense and rich with notes of cherry heavy dark fruit, caramel, candy-like sweetness, leather, wood, a complex rack of baking spices and a bit of vanilla. Everything about it is warm, complex and inviting.

PALATE
Dark fruit, leather, wood, dark honey, cinnamon, butterscotch heavy dark sweets, spice and a touch of candied citrus towards the end. Again, like the nose, the palate is warm, complex and inviting. If we weren’t tasting so many other amazing whiskeys that night I could have easily just sat and enjoyed this one all evening long.

FINISH
Long and winding road of butterscotch heavy dark sweets, dark fruit, wood and spice.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Perfectly balanced, rich full body and a heavy oily texture.

OVERALL
Martin Mills 24 Years is the bourbon I would drink everyday if I were the King of Earth. I would order every bottle in the land be brought to my castle and I would sink into its darkly sweet and fruity oaken arms to easy my kingly burdens. As birth would have it I’m not a king so I have happily settled for getting to enjoy a glass or three of it at the tasting and for this pauper that will do just fine. If you ever get the chance to grab yourself a sip don’t hesitate. It’s magnificent.

 -The Whiskey Jug Review