Blanco, Texas-based Milam & Greene Whiskey is introducing the third release of the 2024 Wildlife Collection: Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon, a limited-edition, cask-strength whiskey. The Milam & Greene Wildlife Collection explores the correlation between the environment in the Texas Hill Country and how it impacts the flavor of aging bourbon. Each bottle of this collection highlights native Texas wildlife to bring awareness to Texas Parks and Wildlife causes, and this year’s collector theme focuses on the birds of Texas. The new Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon was chosen for its deep red mahogany hues. It will be available exclusively on the Milam & Greene Whiskey website and in the distillery tasting room beginning at 3 p.m. (CDT) on June 26.
“Milam & Greene Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon is named for the beautiful and captivating red bird which can be spotted year-round in the eastern two-thirds of Texas,” said Milam & Greene Whiskey distillery manager, Rikk Munroe. “Cardinals pass through the Milam & Greene distillery property in Blanco, Texas at various times throughout the year as they migrate north and south. It’s nice to see their pops of red in the trees as they hunt for bugs and other forage on their way to their summer and winter homes.”
“Our rickhouses are not temperature controlled, allowing for the Texas climate to make a distinct mark on each Wildlife Collection release,” says Heather Greene, Milam & Greene Whiskey CEO and 2023 Master Blender of the Year. “The intense prolonged dry heat last summer and a couple of extreme cold snaps this winter exposed our Cardinal whiskey to climate extremes that have had a tremendous impact on how it aged, and the amount of liquid lost to the angel share from the barrel. Because each of our Wildlife Collection single barrel releases varies in flavor and textures, they have become sought after to compare each bottle. Mark your calendars for this small batch release as the Wildlife Single Barrel Bourbon Collection regularly sells out online in minutes.”
The Wildlife Collection: Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon
Milam & Greene Wildlife Collection Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon is pulled from cask #506, yielding 130 bottles of this limited, 129.8 proof (64.9% ABV) cask-strength release. Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon was distilled in Tennessee with a mash bill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley. It was barreled in Tennessee on March 8, 2016, where it was aged for six years and seven months. It was then brought to Texas and aged a further year, six months, and twenty days on the palletized south side of Milam & Greene Rickhouse 1. Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon was bottled on April 26, 2024, at 129.8 proof / 64.9% ABV after aging for a total of eight years, one month, and 20 days.
Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon, which appears as a beautiful mahogany color, has enticing aromas of honey, Nila wafers, cherry cordial, and marshmallow fluff. It greets the palate with a creamy sweet mouthfeel with notes of pecan sandie cookies, creamed cornbread, and baking spices. This whiskey has a long finish with hints of black pepper and eucalyptus.
Pricing and Availability
Milam & Greene Cardinal Single Barrel Bourbon is available for $149.99 only on the Milam & Greene website and in the distillery tasting room beginning at 3:00 p.m. (CDT) on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. This very limited release of only 130 cask-strength bottles is sure to sell out quickly. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each bottle of the Milam & Greene Wildlife Collection will benefit the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation.