Sparta, Kentucky-based Hidden Barn Bourbon is releasing its 2024 Madeira finished bourbon, aged for six years and then finished for seven months in Madeira casks. Master distiller Royce Neeley and master blender Jackie Zykan named this year’s release Perfect Harmony, due to the balance between the bourbon and the residual Madeira left in the oak barrel.
Perfect Harmony is created using six-year-old bourbon distilled by Neeley using its mash bill of 70% corn, 20% rye and 10% malted barley, transferred to age in first-use Madeira barrels for an additional seven months, and then open-air vatted for several days allowing oxidation to occur and the entire batch to open up, contributing to the balance. Then Zykan went to work, blending eight barrels to create Perfect Harmony.
“It’s rare for a blender to create a blend and know instantly when we’ve hit the mark on what we’re trying to achieve. Very often we think about making tweaks here or there to see what will happen,” said Zykan. “But this year’s Madeira blend is spot on, with the perfect balance of what I was trying to achieve – the right combination between the oak and Madeira make it come full circle.”
Zykan’s tasting notes for Perfect Harmony describe it as having toffee, overripe red fruits, apple pie and oxidized rose on the nose. The palate is gorgeously dense and creamy, with full-bodied vanilla and a hint of raisin. The finish balances out the sweet viscosity with a slightly dry mint tone and notes of nutmeg and cardamom.
Suggested retail pricing for the Hidden Barn Perfect Harmony Madeira Finished Bourbon is $89.99. This is the third in the Maderia finish series. It is available for sale at the Neeley Family Distillery, online, and at retail in Kentucky, Indiana, New York, California, Georgia, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico.