Friday afternoon I picked up the latest Hokus Pokus store pick, and this one was a bourbon I haven’t had before – Old Soul. Cathead Distillery is Mississippi’s first legal distillery since prohibition, and was started by Mississippians with a passion for spirits. Founded in 2010, the current distillery has been in operation since 2015. They produce vodka, gin, a chicory liquor, canned cocktails, and bourbon. They are distilling their own bourbon, and currently blending it with MGP sourced bourbon for their main line product. They also have a thirteen year old limited edition MGP bottling, which I haven’t seen but is available on their website. They have a single barrel distiller pick on the website which will be similar to the Hokus pick.

Old Soul Single Barrel is MGP distilled, with final aging and bottling in Jackson, Mississippi. Barrel entry proof is 120 and the final bottling is non-chill filtered and proofed down to 109 proof. All Old Soul Bourbons use a mashbill that is 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley. Given that it is labelled as straight without an age statement, this bourbon is at least four years old, consistent with the MGP bourbons reportedly used by Cathead in their regular bottling.

Color is a very nice deep amber. On the swirl is a medium film and nice legs. Nose has candied rye, dark fruits, butter, vanilla frosting, and English toffee. On the palate is heavy candied rye, dark fruits, caramel, vanilla, rye and baking spices, and hints of oak. The finish is very long and lingering with the candied fruit and spice notes with a very slight grassy note to remind you that this is high rye bourbon. This whiskey has a luscious mouthfeel despite being proofed down.

This is a high rye bourbon lover’s dream. With bourbon drinkers falling all over Blanton’s presently and are mostly unable to buy it, and this bourbon being on offer at $44.99 at Hokus and $59.99 at the Cathead’s online shop, this high rye high proof bourbon is a must have on a connoisseur’s bar.