Pinhook Bourbon’s 3rd Artist Series Release Finds ‘Beauty and Art in the Science of Blending’ With This Distinctive Production Technique

Pinhook Bourbon released the third edition of its Artist Series, which features the work of Alexa Pulitzer (Photo: Pinhook Bourbon)

Pinhook Bourbon announced on Friday the release of the third edition in its Artist Series, a double-blended bourbon featuring the works of Alexa Pulitzer, an artist from New Orleans, on the label. The series is meant to celebrate the art of bourbon blending, and the release will be available for $82 on Breeze and at select retailers nationwide.

“The limited Artist Series has always been a fun way for me to collaborate and work in a creative space with tastemakers from different industries,” Pinhook Master Blender Sean Josephs said in a news release. “Each release is unique and tells a different story, from how it’s blended and proofed to the design of each bottle. To celebrate this year’s release and how it came to be, we’ve collaborated with Alexa Pulitzer to help tell the story.”

This year’s expression was made featuring a technique often used in the Cognac-making process, where brandy is removed from barrels, blended and returned for additional aging time.

Pinhook re-barreled one micro-blend at cask strength and a second at 110 proof as part of an experiment to test the relationship between the whiskey and wood at different proofs.

Pulitzer’s illustration on the label captures Josephs hard at work during the blending process.

“Sean is always thinking outside of the box and finding new ways to create a unique whiskey, which is exactly what I wanted to capture — a blender who finds the beauty of art in the science of blending,” Pulitzer said in the news release. “As an artist, I enjoy pushing creative boundaries and working with those that foster individuality and originality in others. I was thrilled to work with Sean, a man who is also dedicated to quality and artistry, on this exclusive release.”

The whiskey was distilled at Castle & Key under Josephs’ stewardship and bottled by Kentucky Artisan Distillery.

The Artists Series No. 3 in Greater Depth, Via Pinhook Bourbon

The Artist Series No. 3 is a Blend of two bourbons:

Batch One

This five-barrel micro-blend is bottled at cask strength.

Tasting Notes: A deep, complicated nose of allspice, walnut and dried papaya kissed with a sprinkle of light brown sugar. One the palate, dried fruits like apricot come to the forefront with crème brûlée, cinnamon and dark chocolate rounding out the finish.

Batch Two

This six-barrel micro-blend is bottled at 108.1 proof.

Tasting Notes: Aromatic, with notes of pear, honey, cardamom and almonds that lead to a bright palate of dried mango, salted caramel, elderflower and black pepper.

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