Sips & Sites & Bites

Conservation in the Lone Star State is paramount for the makers of Milam & Greene Whiskey,  as the team recently announced their first release from the 2024 Wildlife Collection, the Golden Eagle Single Barrel Bourbon.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each bottle of the Milam & Greene Wildlife Collection will go to benefit Texas Parks & Wildlife. 

This limited-edition, cask-strength sipper joins the Wildlife Collection in highlighting how drastic weather in the Texas Hill Country influences flavor inside a whiskey cask. Milam & Greene officials noted that the series both brings awareness to the increasingly intense Texas climate and donates proceeds to Texas Parks and Wildlife causes. 

The Golden Eagle Single Barrel launches this year’s collector theme, “the beautiful and intriguing birds of Texas.” It’s now available exclusively online on the Milam & Greene Whiskey website and in the distillery tasting room, and could sell out quickly.

Milam & Greene Golden Eagle Single Barrel Bourbon comes from cask no. 515, with only 169 bottles of the 128.2-proof cask-strength released. This single-barrel bourbon is named for the iconic bird after its golden color and full-body nature. 

The actual Golden Eagle, strong and fast with the ability to air dive at speeds of up to 200 mph when chasing prey, is mainly found in West Texas. It’s the largest type of eagle in North America and is typically spotted in the more mountainous parts of Texas.                       

“I came to Texas to better understand the effects of climate on aging whiskey, and this series is yet another successful expression of that particular passion,” said Heather Greene, CEO and 2023 Master Blender of the Year. “Our Golden Eagle Single Barrel Bourbon underwent a unique aging process to give it its own glorious perfume. We are discovering a heightened interaction between the whiskey and the barrel fostered by the environment, thereby enriching its flavor profile and elevating its proof.” 

She explained that Milam & Greene Wildlife Collection Golden Eagle 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 six years and seven months. It was brought to Texas where it was further aged for one year, four months, and seven days in extreme drought and a once-in-a-generation ice storm on the Northside of the Milam and Greene Rickhouse #2. 

It was bottled on February 12, 2024, at 128.2 proof and 64.1% alcohol by volume. Golden Eagle Single Barrel Bourbon is a total age of seven years, eleven months, and seven days.

The distiller’s notes show that Golden Eagle Single Barrel Bourbon appears golden in color and on the nose features aromas of brown sugar, vanilla, cherry cordial, marzipan, tobacco, leather, and black tea. On the palate, the whiskey has flavors of cherry, crème brûlée, tannic oak, and almond. It finishes long and dry, with lingering notes of mint, chocolate, and black tea. 
 
For more information, check out www.milamandgreenewhiskey.com.