Nulu Single Barrel Select Double Oaked Straight Bourbon

Nulu Straight Bourbon Whiskey is produced by Prohibition Craft Spirits, in Louisville, Kentucky, and was founded by Keith Hazelbaker in 2016 with the desire to “get back to the basics” with a very meticulous hands-on approach in everything they do. Their lineup of spirits includes tequila, rum, vodka, gin and — the subject of our review — bourbon. The current bourbon on offer is sourced from MGP while they wait for their own distillate to age.

Carefully selected for its distinctive flavor profile, this drink is distilled for a smooth and bold taste. Enjoy it neat, on the rocks, as a shot, or in a cocktail.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Fresh nuts, oak, underlying spice, dried raisins, tingle of ethanol, bold & inviting.

Palate: Baking spice, cinnamon sticks, oak, burnt caramel, syrup, soaked raisins, delicious layers of flavors.

Finish: Leather, dried cherry, oak, light rye spice, rye toast, earthy & lingering.

Ethanol hits the nose first. Raisins and cherries rise from underneath. After settling in the glass for a spell, the musky dark chocolate and richness of dried fruits are more prominent.

The palate is a cinnamon bomb that fizzles about the tongue, followed by dry, leathery notes, before finishing with more of those chewy raisin notes. The initial heat settles down, but then emerges again for the longer haul with a lingering warmth in the back of throat, just shy of an uncomfortable burn. Sweetness is always present throughout, though it comes not from a sugary base but rather from the rich complexity of the dried, honeyed, or brandy-poached fruits.

Cinnamon is the spice hero here; with a smidge of thyme and sage for the tiniest vegetal accent that eventually gives way to woodiness of a peanut shell.

On the back end, the finish also presents a pleasant bitterness of citrus peel that coats the palate.

This is a bourbon with a great personality. It’s light in body but robust and complex in flavor. Perhaps not for the newer or occasional bourbon drinker, but for those looking for something a little different, it is well worth exploring.

Aged for 5 Years: 12-4-2017 / 8-22-2022.

Finish: 8 Months

Barrel Pick: 04-18-2023

Batch: B751

58.2% ABV / 116.4 Proof

750 ML

Limit per customer: 2 Bots.