Our friends at Maverick Distilling in San Antonio are vying for the award for most unique way to age their bourbon. After distilling Texas-grown grains on a copper hybrid pot still, then what?
No need to ship it out to a warehouse somewhere. Their bourbon is aged right at the distillery (it’s a restored historic bank) in the tight confines of the underground vaults below the building. And for good historic measure (although I’m sure you can’t quantify the contribution to the taste) the entire operation is just a few steps from the Alamo.
The most recent release to come up from the underground vaults is Samuel Maverick Private Reserve Bottled in Bond Bourbon. The distillery is named for Samual Maverick, a Texan “who rode from the Alamo to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836.”
I recently had a chance to participate in an online tasting session with Maverick Co-Founders and Owners Dr. Kenneth (a descendant to Samual) and Dr. Amy Maverick. They tell wonderful stories about the history of the Maverick family. It’s also great to hear about the labor of love their family has gone through starting a craft distillery with such a historical focus.
If you’re a fan of big, bold bourbon flavors, you need to check this out. There’s no question this is Texas rye-heavy bourbon whiskey that will grab your attention and is worth a taste.
Samuel Maverick Private Reserve Bottled in Bond Bourbon
SRP: $80 per 750 ml bottle
ABV: 50%
Age: More than four years
Tasting notes (from the distillery): “A full-bodied bourbon with a velvety texture carrying front-forward warm vanilla and subdued caramel flavors from Texas sweet corn and Edwards Aquifer water. Maverick Malthouse Rye brings out balanced bitter-sweet chocolate flavors that melt into subtle clove and nutmeg flavors derived from North Texas malted barley.”
Availability: At Maverick Distilling in San Antonio, Texas, and on the distillery website
“Our Private Reserve Bottled in Bond Bourbon is a genuine expression of location. Every element of our product hails from the Lone Star State, allowing us to deliver a genuine taste of Texas in every bottle. We’re proud of our heritage and love to let that shine through in excellent spirits. The making of Samuel Maverick Private Reserve Bourbon Bottled in Bond began with the selection of the very best barrels from our award-winning Samuel Maverick Private Reserve Bourbon stash. We allowed these special barrels to age for more than four years before hand-bottling onsite at 100-proof. We’re excited to share this with whiskey drinkers around the country.”
