The support we’ve received from our friends and family since we started our whiskey journey has been amazing. I often received a bottle of something for my birthday or around the holidays, which I always enjoy. However, since we started this site, our friends and family often reach out with suggestions, books, tips on new distilleries to check out, and even the occasional bottle of whiskey for us to sample. It is how I got my hands on a bottle of Huling Station Very Small Batch whiskey.
One of our friends was camping with us a few weekends ago and she gifted us this bottle of Huling Station Very Small Batch. She has recently returned from a trip to Memphis, which included a visit to a local distillery. She enjoyed the whiskey enough to purchase a bottle to bring back to us.
We were really excited to try Huling Station Very Small Batch. Because it was based in Memphis, I had never heard of it before, let alone seen it in the liquor store. After doing some searching, I found that Huling Station is not distributed in Colorado. For now, at least. However, with a bottle in hand, we were eager to give it a try.
Old Dominick Distillery
Old Dominick Distillery began in 2013. Founders Alex and Chris Canale decided to start their own whiskey business after they stumbled upon a bottle of whiskey from the late 1800s. The whiskey had supposedly been created, or at least sold, by their great-great-grandfather and they decided to revive the brand. They set out to build a distillery in downtown Memphis.
The Old Dominick Distillery opened in 2017 and produces a variety of spirits. The Huling Station label is produced by MGP, using a custom mash bill. The Canale’s were able to convince Alex Castle to join their team as the Master Distiller after she previously worked as a Distillery Supervisor for Wild Turkey.
Huling Station Very Small Batch
The Huling Station Very Small Batch whiskey is a 4-year-aged whiskey, distilled by MGP. The folks at Old Dominick’s used a custom mash bill which is 52% corn, 44% rye, and 4% malted barley. Although you find the “Distilled in Lawrenceburg, IN for Old Dominick” on the bottle, this isn’t a standard MGP offering.
Huling Station Very Small Batch is bottled at 100 proof. On the nose, it claims you’ll find the aroma of stone fruit, cherries, and vanilla. On the palate, you’ll find caramel, cinnamon, tobacco, and chocolate.
Tasting Notes
On the nose, I picked up a tart sweetness, similar to a slightly overripe cherry. I noticed a woody flavor on my first sip, which was followed by cinnamon and tobacco. The intensity was moderate and it lingered for several seconds following my sip. The more I sipped, the more I noticed the caramel with the cinnamon.
Alie also noticed the tart sweetness on the nose. She picked up hints of charcoal and wood on her first sip impression. It was another whiskey that tasted like a cedar closet. She noted it had a little bite and left a dry feeling in her mouth.
Our Ratings
Drinkability: 3.9
Intensity: 3.4
Personal Preference: 3.7
Beginner Friendly: 3.2
Availability: 3
Overall: 3.8
Final Thoughts
Overall, we were impressed with Huling Station Very Small Batch. It was a sleeper whiskey that we didn’t realize was pretty darn good. We particularly enjoyed it neat. It has a nice kick and finish at 100 proof.
We also liked it as a base for our Lemon Whiskey Mojito. Overall, we thought it would be excellent with most of the cocktails we’ve made in the past several months.
Huling Station Very Small Batch is a versatile whiskey that is good neat and great in cocktails. Although I can’t buy it in a liquor store in Colorado, yet, I can find it through several online resellers for delivery to my house. If you happen to see it in a store near you, it is worth picking up to add to your collection.
Happy Exploring!
