Calumet Farm 15 Year Old Single Rack Black is the pinnacle of the Calumet Farm bourbon family, the oldest and highest proof expression in the lineup, and a tribute to one of America's most storied names in thoroughbred racing. Calumet Farm, established on the rolling hills of Lexington, Kentucky in 1924, bred horses that went on to win eight Kentucky Derbies and two Triple Crowns, and this premium bourbon honors that legacy of breeding winners. This bottling is named for Whirlaway, the farm's 1941 Triple Crown champion, trained by Ben A. Jones and ridden by jockey Eddie Arcaro. What sets Single Rack Black apart is its distinctive aging method: rather than blending barrels from across a warehouse, each small batch is drawn entirely from a single, center cut rack, eliminating the dramatic temperature swings between a rickhouse's upper and lower floors and yielding remarkable batch to batch cohesion. Built on a high rye mashbill of 74 percent corn, 18 percent rye, and 8 percent malted barley and aged a full 15 years in Kentucky rickhouses, this 19 barrel batch is bottled without chill filtration at a robust 105 proof for added depth of character and color. It pours a deep amber with copper highlights and opens with a nose of caramel, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, baked apple, and oak. The palate is spicy and full bodied, with bold oak, aged spice, toasted grain, and toffee rolling into a subtle smoky sweetness, while the long finish mellows with sweet tobacco and lingering rye. A genuine connoisseur's bourbon, it rewards slow sipping neat or with a few drops of water.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
Calumet Farm |
| Distillery |
Western Spirits Beverage Co.; bottled by Three Springs Bottling Co., Bowling Green, Kentucky |
| Category |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Expression |
15 Year Old, Single Rack Black ("Whirlaway") |
| Age Statement |
15 Years |
| Mashbill |
74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley |
| Maturation |
Aged 15 years in Kentucky rickhouses, single center cut rack; non chill filtered |
| Bottling |
Single rack batch of 19 barrels |
| ABV |
52.5% |
| Proof |
105 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep amber with copper highlights.
Nose: Caramel, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, baked apple, and oak.
Palate: Bold oak, aged spice, toasted grain, and toffee, with a subtle smoky sweetness.
Finish: Long and mellowing, with sweet tobacco and lingering rye.
FAQ
What is Single Rack Black? Each small batch is drawn entirely from one single, center cut rack in the warehouse, rather than blended from different floors, for greater consistency.
What proof is it? 105 proof, or 52.5 percent ABV, and it is non chill filtered. It is the highest proof and oldest expression in the Calumet Farm lineup.
What is the mashbill? 74 percent corn, 18 percent rye, and 8 percent malted barley.
How old is it? Aged a full 15 years in Kentucky rickhouses.
Who is Whirlaway? Calumet Farm's 1941 Triple Crown winning racehorse, for whom this bottling is named.
Where can I buy Calumet Farm 15 Year online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
