Very Olde St. Nick Immaculata is widely regarded as the pinnacle of the entire Very Olde St. Nick line, the bottling reserved for only the finest and oldest barrels the brand can lay its hands on. The Very Olde St. Nick name has been a cult obsession for more than 30 years, born in the 1980s largely for the Japanese and European export markets, where its irregular, minuscule releases built a mythology all their own. Today the label lives on through founder Marci Palatella and Preservation Distillery and Farm in Bardstown, Kentucky, a family operation known for prestige expressions released in the smallest of batches. Immaculata is built on a base of meticulously aged bourbon, profiled with no more than a handful of treasured vintage casks, creating a marriage of harmony and richness in each tiny release. Some releases pull from extraordinarily mature stock and are married with the distillery's own pot distilled bourbon, an unusual architecture designed to reach a depth no single source bourbon could achieve alone. It is bottled at full cask strength, undiluted and non chill filtered, in individually numbered decanters, which makes every bottle a genuine collector's piece. Expect a deep amber pour and a rich, mature nose of warm caramel and vanilla mingling with toasted oak, dark berries and baking spice. The palate is full bodied and velvety, evolving from creamy caramel and brown sugar into black currant, cherry, cocoa nibs, butterscotch, leather and seasoned oak. The finish is long and polished, offering tobacco, clove, sandalwood and mature oak tannins balanced by a warm cherry wood echo. Sip it neat in a Glencairn, let it rest a few minutes, and add a drop of water to open its dried fruit and brown sugar.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
Very Olde St. Nick |
| Producer |
Preservation Distillery + Farm, Bardstown, Kentucky |
| Category |
Kentucky Bourbon (Ancient Cask, cask strength) |
| Age |
15 year base (no formal age statement) |
| Maturation |
Aged base bourbon profiled with a handful of vintage casks; non chill filtered |
| Bottling |
Cask strength; individually numbered decanters |
| ABV |
59.05% |
| Proof |
118.1 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep amber.
Nose: Warm caramel and vanilla with toasted oak, dark berries and rich baking spices.
Palate: Full bodied and velvety, creamy caramel and brown sugar into black currant, cherry, cocoa nibs, leather and seasoned oak.
Finish: Long and polished with tobacco, clove, sandalwood and mature oak tannins.
FAQ
What is Very Olde St. Nick Immaculata? It is the flagship Ancient Cask bourbon of the Very Olde St. Nick line, built on a highly mature base bourbon and profiled with a handful of vintage casks, bottled at cask strength.
What proof is it? It is bottled at cask strength around 118.1 proof, roughly 59 percent alcohol by volume, without chill filtration. Proof varies between releases.
Who makes it? The Very Olde St. Nick brand, founded by Marci Palatella, is bottled at Preservation Distillery and Farm in Bardstown, Kentucky.
Why is it collectible? Releases are minuscule, the bourbon is drawn from the oldest and finest barrels, and every bottle comes in an individually numbered decanter.
How should I drink it? Neat in a Glencairn, rested a few minutes, with an optional drop of water.
Where can I buy Very Olde St. Nick Immaculata Ancient Cask Kentucky Bourbon online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
