Old Soul 7 Year Tintype #1 Bourbon 750ML

Old Soul 7 Year Tintype #1 Bourbon 750ML is a cask strength, uncut and unfiltered bourbon aged seven years, bottled at 60.9% ABV (121.8 proof) in a 750ml bottle. This limited release earned the prestigious 2025 ASCOT Awards Bourbon of the Year — the top honor in Fred Minnick's rigorously blind-judged competition — with judges calling it "exceptional, especially at such a high proof."

Quick Facts: ABV: 60.9% (121.8 Proof)  |  Origin: Mississippi, USA (aged); Indiana (distilled)  |  Age: 7 Years  |  Distillery: Cathead Distillery

Production & Heritage

Cathead Distillery, founded in 2010 in Jackson, Mississippi, produces the Old Soul whiskey line. Tintype #1 was distilled at MGP in Indiana using a high-rye mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, then transported to Mississippi for its full seven-year maturation. The subtropical heat and humidity of Jackson drive aggressive barrel interaction, accelerating extraction of oak sugars, tannins, and color in ways that cooler northern warehouses cannot replicate — a deliberate choice that gives the spirit a maturity profile often associated with considerably older bourbons. Only 48 barrels were produced for this release, and each was bottled at cask strength with no chill filtration or water added. Proof varies slightly across individual barrels, with documented bottlings ranging from 119.2 to 122.3 proof.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with butterscotch and vanilla before shifting into black cherry and candied stone fruit. Behind the sweetness, candied rye and Caribbean vanilla build complexity, giving the bourbon a layered, inviting fragrance despite its high proof.

Taste: The entry is thick and syrupy, immediately coating the palate with brown sugar and toffee. At mid-palate, assertive baking spices — clove, allspice, black pepper — emerge alongside dark chocolate and leather. Rye spice weaves through vanilla and a subtle hint of mint, creating a push-pull between sweetness and heat that keeps unfolding.

Finish: Long and viscous, the finish rides on spicy rye and lingering caramel warmth. Oak tannins and dark chocolate resurface late, underscoring the cask-strength intensity without turning bitter or astringent.

How to Drink Tintype #1

At nearly 122 proof, this bourbon rewards a measured approach. Pour it neat in a Glencairn or wide-rimmed rocks glass and let it rest five minutes; a few drops of water open up the stone fruit and toffee layers without diminishing the barrel-proof punch. On the rocks, the dilution tames the heat and brings forward the sweeter butterscotch and vanilla notes.

• Old Fashioned — The syrupy body and brown sugar core stand up to bitters and citrus oils without disappearing.
• Boulevardier — Dark chocolate and rye spice complement sweet vermouth and Campari, creating a bold, full-bodied variation.
• Manhattan — The high-rye mashbill delivers the spice backbone a Manhattan demands, while the cask-strength proof holds its own against vermouth.

Best For

• Gifting a barrel-proof bourbon enthusiast looking for a new discovery
• Building a limited-release American whiskey collection
• Hosting a blind tasting alongside other high-proof, high-rye bourbons
• Marking a milestone occasion with a rare, award-winning pour

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Tintype #1 taste like? Tintype #1 leads with thick brown sugar and toffee sweetness, transitions into assertive baking spices and dark chocolate at mid-palate, and finishes long with spicy rye and caramel warmth. The cask-strength proof amplifies every note without masking the bourbon's underlying complexity.

How does Tintype #1 compare to Blanton's Straight from the Barrel? Reviewers have directly compared the two, noting that Tintype #1 hits many of the same high-proof, high-rye notes as Blanton's Straight from the Barrel. Both are uncut, unfiltered cask-strength bourbons, but Tintype #1 distinguishes itself through its Mississippi aging climate and its considerably more limited 48-barrel production run.

Is Tintype #1 good for sipping neat? Yes — despite its proof exceeding 120, the unfiltered character delivers a thick, syrupy mouthfeel that carries flavor rather than just heat. A few drops of water can further soften the entry and reveal additional fruit and vanilla nuances.

Where is Tintype #1 made? The bourbon is distilled at MGP's facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, then aged for seven years at Cathead Distillery in Jackson, Mississippi. Mississippi's subtropical climate plays a central role in shaping the final flavor profile.

What foods pair well with Tintype #1? Pecan pie complements the brown sugar and toffee sweetness. Smoked brisket echoes the bourbon's dark, savory undertones. Dark chocolate truffles mirror the mid-palate cocoa notes. Sharp aged cheddar provides a tangy counterpoint to the caramel richness. Charred stone fruit, such as grilled peaches, aligns with the bourbon's candied fruit aromas.

What sizes does Tintype #1 come in? Old Soul 7 Year Tintype #1 Bourbon is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Tintype #1 worth the price? Tintype #1 positions as a premium, limited-release cask-strength bourbon — only 48 barrels were produced — and its 2025 ASCOT Bourbon of the Year designation places it among the most critically acclaimed American whiskeys of the year. For barrel-proof bourbon collectors, it represents strong value relative to its scarcity and pedigree.

Why Tintype #1?

Winning Fred Minnick's ASCOT Bourbon of the Year through multiple rounds of blind judging is a distinction very few bottles earn, and Tintype #1 did it as a relative newcomer from a Mississippi distillery with only 48 barrels to its name. The decision to age MGP distillate in Mississippi's punishing subtropical heat rather than Indiana's more temperate warehouses produced a seven-year bourbon with the depth and oak extraction that many bourbons twice its age struggle to achieve. Uncut and unfiltered at over 120 proof, it delivers barrel-proof intensity without sacrificing balance — a combination that separates it from the growing field of sourced cask-strength releases. For bourbon drinkers seeking something genuinely limited and independently validated at the highest level, Tintype #1 stands on verifiable merit.