Old Soul 9 Year Tintype #2 Bourbon 750ML

Old Soul 9 Year Tintype #2 Bourbon 750ML is a cask-strength, non-chill-filtered bourbon aged at least nine years and bottled at barrel proof (approximately 110.1 proof / 55.05% ABV, though proof varies by batch). Born from a collaboration between Cathead Distillery and the Music Makers Foundation, this release distinguishes itself through extended maturation in the punishing Mississippi heat — a climate that accelerates barrel interaction far beyond what traditional Kentucky warehouses typically deliver.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~55.05% (barrel proof, varies by batch)  |  Origin: Distilled in Indiana (MGP), Aged in Jackson, Mississippi  |  9 Year Age Statement  |  Distillery: Cathead Distillery / MGP

Production & Heritage

Cathead Distillery, founded in 2010 in Jackson, Mississippi, partnered with the Music Makers Foundation — a nonprofit preserving the musical heritage of the American South — to create the Tintype Series. Tintype #2 is distilled at MGP's renowned facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, using a high-rye mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. The whiskey is then transported to Mississippi for aging, where extreme Southern heat and humidity push deeper interaction between spirit and oak. Each barrel is individually evaluated by nose and palate before blending, and the final product is bottled at cask strength without chill filtration. While the label on some batches reads "8 years and 10 months," every drop in the bottle is confirmed to be at least nine years old.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a sweet, almost nostalgic warmth — fresh Fig Newtons, vanilla custard, and brown sugar leading the way. Beneath that initial sweetness, darker notes emerge: pear, black cherry, dark chocolate, and a hint of sweet corn bread.

Taste: Entry is surprisingly soft for its proof, with dried fig and caramelized brown sugar coating the palate. Mid-palate reveals creamy vanilla alongside rose petal and dried cherry, then pivots into toffee and layered baking spices. Rye spice and herbaceous complexity build steadily, with warm nutmeg rounding out the progression.

Finish: Long, spice-driven, and assertive. Black pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg linger well after the sip, with a persistent warmth that reflects the barrel-proof bottling.

How to Drink Tintype #2

At cask strength, this bourbon rewards neat sipping with a few drops of water to open up the dried-fruit and spice layers; the non-chill-filtered body responds beautifully to gradual dilution. For cocktails, the high proof and rich flavor profile carry through mixed drinks without getting lost.

• Old Fashioned: The fig and brown sugar notes harmonize with demerara syrup and aromatic bitters, creating a deeply layered classic.
• Manhattan: The rye-forward spice and dried cherry character pair naturally with sweet vermouth, producing a robust, spirit-forward drink.
• Boulevardier: The bourbon's dark chocolate and baking spice cut through Campari's bitterness while maintaining balance with sweet vermouth.

Best For

• Bourbon collectors seeking limited cask-strength releases with a unique regional aging story
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who values small-batch, barrel-proof expressions
• Side-by-side tastings comparing Southern-aged versus Kentucky-aged high-rye bourbons
• Supporting the Music Makers Foundation's mission to preserve Southern musical heritage

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Tintype #2 taste like? Tintype #2 delivers a rich, dessert-like profile of dried fig, caramelized brown sugar, and vanilla that transitions into assertive baking spice — black pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg — on a long, warming finish. The high-rye mashbill adds herbaceous complexity and a spicy backbone that keeps the sweetness in check.

How does Tintype #2 compare to Blanton's Straight From the Barrel? Both are cask-strength, non-chill-filtered bourbons marketed to serious enthusiasts, and reviewers of the Tintype Series have noted similar flavor territory. Tintype #2 leans more toward dried fruit and Southern-aged richness, while Blanton's SFTB, produced entirely in Kentucky, tends toward a brighter citrus and caramel character at comparable proof.

Is Tintype #2 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — barrel-proof bottling and the absence of chill filtration preserve full flavor intensity and a rich, oily texture that rewards careful neat exploration. A few drops of water help tame the heat and reveal additional complexity, especially the more delicate floral and fruit notes.

Where is Tintype #2 made? Tintype #2 is distilled at MGP's facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, then aged at Cathead Distillery in Jackson, Mississippi. The extended maturation in Mississippi's hot, humid climate is a deliberate choice that accelerates barrel interaction and shapes the bourbon's concentrated, dark-fruit character.

What foods pair well with Tintype #2? Pecan pie complements the brown sugar and nutmeg notes directly. Smoked pork belly echoes the bourbon's caramelized sweetness while balancing its spice. Dark chocolate truffles bring out the cocoa undertones. Aged Gouda mirrors the toffee richness. Fig-and-prosciutto flatbread highlights the dried-fruit aromatics.

What sizes does Tintype #2 come in? Old Soul 9 Year Tintype #2 Bourbon is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Tintype #2 worth the price? Tintype #2 positions as a premium, limited-release barrel-proof bourbon with a nine-year age statement, non-chill-filtered bottling, and a unique Mississippi aging story — qualities that place it competitively among cask-strength bourbons in its tier. The charitable partnership with the Music Makers Foundation adds a meaningful dimension beyond what most similarly priced expressions provide.

Why Tintype #2?

What separates this bourbon from the crowded barrel-proof field is the deliberate decision to age MGP-distilled whiskey in Mississippi rather than the traditional Kentucky rickhouse. That choice isn't marketing theater — the hotter, more humid climate measurably alters the aging curve, producing a darker, more fig-and-toffee-forward spirit than the same mashbill would yield further north. The 75/21/4 corn-rye-barley recipe provides enough rye spice to keep the nine years of oak influence balanced rather than heavy-handed. Each batch varies in proof, making individual releases collectible in their own right, while the collaboration with the Music Makers Foundation ties the bourbon to a genuine cultural preservation effort rooted in the same Southern landscape where the whiskey matures.