Joseph Magnus Murray Hill Club Bourbon 750ML

Joseph Magnus Murray Hill Club Bourbon 750ML is a blended bourbon whiskey bottled at 103 proof (51.5% ABV) in a 750ml bottle by Jos. A. Magnus & Co. Distillery of Washington, D.C. This expression earned a Double Gold Medal at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and 90 points from Whisky Advocate, underscoring the quality of its unusual multi-age blend.

Quick Facts: ABV: 51.5% (103 Proof)  |  Origin: Washington, D.C., USA  |  Blend of 18, 11, and 9-Year Whiskeys  |  Distillery: Jos. A. Magnus & Co.

Production & Heritage

Jos. A. Magnus & Co. traces its origins to the pre-Prohibition era, and Murray Hill Club is built on the same blending philosophy Joseph Magnus himself employed more than a century ago. The whiskey combines 18-year-old and 11-year-old straight bourbon with 9-year-old light whiskey, all aged in used barrels — a technique that softens aggressive oak influence while layering in complexity from multiple maturation profiles. The inclusion of light whiskey, a higher-proof distillate with a lighter grain character, sets Murray Hill Club apart from conventional straight bourbon releases and gives the blend a distinctive silky texture uncommon at 103 proof.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich baking spices and vanilla greet the nose first, followed by toasted oak, honey, and a warm butterscotch undertone. Beneath that initial sweetness, sugared pecans and a whisper of red fruit round out a layered, inviting bouquet.

Taste: The entry is immediately buttery — butterscotch, honey, and toffee roll across the palate with noticeable density. Mid-palate, autumnal baking spices emerge alongside vanilla, almonds, and a gingerbread warmth. Black pepper builds steadily toward the peak, adding structure and keeping the sweetness in check.

Finish: Long and sinewy, with chocolate, leathery oak, and tobacco leaf lingering well after the sip. The char and pepper notes persist, anchoring a finish that rewards patience and evolves as the glass opens up.

How to Drink Murray Hill Club

At 103 proof, Murray Hill Club is built for neat sipping with an optional splash of water to unlock its aromatic layers; the blend's inherent smoothness from used-barrel aging means it rarely needs dilution beyond personal preference. A large ice cube also works well, gradually opening the honey and toffee notes as the temperature drops.

• Old Fashioned: The butterscotch-forward profile and high proof stand up to sugar and bitters without losing character.
• Boulevardier: Toffee and baking spice complement sweet vermouth and Campari, creating a rich, layered cocktail.
• Gold Rush: Honey and lemon amplify the whiskey's existing honey and vanilla notes for a balanced, citrus-bright sipper.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who values aged, small-batch releases
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert or a cigar
• Building a home bar anchored by a distinctive American whiskey
• Exploring blended bourbon as a category beyond standard straight bourbon

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Murray Hill Club taste like? Murray Hill Club leads with butterscotch, honey, and toffee, layered with autumnal baking spices, vanilla, and black pepper. The finish is long and complex, introducing chocolate, tobacco leaf, and leathery oak.

How does Murray Hill Club compare to Wild Turkey Master's Keep Decades? Both are premium aged American whiskeys positioned in a similar price tier, but Murray Hill Club distinguishes itself by blending straight bourbon with light whiskey aged in used barrels, resulting in a silkier texture. Master's Keep Decades is a straight bourbon with a more oak-driven profile, whereas Murray Hill Club leans into layered sweetness and spice from its multi-component blend.

Is Murray Hill Club good for sipping neat? Yes — despite its 103 proof, the used-barrel aging and blending approach produce a whiskey with less tannic bite than many bourbons of comparable strength, making it highly approachable neat or with a few drops of water.

Where is Murray Hill Club made? Murray Hill Club is produced by Jos. A. Magnus & Co. Distillery, based in Washington, D.C. The distillery revived the pre-Prohibition Joseph Magnus brand and blends sourced aged whiskeys using techniques inspired by the original operation.

What foods pair well with Murray Hill Club? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and tobacco in the finish. Pecan pie mirrors the butterscotch and nutty sweetness. Smoked brisket matches the whiskey's char and pepper notes. Aged cheddar or Gruyère highlights the toffee and oak. Crème brûlée echoes the vanilla and caramelized sugar character.

What sizes does Murray Hill Club come in? The standard release is available in a 750ml bottle.

Is Murray Hill Club worth the price? Murray Hill Club positions as a premium blended bourbon, and the inclusion of 18-year-old bourbon in the blend places it among the more well-aged American whiskeys available at its tier. Double Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a 90-point rating from Whisky Advocate reinforce strong critical consensus for its quality relative to price.

Why Murray Hill Club?

The defining feature of Murray Hill Club is its blend architecture: combining 18-year-old and 11-year-old straight bourbon with 9-year-old light whiskey aged in used barrels is a production decision virtually no other widely available bourbon makes. That blend produces a texture and flavor layering — the silkiness of light whiskey meeting the depth of well-aged bourbon — that reads as genuinely distinct rather than a marketing angle. Back-to-back Double Gold Medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2019 and 2023) and 90 points from Whisky Advocate confirm that the blend translates to the glass. For drinkers looking to move beyond conventional straight bourbon into something with real history and structural complexity, Murray Hill Club delivers a pre-Prohibition blending philosophy with modern critical validation.