Ben Holladay 6 Year Bourbon 750ML

Ben Holladay 6 Year Bourbon 750ML is a 100-proof, non-chill filtered small-batch bourbon from Missouri's Holladay Distillery, aged six years in charred white oak. Winner of the 2022 Whiskey Ring Award for Best First Release, this bottling represents a historic distillery's return to producing bourbon under its own name using remarkably rare production specifications.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 Proof)  |  Origin: Weston, Missouri  |  Age: 6 Years  |  Distillery: Holladay Distillery

Production & Heritage

Holladay Distillery in Weston, Missouri, operates as one of the oldest continuously operating distillery sites west of the Mississippi, with roots tracing back to the mid-1800s under the stewardship of Colonel Ben Holladay. The bourbon is produced using a two-grain cooker system and a mashbill of 73% corn, 15% rye, and 12% malted barley. What truly distinguishes this expression is its still proof of 120 and barrel entry proof of 118 — a near-identical gap that is exceptionally rare in the bourbon world, with the only notable parallel being the technique Jim Beam uses exclusively for Booker's Bourbon. The spirit is aged for six years in level-three charred Missouri white oak barrels and bottled without chill filtration, preserving the full body and texture of the whiskey.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with polished caramel and vanilla sauce before settling into bread pudding sweetness. Orchard fruits — primarily apple — emerge alongside light cherry, a faint banana peel note, and gentle warmth.

Taste: A warming entry builds into spicy caramel sweetness interwoven with baking spices, cinnamon, and dry nuttiness. The mid-palate deepens with burnt cherry, toasty caramel, and corn sugars, accented by black pepper and a rye-driven freshness that keeps the sweetness in check.

Finish: The finish lingers well past the sip with cinnamon, anise, nutmeg, and hints of clove. Oak tannins are present but balanced, never veering into dryness or astringency.

How to Drink Ben Holladay 6 Year

At 100 proof with no chill filtration, this bourbon rewards neat sipping or with a few drops of water to open the caramel and spice layers. An Old Fashioned plays to the whiskey's toasty caramel core and baking spice complexity. A Boulevardier benefits from the rye-forward spice and fruit notes, which stand up well against Campari's bitterness. A simple Whiskey Sour highlights the orchard fruit character and balances the bourbon's natural sweetness with citrus acidity.

Best For

• Bourbon enthusiasts exploring distilleries outside Kentucky
• Gifting to a whiskey collector who values rare production methods
• Side-by-side tastings comparing regional bourbon styles
• After-dinner sipping on cool evenings when a full-bodied dram is warranted

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ben Holladay 6 Year taste like? It leads with caramel sweetness and baking spices — cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper — layered over burnt cherry and toasty corn sugars. The finish is long and warm with anise and clove, balanced by controlled oak tannins.

How does Ben Holladay 6 Year compare to Old Forester 1897? Both are bottled-in-bond-strength bourbons (100 proof), but Ben Holladay uses a Missouri white oak barrel and an unusually narrow gap between still proof and barrel entry proof, which contributes a denser, less grain-forward character. Old Forester 1897 tends toward a lighter, more citrus-accented profile from Brown-Forman's proprietary yeast, while Ben Holladay leans into richer caramel and nuttier territory.

Is Ben Holladay 6 Year good for sipping neat? Yes — the non-chill filtered bottling at 100 proof delivers full texture and flavor complexity that rewards neat consumption, though a splash of water opens additional fruit and vanilla notes.

Where is Ben Holladay 6 Year made? It is distilled and aged at the Holladay Distillery in Weston, Missouri, one of the oldest continuously operating distillery sites west of the Mississippi River.

What foods pair well with Ben Holladay 6 Year? Smoked brisket or pulled pork complements the bourbon's caramel and char notes. Pecan pie echoes its nutty sweetness. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the spice, while dark chocolate amplifies the finish's anise and clove character. Apple-based desserts like tarte tatin mirror the orchard fruit on the nose.

What sizes does Ben Holladay 6 Year come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Ben Holladay 6 Year worth the price? Ben Holladay 6 Year positions as a premium small-batch bourbon that competes directly with well-regarded six- to seven-year expressions from larger Kentucky distilleries, with the added distinction of rare production techniques and non-chill filtration that many competitors at this tier do not offer.

Why Ben Holladay 6 Year?

The near-identical still proof (120) and barrel entry proof (118) is a production detail shared with virtually no other bourbon outside of Beam's Booker's program — and it shows in the whiskey's dense, layered texture. Six years in level-three charred Missouri white oak contributes regional character distinct from the Kentucky limestone-influenced profiles that dominate the category. The non-chill filtered bottling at 100 proof delivers the spirit exactly as the barrel produced it, without compromise. For bourbon drinkers looking beyond the usual suspects, this is a historically grounded, technically distinctive whiskey that earned its 2022 Whiskey Ring Award for Best First Release on merit.