Old Forester Alum Jackie Zykan Unveils her ‘Passion Project’ – an Organic Bourbon

Hidden Barn , the whiskey brand helmed by former Old Forester Master Taster Jackie Zykan announced the release of its first organic bourbon on Thusday. The wheated bourbon is six years old and was bottled at 106.2 proof.

"I've wanted to create an organic bourbon for a long time, so this has been a passion project for me," Zykan said in a news release. "For me, blending barrels is all about finding balance and harmony while still showcasing individuality. The nine barrels used for this blend were meticulously selected from a very large pool of inventory with much intention. The combination of the high-quality organic grains used in the distillation with the variable entry proofs used in the maturation - that range in proof from low to high - led to everything integrating beautifully."

The bourbon hosts a suggested retail price of $79.99. Hidden Barn says the bourbon was distilled from organic grains that were certified by the United States Department of Agriculture and Kentucky Department of Agriculture. The brand shared it was distilled in Michigan prior to being selected, batched and proofed by Zykan, who chose nine barrels for the final blend. Hidden Barn claims the bourbon possesses aromas of "buttery caramel," "tart green apple" and some sweet citrus fruit. The palate is pleasantly balanced, and white pepper leads into the finish, which lingers with wafts of tobacco, according to the brand. The organic bourbon drop marks Hidden Barn's first release after it was acquired by Royce Neely of Neely Distillery in June . To celebrate the acquisition, Hidden Barn unveiled a 7-year-old release — the brand's oldest expression to date. Neely claimed he gave Zykan "the keys to the warehouse," so she could have "thousands of barrels to play with," after Hidden Barn was acquired. [newsletter-promo]