The Story
18 years. Cask R70. Single barrel. Bottled by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers for CVI Brands under the Black Maple Hill label — a classic-era release from one of American whiskey collecting's most prized sourced labels.
Black Maple Hill is a sourced label that produced some of the most celebrated American whiskey releases of the early 2000s. Working with Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD) — the Willett family operation in Bardstown, Kentucky, with access to some of Kentucky's most exceptional aging barrels — the Black Maple Hill label released single barrel expressions from vintage stocks that are now largely impossible to source. The 18 Year Cask R70 is from this classic production era.
Cask R70 is the specific barrel identifier for this release — a document of provenance that makes single barrel collecting meaningful. Single barrel means no blending, no standardization: the profile of Cask R70 is the profile of that one specific barrel after 18 years in Kentucky. Once this barrel's bottles are sold, this exact expression cannot be reproduced.
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Oak, dark fruit, roasted nuts, caramel, and spice — the complexity of 18 years in the barrel fully evident from the first nosing.
- Palate: Oak, dark sweets, roasted nuts, dark fruit, and spice — the rye grain's character fully integrated into the oak structure after nearly two decades.
- Finish: Long — dark sweets, toasted grains, dark fruits, and a citrus lift through the close.
Specs
- Label: Black Maple Hill / CVI Brands
- Bottled by: Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (Willett), Bardstown, Kentucky
- Style: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, Single Barrel
- Cask: R70
- Age: 18 years
- Size: 750ml
Browse all rye whiskey at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD)? KBD is the Willett family's bottling and sourcing operation in Bardstown, Kentucky — closely associated with the Willett Distillery. The KBD operation had access to some of the finest aging barrels in Kentucky and produced some of the most celebrated sourced whiskey releases of the early 2000s, including the classic Black Maple Hill expressions.
- What does cask R70 mean? R70 is the specific barrel identifier for this single barrel release. In single barrel whiskey, the cask number documents exactly which barrel the whiskey came from — allowing provenance tracking and distinguishing this release from other barrels in the same program.
- Is 18-year rye rare? Yes — most American rye is consumed at 4–10 years old. Finding commercially released single barrel rye at 18 years from the classic KBD/Black Maple Hill era requires a specialty retailer with legacy stock.
- Is this the same producer as Willett Family Estate? Both KBD and Willett Family Estate are associated with the Willett family in Bardstown. Black Maple Hill cask releases from KBD were bottled under their sourcing operation; Willett Family Estate is the distillery's own branded single barrel program.
Description
18 years. Cask R70. Single barrel. Bottled by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers for CVI Brands under the Black Maple Hill label — a classic-era release from one of American whiskey collecting's most prized sourced labels.
Black Maple Hill is a sourced label that produced some of the most celebrated American whiskey releases of the early 2000s. Working with Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD) — the Willett family operation in Bardstown, Kentucky, with access to some of Kentucky's most exceptional aging barrels — the Black Maple Hill label released single barrel expressions from vintage stocks that are now largely impossible to source. The 18 Year Cask R70 is from this classic production era.
Cask R70 is the specific barrel identifier for this release — a document of provenance that makes single barrel collecting meaningful. Single barrel means no blending, no standardization: the profile of Cask R70 is the profile of that one specific barrel after 18 years in Kentucky. Once this barrel's bottles are sold, this exact expression cannot be reproduced.
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Oak, dark fruit, roasted nuts, caramel, and spice — the complexity of 18 years in the barrel fully evident from the first nosing.
- Palate: Oak, dark sweets, roasted nuts, dark fruit, and spice — the rye grain's character fully integrated into the oak structure after nearly two decades.
- Finish: Long — dark sweets, toasted grains, dark fruits, and a citrus lift through the close.
Specs
- Label: Black Maple Hill / CVI Brands
- Bottled by: Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (Willett), Bardstown, Kentucky
- Style: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, Single Barrel
- Cask: R70
- Age: 18 years
- Size: 750ml
Browse all rye whiskey at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD)? KBD is the Willett family's bottling and sourcing operation in Bardstown, Kentucky — closely associated with the Willett Distillery. The KBD operation had access to some of the finest aging barrels in Kentucky and produced some of the most celebrated sourced whiskey releases of the early 2000s, including the classic Black Maple Hill expressions.
- What does cask R70 mean? R70 is the specific barrel identifier for this single barrel release. In single barrel whiskey, the cask number documents exactly which barrel the whiskey came from — allowing provenance tracking and distinguishing this release from other barrels in the same program.
- Is 18-year rye rare? Yes — most American rye is consumed at 4–10 years old. Finding commercially released single barrel rye at 18 years from the classic KBD/Black Maple Hill era requires a specialty retailer with legacy stock.
- Is this the same producer as Willett Family Estate? Both KBD and Willett Family Estate are associated with the Willett family in Bardstown. Black Maple Hill cask releases from KBD were bottled under their sourcing operation; Willett Family Estate is the distillery's own branded single barrel program.
