INTEL: 9 Saratoga bartenders helped create this Pinhook Kentucky bourbon blend.
Pinhook, a Kentucky bourbon whiskey distillery, is known for their equine-themed blends. But in crafting Saratoga Maiden, the founder, master distiller + distributor wanted Saratoga bartenders to have more than a say. The result? A true industry blend.
What do you get when you give 9 bartenders the chance to taste barrels of Kentucky bourbon whiskey to determine the final blend?
I caught up with Skurnik distributor, Johnathan Stahl, to get the early intel before the first bottles even reach the Spa City shelves.
— SDP
The name Pinhook comes from the old Kentucky term for buying young, unraced thoroughbreds, nurturing them to maturity, and selling them as they reach racing age. The Pinhook brand pays tribute to the parallels between horse racing and bourbon.
Jonathan — I’m completely intrigued. What’s the backstory to Pinhook’s bartender-blend of the ‘Saratoga Maiden’ bourbon?
“So, it’s a 5-year, 100 proof bourbon made by Pinhook Distillery. It’s a blend of 5 barrels. Sean Joseph, the master blender, Jamie Hill, the financier behind Pinhook, and I came up with the idea to invite bartenders from different establishments in Saratoga to come to the blending and decide by vote on the final product. We invited 20 people across 11 Saratoga establishments (bars, restaurants and retail liquor stores). Among them, 9 are bartenders, wine directors and sommeliers. So basically it’s a bourbon built by Saratoga bartenders. We named it the Saratoga Maiden bourbon because, in racing terms, a horse is considered maiden until they win. The next release will be the Saratoga Allowance because when a horse wins, it moves into “allowance” races. Meaning they race against other winners.”
Which were the participating bars and who were the bartenders?
“We had Michael Wiggin, Zac Denham and Clark Gale from Bocage and Standard Fare; Nick Aquino from Cantina; Tyler Osterhout from The Coat Room, Justin Laviolette from Lucys, Zach Wolfgramm from Kindred, Catherine Zadzora from Prime at Saratoga National, and Nick Caswell from Seneca. It really is unique that they all tasted these barrels of whiskey and worked together to blend them and create something they can use in their programs. For us, as the distributor, and Pinhook, the maker, we want this to be as little about us as possible and all about the bars involved.”
This Saratoga bourbon blend is hitting your warehouse this week and I haven’t had a chance to taste it—yet (and I can’t wait,) but what would you say the bartenders leaned into? Was it more towards notes of vanilla, caramel or more nutty, smokey, spice?
“Good question. So the final blend that you will taste had a significant amount of acidity. A lot of vanilla on the nose and finishes on the palate with fruit characteristics…. pear and green apple were the highlight.”
Will Saratoga Maiden only be available in those participating bars?
“It’s limited — we made about 1200 bottles, but it’s available for anyone to buy at any restaurant, bar or wine shop.”
(Photos provided.)
