04/26/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer
April 12, 2024 Wayne and I attended the Black Stone Cherry, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd concert at the Ford Center in Evansville, IN. Each group contributed outstandingly, and we had fabulous front row center seats for an amazing night of music and memories.
I wore my “Talk Bourbon To Me” T-Shirt and didn’t realize that might catch the eye of Johnny Van Zant. That is because I missed their announcement of partnering with Bespoken Spirits and the release of American Hell House Whiskey in July, 2023. Honestly, the first I knew about it was during their 5th song, Whiskey Rock-a-Roller when it was on the screen. Then I was intrigued.
At the conclusion of Sweet Home Alabama (right before the encore), Johnny Van Zant pointed to me and tossed me a “Hell House” hat. Unfortunately, the woman sitting next to me grabbed it. This did not sit well with Johnny, and he AGAIN pointed at me and ensured that I got their “Lynyrd Skynyrd Forever” hat. Super cool!!
About Hell House Whiskey
American Hell House Whiskey was released in July 2023. In an announcement by PR Newswire (07/27/23), it was shared that the name is a tribute to the band’s legendary cabin. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Hell House, a humble cabin nestled in the woods of Florida, played a pivotal role in the band’s early success. It served as their rehearsal and writing space, where iconic songs like “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama” were born. The cabin’s legacy lives on in the band’s new whiskey, Hell House Whiskey, which pays homage to the raw and creative spirit of their formative years.
The whiskey is produced by Bespoken Spirits that launched in January 2018 in California. Most recently, March 2024, Bespoken moved their headquarters and operation to Lexington, Kentucky. They pride themselves on creating a process for sustainability. Their approach to whiskey is accomplished with less wood, water, and energy. Early supporters of Bespoken include T.J. Rodgers of Cypress Semiconductor and Derek Jeter, Baseball Hall of Famer and owner of the Miami Marlins. As of their move to Kentucky, they were available in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, and North Carolina. However, they announced plans to expand into Colorado and Illinois in 2024.
Following the concert, we really wanted an opportunity to taste Hell House Whiskey. Using the locator on Bespoken’s website, we found a place just over the bridge in Henderson, KY. Saturday, 04/13/24, we were able to purchase a bottle at the location indicated.
American Hell House Whiskey Tasting Notes
If you haven’t already, please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey.
Mashbill – 89% corn, 10% rye, 1% malted barley
Age – Rapid Aging (see below)
Proof – 90
Price Paid – $49.99
Color – Honey amber.
Aroma – Honey, caramel, tobacco, and allspice.
Taste – Some sweetness and a light floral note; however, the dominate taste coming forward is tobacco. On the finish the tobacco lingers and is joined by leather, oak, and black pepper.
Tasted with dried cranberry – With the cranberry it has a lighter overall feel to it. A bit less tobacco, but the leather remains it still finishes with oak and black pepper.
Tasted with a pecan – More sweetness with caramel on the front, the tobacco and leather has faded but the finish is now cinnamon and oak.
Tasted with dark chocolate – This did not complement the spirit. The previous taste characteristics are no longer present and it now has a rather bitter finish similar to tasting ground cinnamon. We certainly would not recommend this paired with chocolate.
Bespoken Spirits Tailored Wood Finishing
According to an article published by Whisky Advocate (03/21/24), Bespoken Spirits uses a proprietary rapid-aging process called Tailored Wood Finishing. Unlike traditional whiskey-aging methods that rely on extended barrel storage, Bespoken uses “micro staves” to infuse flavors of wood, toast, and char into its spirits in just a few days. This innovative approach allows them to create diverse flavor profiles from a single base liquid while reducing material consumption, water usage, energy expenditure, and eliminating evaporation losses.
In a related article published last year by Robb Report (04/11/23), Bespoken’s unique Tailored Wood Finishing process uses “activators” to rapidly age whiskey by applying heat and pressure, simulating years of aging in just days. This method allows the company to finish or rectify whiskey for other brands, potentially resolving flavor issues. While the process can produce whiskey that tastes different from traditionally aged products, lacking depth and maturity, blind tastings have shown that Bespoken’s whiskeys are often distinguishable from others.
Summary Notes
I have loved Lynyrd Skynyrd since I was in High School, and it is hard to believe that they are celebrating FIFTY YEARS! I really wish they would have partnered with a spirit company that has the depth and maturity to match who they are. That said, as a fan, it is very cool to listen to a band’s music and have a whiskey to drink that has their name on it.
We are looking forward to the next warm day when we can sit on the patio and enjoy a cigar. With the tobacco and leather notes of this whiskey, we believe it will go quite nicely with a cigar and the cigar won’t negatively impact the flavor of the whiskey.
If you are a fan and locate a bottle of Hell House – buy it! You will enjoy it for the same reasons that we do … its story and connection to Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Cheers,
Rebecca
Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer
American Whiskey (as per the label)
Whiskey (generic) must be made from cereal grains, distilled below 190 proof, placed into an oak container, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof.
When aged less than four years and without an age statement, it might need to be labeled as corn whiskey. To be considered American Corn Whiskey, it must be made from at least 80% corn, but isn’t required to be aged. Aged American corn whiskey must rest in either used or uncharred oak barrels. Note: Based on the mash bill of Hell House, it could qualify as a corn whiskey.
Regarding the labeling of American Hell House Whiskey as American Whiskey, according to Whiskey Advocate’s 03/21/24 article, it was sourced from MGP (Midwest Grain Products); thus, likely achieved the placement into oak barrel requirement during its time at MGP. In addition, that would add to the accumulated age.
NOTE: The whiskey in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
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