Holladay’s Ancient Cave: Unique Bourbon Review

August 6, 2025August 5, 2025 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

The Oldest Distillery West of the Mississippi?! | Holladay Distillery Ancient Cave Wave Stave 2025 Review

We’re taking you on a journey to the heart of American distilling history! Join us as we visit Holladay Distillery in Weston, Missouri—the oldest continuously operating distillery west of the Mississippi River. This landmark, founded in 1856 by the legendary “Stagecoach King” Ben Holladay, has a rich legacy of crafting Real Missouri Bourbon.

In this video, we’re unboxing a truly unique and hard-to-find bottle: the Holladay Ancient Cave Wave Stave 2025. This distillery-exclusive, 7-year-old bourbon is finished in a special “Wave Stave” barrel within the distillery’s historic “Ancient Cave.” Does this one-of-a-kind aging process create a whiskey worth the hype? Watch our full review to find out!

So grab your favorite glass, settle in, and let’s explore this incredible bourbon together! Click play ▶️ NOW!

We highly recommend that you add Holladay Distillery in Weston MO to Your Bourbon Journey!

What’s your favorite state for bourbon outside of Kentucky? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

Are you a true bourbon fanatic, always on the hunt for the next exceptional pour? Then smash that like button 👍 to show your appreciation for fine whiskey! Hit subscribe 🔔 so you never miss our reviews of rare and remarkable spirits, and share this video ➡️ with your fellow whiskey lovers. Let’s build a community of enthusiasts who appreciate the art of exceptional bourbon!

#bourbonreview #HolladayDistillery #AncientCave

For more information on Holladay Distillery: https://holladaydistillery.com/

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

✴️ Ancient Cave Collection Wave Stave 2025

Classification: Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distillery: Holladay Distillery
Mash Bill: 1856 Original – 73% Corn, 15% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Age: 7 years, 5 months
Finishing: American Oak, Med+ Toast, Char 1, Wave Stave
Proof: 100
Other: 375 ml bottle
Purchased: 07/24/25 for $44.99 at Holladay Distillery

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

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❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirit 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.

Blind Whiskey Taste Test! Unmasking 4 Mystery Drams

April 5, 2025April 5, 2025 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

Get ready for a thrilling taste adventure 🚀 into the shadowy world of Blind Barrels! 🕵️‍♂️ In this episode, we’re plunging headfirst into the unknown, blind tasting 👀 and dissecting FOUR ENIGMATIC MYSTERY WHISKEYS! 🥃🥃🥃🥃 Can our palates decipher their secrets? 🤔

Join us as we become whiskey detectives 🔎, meticulously sniffing👃, swirling 🔄, and savoring 😋 each anonymous dram. We’ll delve deep into their intriguing flavor profiles and captivating aromas ✨, piecing together the clues 🧩 to uncover what makes each one truly unique.

The anticipation is building! ⏳ Will we correctly identify their origins? 🌍 Which hidden gem 💎 will steal our hearts (and our taste buds 👅)? And ultimately… which mysterious whiskey will rise above the rest and claim the coveted top spot 🏆 in our ranking?

Prepare for unexpected twists 😲, surprising revelations 🎉, and maybe even a few gasps of delight! 😮 You might just discover your next favorite pour lurking within these blind barrels. Hit play ▶️ now and join the mystery! 😉

Blind Barrels

To learn more about a Subscription to Blind Barrels, this is our Affiliate Link (commissions can be earned): https://blindbarrels.com/#subscription_plan?sca_ref=7200023.Ze2fVg6fhr

Our Original Review – J.T. Meleck Rice Whiskey Tasting: https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2024/08/25/august-2024-j-t-meleck-rice-whiskey-tasting/

Distilleries in this Blind Barrel:

13th Century Whiskey Company – Colorado Springs, CO: https://13thcenturywhiskey.com/
Holladay Distillery – Weston, MO: https://holladaydistillery.com/
J.T. Meleck Distillers – Branch, LA: https://jtmeleck.com/
Rock Town Distillery – Little Rock, AR: https://www.rocktowndistillery.com/

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

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❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

Exploring Flavor Profiles: The Wheated Bourbon Showdown

March 7, 2025 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

In this fun blind challenge, we take you on a captivating journey as we blind taste FOUR Wheated Bourbons. They are each 100-107 proof and no single barrels were included; however, their mashbills and percentage of wheat do vary. Join us as we meticulously evaluate and rank each expression, diving deep into the distinctive flavor profiles and aromas that set them apart from one another. Ultimately, we will unveil our personal rankings of the wheated bourbon that reign supreme in our tasting, highlighting the elements that captured our palates the most. Of course, there’s a good chance that we won’t always agree on our favorites, leading to some lively debate and fun banter! Don’t miss this engaging and informative deep dive into the world of Wheated Bourbon, where flavor reigns and every sip tells a story.

AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS (commissions earned):

GLENCAIRN Whiskey Glass, Gift Set of 4: https://amzn.to/4ak8DOR
CairnCaps Bamboo Whiskey Glass Lids – Set of 6: https://amzn.to/4hgIJh0
CairnCradle Whiskey Glass Rack: https://amzn.to/4amLZ8k

ABOUT THESE WHEATED BOURBONS (in alphabetical order)

Bardstown Bourbon Co Origin Series High Wheat Bourbon

Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Company: Bardstown Bourbon Company
Distillery: Bardstown Bourbon Company
Mash Bill: Corn 53% / Wheat 39% / Malted Barley 8%
Age: 6
Proof: 106
MSRP: $49.99
Released: August 2024
Purchased: 12/07/24 for $49.99 at Bardstown Tasting Room in Louisville, KY
YouTube 12/26/24: https://youtu.be/0W7j-28qnGQ

Cedar Brook Wheated Bourbon

Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bottled: W.H. McBrayer
Distillery:
Mash Bill: 70% corn, 21% wheat and 9% barley
Age: NAS
Proof: 100
MSRP: $65
Released: September 2024
Purchased: 09/14/24 for $65.00 via McBrayer Legacy Spirits online.
Not Previously Reviewed

Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bottled-in-Bond

Classification: Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Company: McCormick Distilling Company
Distillery: Holladay Distillery
Mash Bill: 73% Corn, 15% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley
Age: 6
Proof: 100
MSRP: $60
Released: 2024
Other: Bottled in Bond
Purchased: 03/06/24 for $64.99 at High Spirits in Evansville, IN
Story 03/24/24: https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2024/03/26/march-2024-holladay-distillery-tasting/

Weller Antique 107

Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Company: Sazerac Company, Inc.
Distillery: Buffalo Trace
Mash Bill: Undisclosed Buffalo Trace “Wheated Mash Bill”
Age: NAS (talk of typically 6-8 years)
Proof: 107
MSRP: $52.99
Released: Ongoing
Purchased: 05/06/23 for $139.99 at Revival Vintage Spirits in Covington, KY
Not Previously Reviewed

**REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY**

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Questions? YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: 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.