When Honey Sweetness Meets Funk and Savory Bourbon Depth
Some barrels are crowd pleasers.
Some barrels are conversation starters.
Then there are barrels that make experienced tasters pause mid-sip.
This Short Barrel Bees Knees selection, picked by the Ten Glen Society, landed squarely in that third category.
From the first nose, this was not just honey-finished bourbon. It delivered layered wild turkey style funk, savory depth, and mature MGP structure that created one of the most unique finished bourbon profiles we have selected to date.
At 107.2 proof, this is not about brute force. It is about balance, texture, and complexity.
The Goal Behind This Pick
The target was simple but difficult to execute:
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Real honey integration, not candy sweetness
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Funk character that adds depth, not off-notes
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Sweet and savory interplay that evolves sip to sip
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Proof that keeps it drinkable without thinning the profile
Many honey finished bourbons lean one direction. Dessert bomb or novelty finish.
This barrel stayed grounded in bourbon while still pushing flavor boundaries.
Why 8 and 9 Year MGP Was the Perfect Foundation
Age matters when you are finishing bourbon.
You need oak structure and whiskey maturity strong enough to handle finishing without disappearing.
At 8 and 9 years, this base brought:
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Fully integrated oak sugars
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Developed spice backbone
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Dense mouthfeel
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Enough character to support honey and funk layers
MGP at this age range tends to deliver a clean but structured base, which makes it ideal for finishing programs that add complexity rather than cover flaws.
Tasting Notes: Ten Glen Society Bees Knees Pick (107.2 Proof)
Stats
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Distillate: Indiana MGP Bourbon
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Age: Blend of 8 and 9 Year Barrels
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Proof: 107.2
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Finish: Honey-influenced finishing program
Nose
Raw honeycomb, orange blossom honey, toasted vanilla bean, aged oak, and a subtle savory note that leans slightly nutty and earthy.
Then the funk shows up.
Light rickhouse mustiness, dusty oak, and a faint dark fruit note that brings depth without overpowering sweetness.
Palate
Dense and coating immediately.
Front palate opens with honey drizzle and vanilla cream, then transitions quickly into something more complex:
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Roasted nuts
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Caramelized sugars
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Light tobacco leaf
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Savory oak spice
The wild turkey style funk influence shows here as a deep barrel note. Slightly earthy. Slightly leathery. Adds weight and character.
Finish
Long and evolving.
Honey warmth fades into cinnamon, toasted oak, and savory barrel char. The aftertaste leaves a sweet and savory balance that keeps pulling you back for another sip.
The Sweet and Savory Balance That Made This Barrel Stand Out
This was the defining trait.
Instead of staying purely dessert-driven, this barrel created tension between:
Sweet:
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Honey
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Vanilla custard
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Caramelized sugar
Savory:
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Oak char
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Light leather
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Roasted nut character
That push and pull is what gives this whiskey repeat drinkability.
Why 107.2 Proof Was the Correct Call
Higher proof could have pushed honey sweetness too far forward or made the funk feel harsh.
Lower proof would have flattened texture.
107.2 landed in the zone where:
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Honey stays natural
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Funk stays supportive
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Savory notes stay present
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Mouthfeel stays rich
Who This Barrel Is Built For
This is for drinkers who want finished bourbon that still feels like serious whiskey.
If you like:
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Honey finished bourbon with real structure
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Funk-driven bourbons with depth and age character
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Sweet leaning bourbon that still has savory backbone
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Mid proof bottles you can pour repeatedly without fatigue
This bottle hits all of those lanes.
Final Thoughts: Why This Ten Glen Society Pick Matters
Finished bourbon is easy to get wrong.
Too sweet and you lose bourbon identity.
Too funky and you lose balance.
Too hot and you lose drinkability.
This barrel threaded the needle.
The age gave it authority.
The honey gave it personality.
The funk gave it depth.
The proof gave it drinkability.
And together, it created something that drinks way bigger than 107.2 proof suggests.
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