Milam & Greene Whiskey announced the first release from the 2024 Wildlife Collection, the Golden Eagle Single Barrel Bourbon, a limited-edition, cask-strength sipper.

The Wildlife Collection reveals how drastic weather in the Texas Hill Country influences flavor development inside the cask. The series is designed to both bring awareness to the increasingly intense Texas climate and donates proceeds to Texas Parks and Wildlife causes.

The first bottle, called the Golden Eagle Single Barrel, launches this year’s collector theme: the beautiful and intriguing birds of Texas. It dropped exclusively online on the Milam & Greene Whiskey website and in the distillery tasting room on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. Like the 2023 series, the barrel is expected to sell out quickly.

Milam & Greene Golden Eagle Single Barrel Bourbon is pulled from cask #515, yielding only 169 bottles of this limited, 128.2 proof cask-strength release. This single-barrel bourbon is named for the iconic bird after its golden color and full-body nature. The Golden Eagle, staggeringly strong and fast with the ability to air dive at speeds of up to 150-200 mph when chasing prey, is mainly found in West Texas. It is the largest type of eagle in North America and is typically spotted in the more mountainous parts of the state. Golden Eagles are the heaviest avian predator in Texas and the perfect embodiment of this golden and heavy-bodied whiskey.

“I came to Texas to better understand the effects of climate on aging whiskey, and this series is yet another successful expression of that particular passion,” Milam & Greene CEO and Master Blender Heather Greene said. “Our Golden Eagle Single Barrel Bourbon underwent a unique aging process to give it its own glorious perfume. We are discovering a heightened interaction between the whiskey and the barrel fostered by the environment, thereby enriching its flavor profile and elevating its proof.”

The Wildlife Collection: Golden Eagle Single Barrel Bourbon

Milam & Greene Wildlife Collection Golden Eagle Single Barrel Bourbon was distilled in Tennessee with a mash bill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley. It was barreled in Tennessee on March 8, 2016, where it was aged six years and seven months.

It was then brought to Texas where it was further aged for one year, four months, and seven days in extreme drought and a once-in-a-generation ice storm on the Northside of the Milam and Greene Rickhouse #2.  The whiskey was bottled on February 12, 2024, at 128.2 proof and 64.1% alcohol by volume. Golden Eagle Single Barrel Bourbon is a total age of seven years, eleven months, and seven days.

“We selected specific barrels for the 2024 Wildlife Collection release that have distinct character,” Milam & Greene Whiskey Distillery Manager Rikk Munroe said. “These barrels are palletized on end, rested undisturbed, unrotated, and without climate control. Our careful monitoring of the whiskey’s maturation allows us to determine the right time to harvest the bourbon and bottle it to ensure the optimal flavor profile.”

For more information, visit https://milamandgreenewhiskey.com/.