Hidden Barn "Batch 2" Organic Wheated Straight Bourbon 750ml
About the Product: Hidden Barn's Organic Wheated Bourbon is a rare thing in American whiskey — a small-batch bourbon where "organic" isn't a marketing afterthought but the entire foundation. The grains are certified organic by both the USDA and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and the bourbon was distilled at Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan — a relationship that grew out of Master Blender Jackie Zykan's consulting work with the Welter family and their culture of quality and experimentation. The mashbill is 70% corn, 25% wheat, and 5% rye — a classic wheated recipe that keeps things soft and approachable — with Zykan batching and proofing the barrels before the whiskey was aged and bottled at the now-certified-organic Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, Kentucky. Batch 2 arrives at 108 proof, a touch bolder than its predecessor, and carries the same dual-certification and small-batch ethos that made the inaugural release a double gold standout.
About Hidden Barn: Hidden Barn was co-founded by former Old Forester Master Taster Jackie Zykan alongside Royce Neeley of Neeley Family Distillery and Nate Winegar and Matt Dankner of Denver's 5280 Whiskey Society — a group that came together over a shared conviction that small-batch blending, done with real intention, could produce something the big brands simply can't. Zykan spent seven years at Brown-Forman's Old Forester, eventually holding the title of master taster, before stepping away to pursue something smaller, more creative, and fully her own. In 2024, Neeley acquired Hidden Barn outright, with Zykan continuing as Master Blender — and all the liquid produced during her tenure, including both Organic batches, reflects her hallmark approach: meticulous barrel selection, variable entry proofs, and a blending philosophy built around harmony rather than uniformity. The brand has earned Double Golds at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2023 and 2024, and took Best Small Batch, 1st Place at the 2023 New Orleans Bourbon Festival.
Bottle Info:
- Proof: 108
Tasting Notes:
- Nose: Clove, fresh tobacco, spearmint
- Palate: Caramel, medium-bodied, white pepper
- Finish: Clean, lengthy tobacco
What is USDA Certified Organic Bourbon?: To carry a USDA Organic certification, every grain in the mashbill must be grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers — and the distillery itself must meet certified organic facility standards throughout production and bottling. In bourbon, this is a meaningful distinction: corn, wheat, and rye are among the most heavily treated commodity crops in American agriculture, so sourcing certified organic grain requires a deliberate supply chain and a producer willing to pay a significant premium for it. The result isn't always a dramatically different flavor, but it represents a level of provenance and transparency that serious whiskey drinkers increasingly value.
