Hooten Young 15 Years Old Barrel Proof American Whiskey 750ml

Hooten Young is a veteran-owned brand built by retired Delta Force MSgt. Norm Hooten, and this whiskey carries genuine, personal history behind it — released to commemorate the anniversary of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, the harrowing 18-hour mission for survival Hooten himself helped lead, later retold in the film Black Hawk Down. It's the oldest release the brand has ever produced, and remains genuinely rare: distilled by MGP in Indiana from a corn-forward mash bill of 99% corn and 1% malted barley, matured a full 15 years in second-fill charred American oak, and discovered and developed alongside Master Sommelier George Miliotes, one of just 268 Master Sommeliers in the world.

Bottled entirely at barrel proof, with no dilution, the whiskey retains the full, undiluted intensity built up over a decade and a half in the barrel — a genuinely mature American whiskey with real depth. This exact release earned a Double Gold Medal at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition.

The Whiskey Wash's Lilly Lion reviewed a related, slightly younger 12-year barrel proof edition and found it "fresh, powerful, yet easy to digest, with hints of cinnamon spice and baked apple," concluding "it makes me want dessert," with the palate "direct, smooth, and flavorful," carrying "maple, nutmeg, cinnamon, and the juicy, warm freshness of a baked pear, plus butterscotch and vanilla," concluding "I quite like this one. I found it very strong to taste, but in a pleasant way." One customer review of this exact 15-year expression compared it favorably to a well-regarded peer: "drinks surprisingly light for a 125 proof whiskey and both my friend and I thought it drank a lot like Old Carter American 3." The Barrel Tap's official tasting notes describe "baked apple, candied apricot, warm vanilla, toasted oak, and subtle spice" on the nose, developing into "rich maple syrup, dark caramel, clove, toasted wood, and barrel-driven depth" on the palate, closing "long, warm, and powerful with lingering oak, dried fruit, and gentle smoke." This is genuinely mature, patiently aged American whiskey — real depth from real time in the barrel, wrapped around a story that gives it genuine, lasting meaning.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Hooten Young 15 Year Barrel Proof American Whiskey is distilled by MGP in Indiana, from a mash bill of 99% corn and 1% malted barley, bottled by Hooten Young, a veteran-owned brand founded by retired Delta Force MSgt. Norm Hooten. The whiskey matures a full 15 years in second-fill charred American oak barrels, bottled entirely at barrel proof without dilution. The expression was discovered and developed alongside Master Sommelier George Miliotes, one of only 268 Master Sommeliers in the world.

This release commemorates the anniversary of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, part of Operation Gothic Serpent, an 18-hour mission Norm Hooten helped lead — a story later retold in the film Black Hawk Down. It is the oldest whiskey Hooten Young has released to date, and earned a Double Gold Medal at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition. Bottled at 62.5% ABV / 125 proof, 750ml.

Critics Reviews

Double Gold Medal — New York World Wine & Spirits Competition

Lilly Lion, The Whiskey Wash (extended independent review, related 12-year barrel proof edition):
"The smell invigorates me. It is fresh, powerful, yet easy to digest, with hints of cinnamon spice and baked apple. It makes me want dessert. Direct, smooth, and flavorful. Tasting notes include maple, nutmeg, cinnamon, and the juicy, warm freshness of a baked pear, plus butterscotch and vanilla. I quite like this one. I found it very strong to taste, but in a pleasant way."

Customer review (Tastes, Elect, Repeat):
"Bought this on a friend's recommendation and am not disappointed. Drinks surprisingly light for a 125 proof whiskey and both my friend and I thought it drank a lot like Old Carter American 3, which she had a bottle of on hand."

Hooten Young (official distiller's notes):
"Intense aromas and flavors of baked apple tart, candied apricots and clove followed by a long maple syrup finish."

Whiskey Caviar (official tasting note):
"Color: Deep amber with mahogany hues. Nose: Notes of caramel, toasted oak, vanilla bean, and dark fruit. Palate: Bold yet balanced, featuring flavors of toffee, baking spices, and roasted nuts with a touch of smoke. Finish: Long, warming, and complex with a satisfying sweetness and oak spice."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Baked apple tart and candied apricot lead, joined by warm vanilla, toasted oak, and subtle clove spice, alongside caramel and dark fruit.

Palate
Rich maple syrup and dark caramel carry the entry, developing toffee, baking spice, roasted nuts, and toasted wood, balanced by genuine barrel-driven depth.

Finish
Long, warm, and powerful, closing with lingering oak, dried fruit, and a touch of gentle smoke — a mature, patiently developed finish reflecting a full 15 years in the barrel.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Dark chocolate desserts
• Pecan pie or roasted nuts
• Strong, aged cheeses
• Caramel or butterscotch-based sweets

Serving Note