Rare Character Brook Hill "Pulled Together" 14 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml

Fourteen years in the barrel. 143.62 proof. Zero compromises. That's the promise printed directly into the marketing copy for Rare Character's "Pulled Together" — and at 71.81% ABV, this is one of the most powerful bourbons you're likely to find anywhere on a retail shelf, a genuinely massive proof point even by the standards of a bottling program built entirely around uncut, unfiltered, full-strength American whiskey. The Brook Hill name carries real historical weight behind the intensity: originally crafted by Joseph L. Friedman, a figure from Kentucky's pioneering late-19th-century bourbon movement, the brand achieved the rare distinction of maintaining legal production straight through Prohibition — a genuine survivor's story that Rare Character has spent the past several years reviving, one carefully selected barrel at a time, under its distinctive black label.

"Pulled Together" represents Rare Character at its most ambitious: a curated selection of 14-year-old Kentucky bourbon barrels, each chosen for its own exceptional individual character, blended into a single batch built for remarkable cohesion and depth despite its considerable component complexity. The whiskey spent well over a decade in new charred American oak, developing the rich caramel, dark fruit, toasted oak, and layered spice that defines truly exceptional aged Kentucky bourbon. The nose opens rich and inviting — deep caramel, dark dried fruit, toasted oak, vanilla, leather, and warm baking spice, rounded out by brown sugar and a whisper of tobacco. On the palate, full-throttle barrel strength heat commands immediate attention, layered with dark cherry, dried fruit, brown sugar, leather, tobacco, cinnamon, clove, and barrel char. The finish is long, warming, and deeply satisfying, with persistent, intense spice heat that genuinely rewards slow, patient sipping — and a few drops of water, per the brand's own recommendation, opens the whiskey's complexity even further.

As the brand itself puts it: "the 'Pulled Together' name isn't just a conversation starter on your shelf — it's a promise of what's inside the bottle." Cask 9922 is exactly that promise delivered — a serious, collector-grade, genuinely uncut bourbon for drinkers who want maximum intensity and are willing to work for every bit of complexity it reveals.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Rare Character Whiskey Co. is a Kentucky-based independent bottler celebrated for sourcing, selecting, and releasing some of the most distinctive and collectible American whiskey expressions available, with a philosophy built on patience, precision, and an unwavering commitment to seeking out barrels of genuine character that have been given the time and conditions necessary to develop real depth and nuance. The Brook Hill brand, trademarked by Rare Character in 2022, revives the legacy of a whiskey originally crafted by Joseph L. Friedman — a scion of pioneer heritage entrenched in the early bourbon movement of late 19th-century Kentucky — whose Brook Hill Whiskey achieved the rare distinction of lawful production straight through Prohibition, a genuine mark of resilience the modern revival honors directly through its iconic black label.

"Pulled Together," identified specifically as Cask 9922, is a carefully curated selection of 14-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon barrels, each chosen individually for its exceptional character and blended together to create a batch of remarkable cohesion despite the complexity of its components. The whiskey spent well over 14 years maturing in new charred American oak. Bottled uncut and unfiltered at full barrel strength — 71.81% ABV / 143.62 proof — this release delivers the depth, oak structure, and high-proof intensity that serious bourbon collectors and barrel-strength whiskey drinkers specifically seek out.

Critics Reviews

No numerical critic score is confirmed for this product at this time.

Taster's Club (official product description):
"Fourteen years in the barrel. 143.62 proof. Zero compromises. The Rare Character Brook Hill 'Pulled Together' is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon built for collectors and high-proof enthusiasts who demand serious depth in every pour. From the first nose, it delivers wave after wave of deep caramel, toasted oak, dark fruit, and leather — rounded out by baking spice, brown sugar, and a whisper of tobacco. On the palate, the full-throttle barrel strength heat commands your attention, while the long-lasting finish rewards your patience. Add a few drops of water and watch the complexity open up even further. The 'Pulled Together' name isn't just a conversation starter on your shelf — it's a promise of what's inside the bottle."

Quality Liquor Store (extended tasting note):
"The nose is rich and inviting, with deep caramel, dark dried fruit, toasted oak, vanilla, leather, and warm baking spice. The palate is full-bodied and beautifully layered, delivering deep caramel, dark cherry, dried fruit, brown sugar, leather, tobacco, cinnamon, clove, and barrel char. The finish is long, warming, and deeply satisfying, with lingering oak, caramel, dark fruit, and persistent, intense spice heat that rewards slow, patient sipping."

The Barrel Tap (extended tasting note):
"A powerful, mature bourbon bottled at a massive 143.62 proof. With a 14 year age statement, this release delivers the depth, oak structure, and high-proof intensity that serious bourbon collectors and barrel strength whiskey drinkers look for. At 143.62 proof, it is a full-throttle bourbon that rewards slow sipping and opens beautifully with a few drops of water."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Rich and inviting — deep caramel, dark dried fruit, and toasted oak lead, joined by vanilla, leather, and warm baking spice. Brown sugar and a whisper of tobacco round out the aromatic profile, carrying the genuine weight of well over 14 years in new charred American oak.

Palate
Full-bodied and beautifully layered — full-throttle barrel strength heat commands immediate attention, delivering deep caramel and dark cherry alongside dried fruit and brown sugar. Leather, tobacco, cinnamon, and clove build genuine complexity, with barrel char adding structural depth throughout.

Finish
Long, warming, and deeply satisfying, with lingering oak, caramel, and dark fruit persisting alongside intense, sustained spice heat. A finish that rewards slow, patient sipping — and genuinely rewards a few drops of water, which the brand specifically recommends to unlock further complexity.

Quick Overview

Serving Note

Best enjoyed neat to start, with a few drops of water added to open the whiskey's full complexity — a specific recommendation from the brand itself, given the exceptionally high 143.62 proof.