Black Maple Hill 16 Year Single Barrel Bourbon Cask No. 128 95 Proof

Black Maple Hill 16 Year Single Barrel Bourbon Cask No. 128 95 Proof is a rare expression from the Black Maple Hill lineup — an independent bottler label historically associated with some of the finest sourced bourbon released under NDP (non-distiller producer) programs. Black Maple Hill releases drew from exceptional aged stocks — primarily Bernheim Distillery (now owned by Heaven Hill) in Louisville — and the 16-year age statement with 95 proof (47.5% ABV) represents a particularly elegant balance. At 95 proof, this is one of the more approachable proof points for a 16-year expression — lower than many cask-strength releases, but deliberately chosen to showcase the oak integration and sweetness of very mature sourced bourbon without the heat of higher-proof bottlings. Cask No. 128 documents the specific barrel for collector tracking.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Deep caramel, antique oak, dried fruit, leather, vanilla — the hallmark of well-aged Bernheim/Heaven Hill wheated stock
• Palate: Rich and surprisingly approachable for 16 years — toffee, brown sugar, gentle oak spice, dark chocolate, smooth body
• Finish: Long, warm, and exceptionally well-integrated with lingering sweetness and oak

Product Details

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Black Maple Hill and why is it collectible?

Black Maple Hill was an independent bottler label that released some of the most acclaimed American whiskeys of the early-to-mid 2000s, drawing on exceptional aged sourced stocks before the modern bourbon boom inflated demand. Their 16-year and 23-year expressions in particular became legendary among whiskey collectors for their quality relative to price at original release. Today, Black Maple Hill bottles are significantly more valuable than their original retail price as the sourced stock has been fully depleted and the label is no longer producing.

What distillery produced this bourbon?

Black Maple Hill's 16-year expressions are widely attributed to Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky — operated by Heaven Hill — which produced a wheated bourbon mashbill that gave these releases their characteristic smooth, sweet, oak-integrated character. Bernheim's wheated stock at this age statement is considered among the finest sourced bourbon ever bottled under an independent label.

Why is 95 proof notable for a 16-year bourbon?

Many collectors expect aged bourbon to be bottled at higher proof points, but Black Maple Hill deliberately used lower proof levels for some releases to emphasize smoothness and oak balance over intensity. At 95 proof and 16 years, Cask No. 128 sits in the "effortlessly drinkable aged bourbon" category — complex without being demanding, perfect for extended sipping.