Milam & Greene Liberty Review
"Liberty is greater than the sum of its parts," much like the country itself.
Proof: 120.8
Age: 5 Years 9 Months
Price: $76
Mashbill: 70% Corn, 22% Malted Rye, 8% Malted Barley
The Story
America turns 250 this year, and Milam & Greene is celebrating with a whiskey called aptly named: Liberty.
This limited release is a blend of six barrels: three barrels of their column still distillate from Kentucky and three barrels of their pot still distillate from Texas. The whiskey was then rested in used bourbon barrels for over five years before bottling.
Milam & Greene describes Liberty as one of their most complex whiskeys from a flavor perspective and says the whiskey is meant to represent the idea that "Liberty is greater than the sum of its parts," much like the country itself.
Only 750 bottles were produced. Two hundred and fifty bottles will be available online beginning June 24th, while another 500 bottles will be available through the distillery in Blanco.
On paper, this release checks a lot of boxes for whiskey enthusiasts. It's limited, cask strength, and built around an interesting blending concept.
Which is why my first impression caught me off guard.
The Nose
The nose is surprisingly restrained for a whiskey bottled at 120.8 proof.
Vanilla is the dominant note by a wide margin. Behind it are light touches of citrus, oak, and baking spice, but nothing really jumps out of the glass demanding your attention. The ethanol is remarkably well behaved.
In fact, if I had nosed this blind, I probably would have guessed a much lower proof.
The overall profile reminds me of a light whiskey more than a cask-strength special release.
The Palate
The palate follows the nose closely.
Vanilla wafer was the first note that came to mind, followed by graham cracker and sweet cookie dough. The whiskey then transitions into a sweet herbal mint note that slowly spreads across the middle of the palate.
There's also a floral, potpourri-like character that I've found in several Milam & Greene releases over the years. If you're familiar with the brand, you'll probably recognize it here.
The finish is shorter than I expected, especially considering the proof, but it leaves behind a pleasant effervescence and mouthwatering quality that encourages another sip.
One recommendation: add a little water.
For me, Liberty improved noticeably with a little dilution. The flavors became more expressive, the finish stretched out, and the whiskey felt more complete.
Final Thoughts
When I first sat down with Liberty, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it.
The whiskey nerd in me sees "120 proof limited release" and immediately starts expecting layers of flavor, big oak influence, and a long evolving finish. Liberty doesn't really play that game.
Instead, it leans into approachability.
The flavors are straightforward, easy to identify, and surprisingly gentle for the proof. While I personally prefer a little more complexity in a neat pour, I can also appreciate what this whiskey is trying to do.
In some ways, Liberty feels like a whiskey designed to bridge worlds. It has the proof and scarcity that attract enthusiasts, but the flavor profile is much more welcoming than many cask-strength releases.
Personally, I'd be curious to see what this same experiment tastes like with a few additional years of maturation.
As it sits today, this probably isn't quite a whiskey I would regularly sip neat. However, add a splash of water or a big cube of ice, and it becomes considerably more enjoyable.
And if I'm being completely honest, I think Liberty's greatest strength might be behind the bar rather than in a Glencairn. The vanilla and graham cracker - forward profile, bright sweetness, and approachable character feel tailor-made for cocktails. A Blackberry Smash or Gold Rush built on this whiskey would probably be outstanding.
Disclaimer:
This bottle was provided by Milam & Greene. As always, these tasting notes reflect my honest experience with the whiskey. Not every whiskey I review aligns perfectly with my personal preferences, but I try to describe what I'm tasting as accurately as possible so readers can decide whether it sounds like something they would enjoy. If I ever felt a whiskey was truly not worth recommending to anyone, I would provide that feedback privately rather than publish a review.
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