Ben Holladay 1856 Original Rickhouse Proof Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Aug 2024)
- Mar 6
- 4 min read
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
About This Spirit from the Maker
When Kyle begins the process of crafting a batch of Ben Holladay or Holladay Soft Red Wheat, he blends bourbon from different barrels and tastes them in their original form – at Rickhouse Proof. Each expression of Holladay Rickhouse Proof is bottled at the exact proof from the bourbon barrel yield after a minimum of six years aging in one of the original Holladay Rickhouses. No two releases will ever be exactly the same, but every bottle of Rickhouse has one important commonality – full proof, full flavor.
From the Bottle:
ABV 61.6% | 123.3 Proof
Distilled: Spring 2017
Bottled: August 2024
Aged 6 years in new, charred, oak barrels
DSP-Mo-5
Warehouse C | Floor 5 (55%) | Floor 4 (45%)
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
How We Feel About the Spirit
An Evening with Ben Holladay 1856 & a Swisher Sweet Honey Banana: A Paired Experience
Some evenings invite experimentation—the kind where curiosity becomes part of the ritual. This was one of those nights. Jeff settled into his chair with a pour of Ben Holladay 1856 Original Rickhouse Proof Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a bold 123.3‑proof bottle with deep Missouri roots. In his other hand waited a Swisher Sweet Honey Banana Cigarillo, chosen with intention and a bit of playful optimism. The goal: to see how the bourbon’s vanilla‑caramel warmth would mingle with the cigarillo’s sugary, tropical sweetness.
The Bourbon: Ben Holladay 1856 Original Rickhouse Proof
Nose
The moment Jeff lifted the glass, the aroma unfolded with surprising clarity. Strong vanilla and caramel came first, followed by powdered sugar and honey—notes that instantly reminded him of funnel cakes at a fair. It’s a nose that feels nostalgic and inviting, softening the anticipation of the high proof waiting beneath.
Palate
On its own, the bourbon drinks like a straightforward, no‑nonsense pour. Jeff described it as “an average, run‑of‑the‑mill bourbon,” carrying the expected caramel, vanilla, and subtle honey undertones. The proof gives it structure, but the flavor profile stays simple and steady.
Finish
The finish brings the heat you’d expect from 123.3 proof—warm, lingering, and assertive. Jeff wished for a bit more complexity here, something layered or evolving, but the bourbon remains true to its uncomplicated character.
The Cigarillo: Swisher Sweet Honey Banana
Before the pairing even began, the cigarillo made its presence known. On the lips, it delivered exactly what the name promises: a burst of honey‑banana sweetness that’s smooth, flavorful, and pleasantly aromatic. The smoke carried a fruity, inviting scent—light, sweet, and easygoing. As Jeff put it, “not a true cigar, but great for a quick nightcap.” It’s approachable, fun, and impossible not to enjoy on its own terms.
The Pairing: A Clash of Sweetness and Heat
Jeff went into the pairing with a clear hypothesis: the sugary honey‑banana notes from the Swisher Sweet would soften the bourbon’s heat, while the bourbon’s vanilla and caramel would ground the cigarillo’s playful sweetness. But once the two met, the experience shifted.
Instead of complementing each other, the flavors began to compete. The cigarillo’s sweetness amplified the bourbon’s heat, while the bourbon’s boldness overshadowed the cigarillo’s tropical notes. Neither element backed down, and the result was a tug‑of‑war rather than a harmonious blend.
Jeff’s takeaway was thoughtful and honest: with a high‑proof bourbon like Ben Holladay, a bolder, less flavored cigar might allow both profiles to shine without fighting for dominance. The Swisher Sweet Honey Banana is delightful on its own, but in this pairing, it simply had too much personality.
Final Thoughts
Even when a pairing doesn’t land perfectly, the experience still matters. The curiosity, the conversation, the willingness to explore how flavors interact—those are the moments that make these evenings memorable. Jeff’s notes turned the night into a small study in contrast: bold heat versus playful sweetness, heritage bourbon versus tropical cigarillo.
And as the last curls of sweet smoke drifted into the air, it was clear that the experiment had done exactly what it was meant to do. It gave the night a story—one worth savoring, one worth sharing.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
Related Cocktails
1856 Old Fashioned Cocktail
Source: https://holladaybourbon.com/cocktails/1856-old-fashioned/
Ingredients
2.0 oz Ben Holladay Bourbon
0.5 oz Gomme Syrup
2 dashes Aromatic Bitters
2 dashes Orange Bitters
How to Mix
Add Ben Holladay Bourbon, gomme syrup, aromatic bitters, orange bitters, and ice to a mixing glass
Stir 20 – 25 times
Strain into a rocks glass with one large ice cube
Express an orange peel over the rocks glass
Garnish with the orange peel
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
Disclaimer: Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age. Life’s Rants promotes the responsible and legal enjoyment of premium cigars and alcohol by individuals of legal age. We do not endorse or encourage smoking or drinking among minors.
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