Horse Soldier Small Batch
Horse Soldier Small Batch
Horse Soldier Small Batch: From Battlefield to Barrel (feat. Aaron)
Watch the full episode: 🎬 Click here to watch on YouTube
A Bourbon Born from Brotherhood
This week on Tortured Bourbon, Heather and B are joined once again by our favorite bottle-bringer and bad influence — Aaron — for a pour that’s more than just whiskey.
We’re honoring Veterans Day with a bourbon that was literally born on horseback: Horse Soldier Small Batch Bourbon.
After the attacks of 9/11, a group of U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets were the first troops to enter Afghanistan. The only way to cross the rough terrain was on horseback. Those men became known as the Horse Soldiers — and their story inspired the movie 12 Strong, starring Chris Hemsworth.
Years later, those same warriors traded saddles for stills, founding American Freedom Distillery in St. Petersburg, Florida. Their mission? To craft a bourbon that embodies service, sacrifice, and the American spirit.
The Bottle with a Story
Every Horse Soldier Bourbon bottle is molded with steel recovered from the World Trade Center, creating a direct link between where their story began and what it stands for today.
The brand’s next chapter — Horse Soldier Farms on Lake Cumberland, Kentucky — is a $200 million bourbon destination in the making: a distillery, restaurant, and monument to craftsmanship.
What’s in the Glass
Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Proof: 95 (47.5% ABV)
Mash Bill: ~70% Corn, 20% Wheat, 10% Malted Barley
Style: Wheated Small Batch Bourbon
Age: Approximately 4–6 years
Distilled at: MGP (Lawrenceburg, IN)
Bottled by: American Freedom Distillery, St. Petersburg, FL
Price Range: $65–$75 MSRP
Tasting Notes (Katie’s Corner)
On the nose, expect vanilla, ginger, cherries, and sweet corn — that soft, inviting aroma that only a wheated bourbon can deliver.
The palate brings creamy toffee, dark fruit, caramel, and toasted oak, balanced with just enough spice to keep it interesting.
The finish lingers medium-long, carrying oak and warm baking spice without overstaying its welcome.
Our Take
Heather calls it “a pour with purpose.”
B says “you can taste the story.”
Aaron? He just calls it “earned.”
This is the flagship bourbon for the brand — the one that tells the story, stands for something bigger, and still hits the sweet spot between easy sipping and meaningful depth.
We raise our glass to the veterans and families who’ve served this country.
From battlefield to barrel, Horse Soldier Bourbon carries that legacy — one pour at a time.
🥃 Our Rating Scale
Cock of the Walk – Top-tier, rare, impressive bourbon worthy of top-shelf status.
Hush Your Mouth – Rich, refined, dangerously sippable; budget-redefining pour.
That Dog Will Hunt – Reliable daily drinker; balanced and satisfying.
Bless Your Heart – Mediocre; better in cocktails than neat.
Piddlin’ – Rough, thin, and forgettable; best avoided.
🔗 Links & Resources
🏷️ Keywords & Tags
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📺 Watch the Full Episode
👉 Tortured Bourbon: Horse Soldier Small Batch – From Battlefield to Barrel (feat. Aaron)
