Black Maple Hill is a bottling label rather than a distillery, so its “production” is really selection and mingling. For the classic-era 16-year, the documented chain runs through the label's bottlers — early releases produced by Julian Van Winkle III, then Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, the Willett family's operation in Bardstown, from 2009 to 2014 — and several barrels of aged Kentucky straight bourbon were married together into a small batch, then bottled at 95 proof. The distillery that actually distilled the whiskey, and its mash bill, were not disclosed, which is standard for sourced whiskey of this label and era; the value proposition was the age and the barrel selection, not a stated recipe. Sixteen years of maturation in charred oak is the defining production fact here — long enough to pull deep oak and developed secondary character from the wood, with the moderate bottling proof chosen to keep that range legible rather than driving it.

Every bottle sold through Midnight Whiskey is sourced as an authentic, sealed product and inspected before it ships. Orders are packed with padded, glass-rated handling and require an adult signature (21+) on delivery; we do not ship to anyone unable to verify legal drinking age. For our full sourcing and handling protocols, see our editorial and authentication standards.

Is Black Maple Hill a distillery?

No. Black Maple Hill is a sourced whiskey label, not a distillery — its bourbons and ryes are bottled from casks distilled elsewhere and selected under the label's name. Classic-era releases like this 16-year passed through the label's documented bottling chain — early releases produced by Julian Van Winkle III, with bottling at Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, the Willett family's operation in Bardstown, from 2009 to 2014. The specific distillery of origin and the mash bill were not disclosed, which is normal for sourced whiskey of this kind and this era.

What proof is Black Maple Hill 16 Year Small Batch?

It is bottled at 95 proof, or 47.5% ABV. That is a moderate strength by design: at sixteen years the whiskey has already taken a great deal from the barrel, and 95 proof keeps the aromatic range open rather than driving it with alcohol. "Small batch" means several selected barrels were mingled together — a more consistent, rounded profile than a single-barrel release, at the same sourcing standard.

Is classic-era Black Maple Hill still produced?

No. The classic-era releases — the ones tied to the label's original golden run and its Kentucky Bourbon Distillers sourcing — are not being reproduced. What circulates now is remaining legacy stock, which is why these bottles command the attention and the prices they do. A separate modern revival of the label exists and is a different release; this page is the classic-era bottle, not that one.