Horse Soldier Commander's Select VII 10 Year Old Barrel Strength Bourbon Whiskey
Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon | 750mL | 60% ABV (120 proof) | Aged 10 years | Limited edition — Horse Soldier Commander's Select VII is the seventh annual limited release from the brand founded in 2015 by retired U.S. Army Green Berets of the 5th Special Forces Group — the ODA 595 "Horse Soldiers" who rode into Afghanistan on horseback days after 9/11, the story told in the film 12 Strong. This is a wheated barrel-strength bourbon: 70% corn / 25% wheat / 5% barley, pot-still distilled with a long fermentation, laid down 10 years ago in a single Bardstown rickhouse in new #4 char American oak, and bottled non-chillfiltered at a full 120 proof. Each bottle is pressed in a mold forged from World Trade Center steel, honoring the America's Response Monument at Ground Zero. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
Commander's Select is the brand's annual curator's pick from older stocks, and VII leans into the wheated style: sarsaparilla, vanilla, and birch up front, finishing smooth with cacao and a touch of honey (per the official tasting note). The whiskey was distilled by Middle West Spirits in Columbus, Ohio, as production transitions to the brand's new $200M Horse Soldier Farms distillery in Somerset, Kentucky. Among bourbons, it's a barrel strength whiskey with genuine weight behind the story — not just marketing, but the actual founders' history in the glass.
Tasting notes
Official (Horse Soldier): a wheated bourbon with hints of sarsaparilla, vanilla, and birch, finishing smooth with cacao and a touch of honey. At 120 proof, expect a bold, dense palate — add water to taste to open the wheat softness.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 750mL, 120 proof, 10 years old — wheated barrel strength, non-chillfiltered
- 7th annual limited release, curated from older Bardstown stocks
- Bottles pressed in molds forged from World Trade Center steel
- Founded by the actual Green Beret "Horse Soldiers" of ODA 595
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Start neat with water alongside — at 120 proof, a few drops aren't optional, they're the tasting. Once opened, it's a serious pour for anyone who collects barrel-strength bourbon.
Frequently asked questions
What is the proof of Commander's Select VII?
120 proof (60% ABV) — it's a true barrel-strength release, bottled non-chillfiltered.
What is the mash bill?
70% corn / 25% wheat / 5% barley — a wheated bourbon, per the brand's official VII page. (Other Horse Soldier lines use different mashes.)
Who founded Horse Soldier Bourbon?
Retired U.S. Army Green Berets from the 5th Special Forces Group — the ODA 595 team whose post-9/11 mission in Afghanistan inspired the film 12 Strong.
Is this a limited release?
Yes — Commander's Select is the brand's annual limited release, and VII is the seventh edition.