Cat's Eye Distillery Obtainium Light Whiskey
Barrel-strength American light whiskey, aged 7 years and bottled at 128.4 proof, distilled in Indiana and released by Cat's Eye Distillery of Bettendorf, Iowa under its Obtainium label. This limited 2022 release — 194 bottles drawn from a barrel distilled April 11, 2015, and rested in used charred oak — is a window into a nearly forgotten whiskey style: light whiskey, distilled between 160 and 190 proof and aged the old way, now revived for collectors and connoisseurs. Order this rare bottle online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 64.2% ABV (128.4 proof) — bottled at barrel strength — VERIFY AGAINST BOTTLE LABEL (a conflicting source lists 67.2% ABV)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 7 years in used charred oak (distilled 4/11/2015, bottled 5/10/2022)
- Origin: Distilled at MGP (Midwest Grain Products), Lawrenceburg, Indiana; bottled by Cat's Eye Distillery, Bettendorf, Iowa
- Production: Light whiskey style — distilled between 160–190 proof, aged in used charred oak (contrast bourbon's 160-proof ceiling and new oak requirement)
- Rarity: Single release of only 194 bottles under the Obtainium label
A 1968 Style, Resurrected One Barrel at a Time
Light whiskey was born in 1968, when American drinkers were drifting toward vodka and gin — a cleaner, lighter style distilled at unusually high proof and aged in used charred oak rather than the new barrels bourbon demands. Distilleries let it age only briefly, and when the style fell out of fashion, stocks of light whiskey sat ignored in warehouses for decades. Cat's Eye Distillery built its Obtainium line around exactly that kind of forgotten barrel: sourced spirits from distilleries around the world — rye, bourbon, light whiskey — bottled at barrel strength or blended into signature batches, each one unique to its barrel. This 7-year Indiana barrel is the pure experience of what light whiskey can become given time: sweet corn and vanilla up front, a warm peppery spine, and a long, intense finish. Find it in the Cat's Eye Distillery collection and browse other American whiskies at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Sweet corn and vanilla dominate, with subtle caramel and a touch of charred oak as it opens.
Palate: Rich and spicy — butterscotch and a hint of citrus zest over a warm, peppery undertone from the high proof.
Finish: Long and intense, with lingering sweetness, a touch of oak, and a gentle heat that fades smoothly.
How to Enjoy
At 128.4 proof this is a neat pour for the experienced, with a splash of water recommended to open the nose. It's also a collector's bottle by design — only 194 exist — so many buyers will keep it shelved as a snapshot of American light whiskey's second act. For cocktails, use it sparingly where a high-proof, oak-driven backbone is wanted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is light whiskey? A defined American style: whiskey distilled between 160 and 190 proof (higher than bourbon's 160-proof ceiling) and aged in used charred oak or new uncharred oak, as opposed to bourbon's mandatory new charred oak. It was created in 1968 and largely forgotten — until sourced bottlings like this one revived interest.
Is this the same as the Obtainium 27-year Canadian whisky? No. "Obtainium" is Cat's Eye's line of sourced whiskeys, and the 27-year Canadian release is a different product (a blend distilled at the Black Velvet distillery in Alberta). This bottle is an American light whiskey distilled at MGP in Indiana.
Why does one source list 67.2% ABV? Obtainium releases are unique per barrel or batch, and published specs vary between retailers. The 7-year barrel release matching this title is documented at 64.2% ABV (128.4 proof) — check the bottle label for the exact figure on your bottle.
How many bottles were made? This release is documented as 194 bottles — a genuinely limited single release.
Only 194 bottles of this barrel-strength 7-year light whiskey were ever released — order from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA while this rare Obtainium bottling is still in the catalog.