Review #57 Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series#2: Bourbon
Score: 8.3 / 10
Distillery: Bardstown Bourbon Company
Type: Kentucky Straight
Mike sends me this email involving a nation search for an official whiskey taster. And... just like you are thinking I said, "Who"? Well let's answer that question.
Bardstown Bourbon Company was founded in 2016 and shares a spot with some pretty Notable players such as Heaven Hill and other rising star Willett. A small sample really when you are talking about area of Kentucky. They focus primarily on blending bourbons together. Something that is not commonly done with Bourbon when compared to scotch or other international whisk(e)ys.
I believe that this will lead to some very good Bourbon in the future and addresses some concerns that I have recently read saying that Bourbon is too One - Dimensional. We'll if you feel the same way, this and other craft distilleries are right up your alley!
Blended Mashbills:
40% 12 Year KY Bourbon: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley
18% 3 Year Bardstown Bourbon Co: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley
42% 2 Year 10 Months Bardstown Bourbon Co: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Whiskey Review:
Nose: Bursting with notes of Crème Brûlée – toasted sugar, cream and vanilla. Stirring the whiskey in the glass activates some ethanol but yields a lovely cinnamon mocha scent. Poking my nose around the glass uncovers some oak, brown sugar and citrus.
Palate: Oily vanilla hits the tongue and immediately pivots into crackling cinnamon spice with black pepper that builds through the drinking experience before its quickly extinguished leaving big notes of toasted oak.
Finish: Potent and upfront flavors fade quickly leaving a noticeable but much less intense toasted oak. Hints of cinnamon gum and smoke dance around the palate while mild tannins dry out the cheeks while the center of the mouth remains juicy. After several minutes the oak turns into subtle orange and lemon rind.
Score: 8.3
Scale:
S+ Sensational - The Pinnacle (9.5+)
A - AXEceptional (astounding) (9-9.5)
B - bravo (step aBove average) (8-8.9)
C - competent (7-7.9)
D - disappointing (6-6.9)
F - flush it down the toilet (fail) (5.9 below)
Notes: Availability? Common - Uncommon. A craft whiskey on the rise. Stay tuned for Mike's tasting challenge at the Regional Bardstown official taster search!
