Bardstown Bourbon Company is certainly making waves in the whiskey community. Innovations like the Discovery, Collaborative, and Origin series are setting trends that have serious longevity in the modern whiskey world. Look at the conversation that gets started when a brand decides to lead with transparency; the blend is featured in all its glory on the side label of the bottle. While distillery sources are often closely guarded secrets due to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), there's nothing stopping an independent reviewer from speculating based on the presented facts.
The first mash bill could be several sources, as both Wild Turkey and Jim Beam produce and externally sell this bourbon mash bill. Given this is the majority grain, I'll weigh in on what my palate is telling me from previous experiences: this tastes like Wild Turkey bourbon—specifically some of the fruitier stuff from the likes of Camp Nelson warehouse E. The second mash bill is very likely Heaven Hill distillate. The third mash bill is that wonderful mystery mash bill coming back around (once again rounded from 78.5% corn, 13% rye, 8.5% malted barley) that has been discussed at length. It's apparently still being sold in bulk tote form. I just recently tasted a 15 year old example in Hunt & Gather that tasted like it was most likely Beam distilled. The world may never know, but I'm certainly happy to speculate with the best of them.
For those keeping score at home, my final guess for this blend is 48% Wild Turkey, 29% Heaven Hill, 15% Beam, and 8% Bardstown bourbon. The final concoction, a mix of all these incredibly talented distilleries, is what we'll be reviewing today.
If you're not familiar with the Discovery series, Bardstown offers the following description:
Our Discovery Series highlights the Art of Blending, creating exciting expressions that together are greater than the sum of their parts. Through artfully combining rare and exemplary whiskies we discover from all over the world, this series pushes the boundaries of innovation by creating completely unique flavor profiles and styles. Each release gives you something new to discover.
I have admittedly not had a ton of Bardstown Bourbon Company, other than a few choice single barrels that have been selected and sold out of their Louisville tasting room and bottle shop, so I am rather excited to get into this pour. I was able to taste this thanks to a generous sample from my dear friend Tony Adams from A Steady Pour podcast. Let's dive in and see what the hooplah is all about on this blend of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys.
Company on Label: Bardstown Bourbon Company
Whiskey Type: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: A blend of 4 different mash bills:
48% of the blend: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
29% of the blend: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley
15% of the blend: 78% corn, 13% rye, 9% malted barley
8% of the blend: 60% corn, 26% rye, 10% wheat, 4% malted barley
Resulting in derived mash bill of 75.23% corn, 13.17% rye, 0.8% wheat, 10.91% malted barley
Proof: 115.2°
Age: A minimum of 6 years, though the blend contains bourbons that are 6, 10, and 14 years old
Further identification: The Discovery series, first released in 2019, is Bardstown Bourbon Company's distinguished collection of rare blends; Series #12 is the September 2024 release, with limited availability at an MSRP of $139.99
Nose: Upon lifting the glass to my nose, I find an old, musty oak profile. Kentucky rick houses immediately enter the mind's eye on deep inhales. A delicate floral tone begins to seep in as the glass continues to rest and develop. The overall aroma reminds me slightly of Pursuit United bourbon, which makes sense since they source whiskey from Bardstown Bourbon Company. Despite this parallel, this is a classic Kentucky bourbon through and through. Brown sugar, Biscoff cookie, and torched whipped cream present a dark, brooding profile. Dull pecan pie can be pulled out of long inhales. Barrel funk continues to dominate even after a sip. Late in the glass, vanilla bean ice cream and red grape skin aromas develop well. The empty glass smells of milk duds, moon pie, green tea, and cucumber. What a wild ride.
Palate: My first sip presents boozy up front, tingly in the middle, and salty on the linger. The palate leads with cherry cordial and RumChata. Notes of crème brûlée and garden pudding cups in the follow-through are obscure but enjoyable. Caramel ties together delicate floral tones like honey jasmine and elderflower. The overall profile reminds me of spring, fitting for the yearning midwinter's mind. Another sip layers in custard topped with raspberries. It's a simple sip, but quite enjoyable. The mouthfeel is consistent, cohesive, and silky, like maraschino cherry juice straight off the spoon. Sipping late in the glass presents a whiskey that is balanced, refined, and well-aged to the point of wood influence overtaking the base mash grains. My last sip presents utterly drinkable with sweet raspberry tones proliferating nicely. A lack of defining character that separates this from the rest of the Kentucky bourbon scene is stuck in my mind, as I do thoroughly enjoy the long finish of pirouline stick and chocolate ganache. This will crush with folks who prefer a sweeter sip, like fans of Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, and Wild Turkey. Take your time, and this develops quite nicely.
TL;DR: Fruit-forward and ready for the Kentucky limelight
Rating: 4/5
Patient sippers will be rewarded with sweet, latent complexity on this dram. Perhaps this pour was never meant to have drastic differentiation from the Kentucky bourbon scene. Perhaps this IS the Kentucky bourbon scene exemplified. With 4 mash bills coming together from across Kentucky, this is a rare example of what a collaborative state of mind can do. On my third and final taste, I finally understand what this pour is all about, and I'm certainly here for it. This is good whiskey, tastefully blended, and served up in a clean, transparent, chicanery-free bottling from a whiskey producer poised to capture some significant market share in the years to come. Onward and upward, Bardstown.
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