Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series 12 Review

Bardstown Bourbon Company
Discovery Series 12
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
115.2 Proof
MSRP: $139.99
Review

Please enjoy our Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series 12 Review!

From the Bardstown Bourbon Company: “The 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 provides something new to discover.”

A Blend of Four Kentucky Bourbons

Bardstown Bourbon Company has always been transparent about the whiskeys used in their blends. While many earlier Discovery Series releases featured a mix of Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia, Tennessee and even Canadian whiskeys, Discovery Series 11 and Discovery Series 12 are both a refreshing return to all-Kentucky sources. Discovery Series 11 was a blend of 3 Kentucky Bourbons aged 6 to 13 years. And now, Bardstown Discovery Series 12 is a blend of 4 Kentucky Bourbons, aged 6 to 14 years.

The Component Bourbons

Tasting Notes – Bardstown Bourbon Discovery Series 12 Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Toffee, lightly burnt caramel, mild brown sugar, vanilla, cherries, orange citrus & dry oak
👉🏻Taste: Moderately burnt caramel; toffee, brown sugar, orange citrus & dry oak
👉🏻Finish: Black pepper & dry oak; mild lingering sweetness; mild barrel char; long with a moderate warmth

The nose is fairly full and rich, with toffee, lightly burnt caramel, brown sugar, vanilla and cherries. In contrast to those sweeter, richer flavors, are dry oak and orange citrus.

The taste begins mildly sweet, with similar flavors to the nose, minus the cherries. The burnt caramel becomes somewhat more pronounced, and there are again brown sugar, toffee, orange citrus and some dry oak.

The finish picks up quite a bit more black pepper spice, and fairly rapidly becomes increasingly dry, with dry oak and some tannins. However, there is also mild lingering sweetness, which gradually dissipates. The finish is long, with a pleasant warmth, and just the right amount of barrel char towards the end.

The older bourbons definitely make themselves known, which is not unexpected, since 92% of the bourbons in the blend are 10 years old, or older. In fact, almost half is at least 14 years old. Although 8% of the bourbon used is 6 year old Bardstown Bourbon Company four grain bourbon, Discovery 12 definitely has the flavor characteristics of a well-aged bourbon. But, it also has some of the sweeter brighter notes of a younger bourbon. Therefore, there’s no worry about it tasting “too” old; the oak is not at all overbearing and perfectly complements the other flavors.

Conclusion

Discovery Series 12 certainly does highlight Bardstown Bourbon Company’s blending skills. It captures the essence of well-aged bourbon while maintaining the vibrant characteristics of the younger spirits. If rich confectionary flavors combined with citrus, spice and oak, in just the right way, sound inviting to you, then you’ll want to give Bardstown Bourbon Company Discover Series 12 a try! Have you had it? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series 12 Review!

Would you like to read a few reviews of other whiskeys from this distillery? Then check out our Bardstown Bourbon Silver Oak, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat Bourbon and Bardstown Bourbon Company Amrut Collaborative Series reviews! If you would like to learn more about the distillery, then read our Bardstown Bourbon Company Tour Review!

Note: This sample was graciously provided by the Distillery for my review.

Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!