Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon Whiskey Review

Blue Note
Juke Joint
Straight Bourbon Whiskey
93 Proof
MSRP: $34.99
Review

Please enjoy our Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon Whiskey Review by Laura Becker!

Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon Distilled in Kentucky but “Crafted” in Memphis by B.R. Distilling Co.

Founded in 2018, Blue Note expressions are a creation of B.R. Distilling Company in Memphis, TN. The distillery states that their whiskey is “born” in Kentucky and then “born again” in Memphis. B. R. Distilling is the oldest licensed distillery in Memphis, licensed as DSP TN 21021 in 2014. It states that the distillery “focuses solely on crafting, aging, bottling and distributing the finest whiskey possible.” Distilling is not mentioned. The Blue Note product line is named for the world-renowned Memphis blues music scene. “Like the blues, Blue Note is bold yet smooth. It embodies Southern culture and Delta Flavor.” Like delicious Memphis barbecue, they believe that aging their barrels of whiskey in the Delta heat and humidity allows for the development of full-bodied bourbons. The Blue Note Whiskey is indeed ”finished with soul.”

The Blue Note bourbon product line has 3 different expressions: Juke Joint, Juke Joint Uncut and Blue Note Crossroads. Limited whiskey releases include Blue Note Premium Small Batch, Blue Note Single Barrel Reserve, Blue Note 2025 Special Reserve and Blue Note 17 year. A 95/5 Blue Note Rye Whiskey is also available.

At the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Juke Joint and Crossroads were awarded Platinum medals, a rare honor signifying that each expression has received Double Gold medals for three consecutive years.

The Specifics – Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon Whiskey Review

Blue Note ’s flagship straight bourbon whiskey, Juke Joint, is distilled by Green River Distilling in Kentucky. Green River Distilling, along with Bardstown Bourbon Company, are the distilleries in the newly created Lofted Spirits. The bourbon is then “crafted” (aged and finished) in Memphis. It is distilled from a mash bill of 70% corn, 21% rye and 9% malted barley. It is unfiltered. Blue Note specifically mentions where these barrels are aged — in warehouses located north of downtown Memphis outside of the “heat island effect” that many urban areas encounter. The barrels rest comfortably just east of the Mississippi River in their own “microclimate, with high humidity and steady temperatures.” The Juke Joint Bourbon is aged at least 3 years and bottled at 93 proof.

Tasting Notes – Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn Glass

👉🏻Nose: Hay, corn, freshly mowed grass, slightly strong alcohol vapors, light oak
👉🏻Taste: Very subtle traditional bourbon notes, butterscotch, vanilla, nutmeg and pear
👉🏻Finish: Short, dry finish; it seemed like the flavors dissipated quickly

The flavors that develop as one noses Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon Whiskey remind me of spring. Those freshly cut grass odors that tell us winter is behind us, along with hints of hay and corn. There are some stronger alcohol vapors on the nose; thus I would not spend a great deal of time nosing this expression, so let’s move on to taste. The mouthfeel was oily. The viscous nature of an oily mouthfeel is not something I typically enjoy in my bourbon. The taste presented itself with our typical bourbon characteristics of vanilla, butterscotch with a light baking spice more predominantly of nutmeg. The flavors were not an assault on my palate, but more simple in their approach. This might be related to the younger age of at least 3 years. The finish came and went pretty quickly, reducing that oily mouthfeel and finishing dry.

Conclusion

Overall, the flagship Blue Note Juke Joint Whiskey shows a bit of its youth in the aging process but with its reasonable MSRP at $34.99 I still found it to be an approachable drinker. At 93 proof this would be a bourbon that I would offer to those not yet acclimated to higher proof expressions. I enjoyed discovering nutmeg in the flavor profile along with those traditional bourbon notes. It makes sense that this is the flagship expression for Blue Note. It is a good starting point before launching into their other releases that have some varied ages, different finishes or different blends on them. Have you had tried Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon Review by Laura Becker! Would you like to learn more about Green River Distilling? Then check out our Green River Distilling Tour Review! Also, you can read these related reviews: Blue Note Honey Rye Cask Review and Blue Note Crossroads Bourbon Review.

Note: This bottle was graciously provided by the brand for our review. Thank you!

About the Author: Laura Becker, an Executive Bourbon Steward of the Stave & Thief Society, serves on the boards of the Lexington Bourbon Society and Kentucky Bourbon Influencers. Laura also works as a Brand Ambassador for few different distilleries. Lastly, each summer she and her husband, Frank, teach Whisk(e)y education experiences at Chautauqua Institution in New York.

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!