Bourbon Reviews, Distillery News and Information
Bourbon Reviews
At BourbonObsessed.com we love all types of whiskey, but particularly bourbon. On this page, you will find all of our Bourbon Reviews, starting with the most recent. To instead see all of our rye reviews, or all our whiskey reviews of any type, click one of these: Rye Whiskey Reviews / All Whiskey Reviews. Finally, to see a list of all of our bourbon, rye and other whiskey reviews on one page, click this link: List of All Bourbon, Rye and Other Whiskey Reviews.
To search for a particular bourbon review or any type of whiskey review, simply type all or part of the name of the whiskey in the search box below.
Evan Williams 12 Year Bourbon Review
The Evan Williams Aged 12 Years used to be sold only in Japan as an export-only product. However, you can now find the bourbon at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville, the only place in the country that makes the 12-year available. It’s an easy drinker that I wish was more widely available. Read our review to learn more!
Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon C922 Review
LarcenyKentucky Straight Bourbon WhiskeyBarrel ProofBatch: C922Proof: 126.6Age: 6-8 years oldMSRP: ~$60Review Please enjoy my Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch C922 Review! Buy Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon at Frootbat Larceny Barrel Proof Launched in 2020 Back in 2020, Heaven Hill Distillery…
Michter’s Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey Review (2021)
Shenk’s Homestead honors John Shenk, who founded a distillery in 1783 that would later become Michter’s. It’s a limited-production release shrouded by a little mystery. This is a “high rye” whiskey that doesn’t make its mash bill public. The 2021 release’s aging process uses barrels made from Chinquapin Oak trees. Some use the oak as proof that Shenk’s can’t possibly be bourbon. It could be that the mash bill has less than 51% corn, which would knock it out of the bourbon sphere. Learn more about Shenk’s Homestead 2021 release in our review!
Knob Creek 12 Year Bourbon Review
Knob Creek 12 Year Old Bourbon was first released back in 2019 as a limited edition, but became a permanent member of the Knob Creek line in 2020. It was initially released at 100 proof, similar to their flagship 9 year bourbon. Interestingly, at the time of Knob 12 Year’s release, the flagship bourbon had no age statement. Beam removed it back in 2016 citing shortages of 9 year old whiskey, but then brought it back in 2020. Also, to add to the confusion, their was a brief limited release of Knob Creek 12 year at cask strength back in the Fall of 2020. So how is the Knob Creek 12 Year Old Bourbon? Read our review and find out!
Maker’s Mark CommUNITY Batch 2022 Review
The CommUNITY Batch bourbon is a collaboration between Maker’s Mark and the LEE Initiative. First released in 2020 to help hospitality industry workers during the pandemic, this has since become an annual release. Learn more about the 2022 batch in our review!
Knob Creek 18 Year Bourbon Review
Knob Creek 18 Year Old is a limited edition bourbon released to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Knob Creek Bourbon. If you are someone who enjoys well aged bourbons, and is a fan of oak, then this is a bourbon for you! Read our review to learn more!
Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Review
Keeper’s Heart’s inaugural release was Keeper’s Heart Whiskey – Irish + American, and was a blend of Irish Pot Still Whiskey, Irish Grain Whiskey and American Rye. The whiskey I am trying is their second blend, Irish + Bourbon, which is also a blend of Irish Pot Still Whiskey and Irish Grain Whiskey, but instead of rye, bourbon is used. So what’s it like? Check out our review!
Remus Gatsby Reserve Review (2022)
The latest in the Remus Bourbon family, the Remus Gatsby Reserve, celebrates F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, “The Great Gatsby,” which examines prohibition-era America during the Jazz age. The bourbon, crafted by master distiller Ian Stirsman and his team at Ross & Squibb Distillery, is made with 15-year-old reserves of straight bourbon whiskey. How is it? Check out our review!
Old Pogue Bourbon Review
In the era of craft bourbon distilleries, Old Pogue’s character and uniqueness make it stand out. Learn more about Old Pogue Master’s Select Bourbon in our review!
Nelson Brothers Bourbon Review
Have you heard of Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery? If you have been into bourbon for a while, you probably are familiar with their Belle Meade line of bourbons, the bourbons that originally put them on the map. They have recently rebranded their flagship whiskey line as Nelson Brothers Whiskey and have released two inaugural bourbons in the new Nelson Bros Whiskey line; Nelson Bros. Classic Bourbon and Nelson Bros. Reserve Bourbon. Learn more about them in our review!
Castle & Key Wheated Bourbon Review
First There Was Castle & Key “Rye” Bourbon. Now There Is Castle & Key “Wheated” Bourbon. What’s a wheated bourbon, you might ask? Well, instead of using rye as the secondary grain after corn, wheat is used. In this case, 73% white corn, 10% white wheat, and 17% Kentucky malted barley. What’s Castle & Key Wheated Bourbon like? Check out our review and find out!
Bulleit Barrel Strength Bourbon Review
Bulleit barrel strength bourbon has deep rich flavors that make this a winner. How does it stack up against competitors with similar price points, like Larceny, Maker’s Mark, 1792, and Elijah Craig? Bulliet can stand shoulder to shoulder with them all. This isn’t an entry level product, and its flavor warrants a higher price point. It’s worth it. Read our full review to learn more!
Barrell Vantage Bourbon Review
The process behind Barrell Vantage, and other Barrell Craft Spirits blends for that matter, is unique. The bourbons that comprise Barrell Vantage are distilled in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. Each of the three component bourbons are then finished separately in Mizunara, French and Toasted American oak barrels. In addition, different char and toast levels for the barrels are used. Once the secondary finishing is deemed complete, the individual finished bourbons are then blended, rather than being blended together prior to finishing. This allows for greater flexibility in creating the final product. So how is it? Read on to find out!
Bulleit 10 Year Bourbon Review
A bourbon aged for 10 years should mellow its flavors just a bit and take on some oak. For Bulleit, spice remains king. Read our Bulleit 10 Year Old Bourbon Review for more details.
Old Elk Wheated Bourbon Review
Old Elk Wheated BourbonStraight Bourbon Whiskey92 ProofMSRP: $69.99Review Please enjoy our updated Old Elk Wheated Bourbon Review! I had first reviewed this bourbon back in 2022, but it is time that I revisit it again in September 2024. A Little…
Lux Row 12 Year Double Barrel Bourbon Review
Have you ever had a bourbon that you would drink every day if it weren’t so hard to find? The Lux Row 12-year Double Barrel Bourbon is in that category. This is a special bottle. As good as the bottle looks and feels the bourbon tastes far better.
Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon Review
Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a high malt bourbon, which is pretty atypical. Indeed, when they say high malt, they mean high malt! The mash bill is 51% corn, 34% malted barley and 15% rye. That’s significantly more malt than most other distilleries use. So how does that all add up? Read on to find out!
Bardstown Bourbon Company Château De Laubade 2022 Review
This is Bardstown Bourbon Company’s second foray into finishing bourbon in Château De Laubade Armagnac casks. The first release was made with a 12 year old Indiana bourbon, presumably from MGP. This second release uses a blend of 12 year old Kentucky bourbon and 10 year old Tennessee bourbon, with no proportions or other specifics provided. So right from the start these will be two very different releases.
Pinhook True Small Batch Bourbon Heist Review
Pinhook Bourbon Heist High Proof Bourbon has been my favorite Pinhook Bourbon release to date. Therefore, when I saw this Justins’ House of Bourbon Pinhook Bourbon Heist True Small Batch, I knew I had to have it.
Daviess County Bourbon Review
Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon is another in a line of bourbons that has a lighter color but a heavier taste. Citrus, specifically orange, is the predominant flavor here. There’s also a teeny bit of grapefruit that balances out the flavors. The pepper is the big surprise at the end, but no wonder. Daviess is a blend of bourbon and ryes and that little kick shows off a nicely blended pour.
Woody Creek Distillers Bourbon Review
Woody Creek Distillers was founded in 2012. Located in Basalt, Colorado, 15 miles west of Aspen, they produce their whiskeys from locally sourced grains. In fact, they grow the potatoes that they use in their vodka and as a base for their gin themselves! I am enjoying this bourbon. While it is on the lighter side, it still has full flavors. There’s a noticeable sweetness, and some youthfulness, but they work together well. In addition, the bit of spice in the finish offers a nice contrast to those earlier flavors.
Bourbon Rabbi Honey Finished Bourbon Review
Have you heard of the Bourbon Rabbi? He is Rabbi Chaim Litvin, and also a brand of bourbon. The nickname Bourbon Rabbi was bestowed upon him by the Wall Street Journal in 2017 because he works with distilleries to certify their bourbon as kosher. He also just recently released a bourbon of the same name.
RD ONE Bourbon Finished With French Oak Review
Are you familiar with RD1 Spirits? Well, let me acquaint you. RD1 stands for Registered Distillery One, the first registered distillery in central Kentucky. What was that first distillery, you may very well ask? Well, it was the Ashland Distillery, in Lexington! While Ashland was established in 1865, it had quite the short life, distilling only from 1868-1869. Ashland was subsequently acquired by William Tarr and Thomas J. Megibben in 1871 and production returned. You may recognize William Tarr as the namesake of the first whiskey that RD1 Spirits produced. The William Tarr line has since been retired, and the RD ONE line is now taking its place. The RD ONE Bourbon Finished With French Oak is the first release under the new label. So how is it? Let’s find out!
Daviess County Lightly Toasted Bourbon Review
Lux Row Distillers continued the expansion of its Daviess County brand with the August 2022 release of Daviess County Lightly Toasted Bourbon with a limited release of 3,000 six-packs (18,000 bottles). Lux Row noted that this bourbon contains the same bourbon and rye blend as the other bourbons in the Daviess County line. However, the flavor profile comes from toasting the barrels.
Daviess County Cabernet Finished Bourbon Review
If you want a bourbon that will surprise you, try this Daviess County Cabernet Finished Bourbon. I mean, wow. First, the thick mouth feel surprised me and reminded me of a sauterne, a sweet dessert wine. The red wine comes through big on the nose but quickly calms down. The deep, dark fruit does bring hints of cabernet, but it’s not so overwhelming that it overpowers the flavors of the bourbon, a flaw in a number of finished bourbon products.
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Review
Redbreast has recently announced a collection of whiskeys that will only be available in the United States. Accordingly, The American Oak Series is its name. The first release in the series is the Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition. It is made from malted and unmalted barley and triple distilled in copper pot stills. The whiskey then matures in American Oak Bourbon barrels and Spanish Oloroso sherry butts. Check out my review to learn more!
Southern Star Paragon Bourbon Review
The Southern Distilling Company is fairly large contract distiller, but they also produce their own line of whiskeys under the Southern Star label. Also under this label is the Paragon series of wheated bourbons. There’s a 92 proof verion, a Bottled-In-Bond and a Cask Strength Single Barrel. It is the latter that I am reviewing today.
Tuesday Tidbit: TerrePURE, Terressentia and OZ Tyler
So what’s TerrePURE and what does it have to do with bourbon? Well, the TerrePURE process was developed by the Terressentia Corporation back around 2007. The process purifies alcoholic beverages using ultrasonic energy and oxidation. Few details have been revealed except to say that it could remove unwanted congeners (byproducts of fermentation) as well as convert some fatty acids to more flavorful esters. This process would overall “purify” a spirit and make it more flavorful.
Brough Brothers Bourbon Review
Brough Brothers has an interesting back story. Three brothers opened a distillery not far from where they grew up in a poor area of Louisville, KY — one of the poorest in the state actually. They did so not only to begin their distillery operation but to bring some economic opportunities to the area. Along the way, Brough Brothers became the first and only Black-owned distillery in the state of Kentucky. This a sourced product though Brough Brothers hope to have its own distillate soon.
15 Stars 7 & 15 Year Bourbon Review
Aged 7 & 15 Years Private Stock Bourbon is the second release from 15 Stars. The first release was their 14 year old Timeless Reserve, which I have reviewed previously. 15 Stars 7 & 15 Year Private Stock Bourbon is, as the name states, a blend of 7 & 15 year old Kentucky Straight bourbons. The bourbons are being sourced from an undisclosed distiller, while 15 Stars’ own whiskeys mature.
Heaven Hill Select Stock 14 Year Bourbon Review
Heaven Hill Select Stock has been an annual release for a while now. However, until its debut on the You Do Bourbon Experience, it was not very well known. This year’s release, Heaven Hill Select Stock 14 Year Bourbon, is aged in tapered stave barrels. The goal was to see how this unique barrel affected the bourbon’s taste. Read on to find out!
Wilderness Trail 8 Year Bourbon Review
Wilderness Trail 8 Year Bourbon is a small batch, which in this case is 18-20 barrels. This bourbon is Bottled In Bond, so it’s 100 proof by definition. The first batch is being sold only at the distillery, with the second batch to be sold throughout Kentucky. There’s definitely a noticeable difference between this 8 year old bourbon and their regular release, which is around 5 years or so. The flavors are definitely more mature. Notably, this bourbon changed considerably aftter having a day or two to open up. The fruit flavors, as well as the more mature flavors really developed, as did more complexity. This is all around a very enjoyable bourbon, and definitely worth the 8 year wait!
Balcones Tres Hombres Whisky Review
Balcones Tres Hombres Texas Whisky was created in collaboration with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Texas band, ZZ Top. Hence, the whisky’s name comes from the band’s first top 10 album, Tres Hombres, which was released in 1973. Tres Hombres Texas Whisky originally debuted in November 2021. However, the bottle I bought was from the second release, which became available May of this year. It bears the markings batch: ZZ22-1, date: 4.28.22 on its label.
Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well Bourbon Review
Jacob’s Well Bourbon is one of the 2 inaugural releases of the James B. Beam Distilling Company’s new Hardin’s Creek brand. Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well Bourbon is the polar opposite of their other inaugural release, Colonel James B. Beam Bourbon. Whereas Colonel James B. Beam Bourbon is a 2 year old bourbon meant to be reminiscent of the bourbon produced by Col. Jim Beam shortly after Prohibition ended, Jacob’s Well Bourbon is at the other end of the spectrum. It is a near equal blend of 16 year old bourbon made from the traditional Jim Beam bourbon mash bill and a 15 year old high rye bourbon.
Hardin’s Creek Colonel James B Beam Bourbon Review
Hardin’s Creek Colonel James B. Beam Bourbon, which is a 2 year old bourbon made in homage to the bourbon that Col. James B. Beam (aka Jim Beam) brought to market shortly after prohibition ended.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Plantation Rum Finish Bourbon Review
The Bardstown Bourbon Company Plantation Rum Barrel Finished Bourbon is the latest in the BBC’s Collaborative Series. This time, the folks at the BBC have started with a 10 year old Tennessee bourbon. They then finished it in Plantation Rum barrels for 22 months.
Shady Mile Bourbon Review
According to their website, Shady Mile Bourbon is said to be produced in Owensboro Kentucky at the 10th oldest distillery in Kentucky. There is only one distillery that fits that description. Therefore, I would have to assume that they are referring to the Green River Distilling Co. The Shady Mile wheated and high rye bourbons have very similar mash bills. The only difference being whether rye or wheat is used as the secondary grain. The bourbon mash bill is: 70% corn, 21% either wheat or rye, and 9% malted barley. The distillate is then barreled at 120 proof. Both are bottled at 90 proof.
Tom Moore Bourbon Review
Tom Moore Bottled In Bond Bourbon is distilled at the Barton Distilling Company. Therefore, I would expect that even though it comes in a plastic 1.75 liter jug for 21.99, that it would still be a decent bourbon. It’s Bottled In Bond, and therefore it’s at least a 4 year old bourbon. In addition, Thomas Moore was essentially the founder of what is now the Barton 1792 Distillery, so how could it not be a great value bourbon?
Smoke Wagon Uncut The Younger Review
Smoke Wagon Uncut The Younger is the latest bourbon from Nevada H&C Distilling. What’s new and exiting about The Younger is that it is meant to be an available and affordable high proof daily drinker. This is a fairly complex, relatively hot, spicy, viscous bourbon. But I don’t mean that in a bad way at all; this is one meant for those used to high proof and strong flavors.
Wilderness Trail Small Batch Rye Review
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that I have been a huge Wilderness Trail Distillery fan ever since their first bourbon release. A couple of weeks ago I had posted about their new Small Batch Wheated Bourbon, and mentioned some of the changes they have going on, one of which is this new Bottled In Bond Small Batch Rye which is replacing their Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye in their core whiskey line up.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Review
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is one of my favorite bourbons. I look forward to each of the thrice yearly releases with great anticipation. Fortunately, I no longer have to explain to my wife why I need another Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon; she now also appreciates how different (yet also similar) each batch is. So, when I heard that Heaven Hill Distillery was adding ECBP to their single barrel program, I was needless to say, very excited.
Neeley Sweet Thumped Rye Review
This particular rye is to celebrate PawPaw, grandfather of current master distiller and owner Royce Neeley. PawPaw is also a distiller, and got his start “back in the day” in Eastern Kentucky. This rye was distilled and barreled on PawPaw’s 77th birthday and bottled and sold to celebrate his 79th birthday, this past May 16th, 2022. PawPaw’s Birthday barrel was sold in 750ml bottles; the regular release is also a single barrel and comes packaged in 375ml bottles also at barrel strength.
Maker’s Mark DNA Project Review
The Maker’s Mark DNA project set out to experiment with 4 different barrel entry proofs: 110, 115, 120 & 125. The bourbons were all distilled on the same day, and aged in the same warehouse, on the same middle floor. They were not rotated. The barrels were aged for 8 years, which is longer than the usual ~6 years for Maker’s Mark. They were bottled at barrel proof, and if memory serves me, they were bottled as single barrels so the proofs will vary across each batch.
Boone County Toasted Cask Finish Bourbon Review
Boone County Toasted Cask Finish is the latest release from Boone County Distilling Co. This bourbon starts with their fully matured 5 year old Small Batch Bourbon. Then, it is finished in toasted barrels for 3 months. Unfortunately, I do not know any more specifics than that. Although, I do know that their small batch bourbon is distilled by MGP and has a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye & 4% malted barley. 1120 bottles were produced.
Evan Williams Bourbon Review
Evan Williams Bourbon, also known as Evan Williams Black Label was introduced in 1957. Originally a 7 year 90 proof bourbon in a flashy bottle, it has made some changes over the years. EW Black is made from Heaven Hill’s standard bourbon mash bill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley. It’s non-age stated, but I have it on reasonably good authority that this bourbon is around 5 to 5 1/2 years old.
Boone County Distilling Co Review
Boone County Distilling Co has a unique niche in the continuously expanding Kentucky bourbon market; its products are “Made By Ghosts.” This ominous sounding tag line in reality is the company’s homage to those now little known nineteenth century characters in Boone County, Kentucky, who forged an enormous distilling pathway.
Jim Beam Bourbon Review
Jim Beam Bourbon, probably more commonly known as Jim Beam White Label, is Beam’s flagship product. According to data compiled by The Spirits Business, in 2020, the Jim Beam brand was the number one selling bourbon in the world, and good ‘ol Jim Beam White Label made up the majority of those sales. You may be wondering why Jim Beam Bourbon is so popular? That’s a fair question, so let’s take a closer look.
Bluegrass Distillers Blue Corn Bottled In Bond Bourbon Review
Bluegrass Distillers Blue Corn Bottled in Bond Bourbon is a unique bourbon. Not only does Bluegrass Distillers use a non-GMO blue corn grown in central Kentucky, they also use wheat as the secondary grain. So, why is wheat unique? Well, because the majority of bourbons have rye as their secondary grain. We don’t even have to guess at the exact recipe; the folks at Bluegrass Distillers share the mash bill with us right there on the label. It’s 75% Blue Corn, 21% Wheat, 4% Malted Barley.
Wilderness Trail Small Batch Wheated Bourbon Review
The folks at Wilderness Trail Distillery have recently made some changes. First, their core products are all now small batch Bottled In Bond whiskeys. Therefore, the original single barrel barrel strength rye and single barrel Bottled In Bond wheated bourbon will now both be 100 proof small batch Bottled In Bond whiskeys. For those familiar with Wilderness Trail’s whiskeys, you’ll recognize that this change makes their parameters the same as the original High Rye Small Batch Bourbon. Don’t worry, single barrel barrel proof whiskeys are not gone. They will still be available in their Family Reserve line.
Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon Review
The Wild Turkey brand was started by Austin, Nichols & Co back in the 1940s. Austin, Nichols & Co originally began as a wholesale grocer, then added wine and spirits, and then transitioned to only wine and spirits. They did not distill, but rather they purchased the bourbon for Wild Turkey from a variety of sources. One of the main sources of bourbon was the Ripy Brothers Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, although the town may have been known as Tyrone at the time.
15 Stars 14 Year Fine Aged Bourbon Review
15 Stars is named in homage to Kentucky being the 15th state on the 15 star US flag, which debuted in 1795. Interestingly, this flag is also the only US flag to have 15 stripes, rather than the 13 that we have today. In addition, this is also the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner. So it’s one important flag! According to the 15 Stars website, they are currently distilling bourbons made with heritage corns, including a baby black corn, which sounds very interesting. Also on deck are bourbons made with heritage red, white and blue corns. While they are waiting for their own whiskeys to mature, they are sourcing and blending some older Kentucky bourbons. This 15 Stars 14 Year Fine Aged Bourbon is their first release.
Old Forester 1910 Bourbon Review
Old Forester 1910 Bourbon, the final addition to Old Forester’s Whiskey Row Series, was released back in October 2018. Immediate success led to high demand which resulted in a very short supply. It became yet another hard to find bourbon. Fortunately these days, supply now keeps up with demand, and Old Forester 1910 is generally readily available.
TW Samuels Bottled In Bond Bourbon Review
T.W. Samuels Bottled in Bond Bourbon is another value Bottled In Bond bourbon produced by Heaven Hill. Like J.W. Dant & J.T.S. Brown, T.W. Samuels was an old brand that is now owned by Heaven Hill.
Old Forester 1897 Bourbon Review
Please enjoy my Old Forester 1897 Bourbon Review! As with all of the bourbons in the Old Forester Whiskey Row series, the year on the label has significance for Old Forester, or for bourbon in general. In this case it is both. 1897 is the year that saw the passage of the Bottled in Bond Act. Let’s quickly review the act itself and its namesake Old Forester 1897 Bourbon.
Castle & Key Bourbon Review
Well, it has been a long time coming, but Castle & Key’s first bourbon has finally been released! Castle & Key Bourbon Batch 1 sold out at the distillery in only a few hours on March 26, although it may be available in stores. Due to the rapid sale of Batch 1, Castle & Key started selling Batch 2 at the distillery in limited quantities on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in April. Batch 2 started appearing in stores, but has also been selling out quickly.
Old Forester 1870 Bourbon Review
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Bourbon was the first release of Old Forester’s Whiskey Row Series, back in November 2014. It was developed by Marianne Eaves, who was Master Taster at Brown-Forman at the time, in conjunction with Chris Morris, Brown-Forman Master Distiller and VP of Whiskey Innovation.
MB Roland Barker’s Mill Bourbon Review
Barker’s Mill is the first Bottled In Bond bourbon from M.B. Roland Distillery. Its namesake mill existed from the early to mid 1800’s until the mid 1900’s. According to the website, the mill included a distillery, although I can’t find any further information about that. The mill had a few names during its existence, one of which, interestingly, was Miller’s Mill. That may have been its originally name back when it was owned and operated by a James Miller. Also, M.B. Roland Distilery is located on Barkers Mill Rd, so there is a definite connection to this name.
Old Forester 1920 Bourbon Review
I thought it was time to revisit the Old Forester 1920 Bourbon, given that it seems to be a favorite of many. According to the Old Forester website, this bourbon is the third expression in the Old Forester Whiskey Row series, and aims to replicate the barrel proof of the bourbon distilled during prohibition under Old Forester’s medicinal license.
Old Bardstown Bottled in Bond Bourbon Review
I know what you are thinking: “A “value” bourbon from Willett? How can that be? Aren’t they the ones whose bourbons go for hundred or even thousands of dollars! Well, yes and no. You see, Willett is also known as Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, Ltd, and they produce many brands other than those bottled under the Willett label. Those brands include: Rowan’s Creek, Pure Kentucky, Noah’s Mill, Johnny Drum, Kentucky Village and the Old Bardstown line, which includes, the Bottled In Bond, the Estate Bottled and the 90 proof version.
Ancient Ancient Age Bourbon Review
Ancient Ancient Age Bourbon, like Blanton’s, is distilled at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY. But, like Blanton’s, this brand, along with Elmer T. Lee and Rock Hill Farms, is actually owned by Age International, Inc, a subsidiary of Takara Shuzo, Ltd (based in Kyoto, Japan). When the Schenley Company (who introduced Ancient Age in 1938) sold the distillery and brand in 1983, Age International was formed. Age International was subsequently purchased by Takara Shuzo in 1991. Takara Shuzo retained the brands, but sold the distillery to Sazerac, which has handled their production ever since.
IW Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve Review
IW Harper whiskey was first produced by the Bernheim Brothers Distillery back in the late 1870’s. You may be familiar with the name Bernheim. There’s the (new) Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, KY, where Heaven Hill currently produces its whiskeys, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest and Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey, also produced by Heaven Hill. So who was this Bernheim?
Heaven Hill 6 Year Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Review
I was debating on whether to include Heaven Hill 6 Year Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon in my value bottled in bond series since it is no longer available as of around a few years or so ago. However, since it was definitely a great value, selling for only around $13-15 in its final days and had a bit of a cult following, it seemed to have earned its spot in this line up. This bourbon, affectionately known as “White Label” was a Kentucky only product and was one of the best values in bourbon in its day.
Five Trail Whiskey Review
Five Trail Whiskey is the first whiskey released by the Coors Whiskey Co. Yes. That Coors. Fresh Rocky Mountain Water, Silver Bullet; I’m sure you’ve heard of them. So what do they know about whiskey? Well, they know enough to use their own internal expertise and to partner with the Bardstown Bourbon Company to develop their product. So, they are off to a great start!Co
Jim Beam Black Bourbon Review
Jim Beam Black Bourbon is an older and slightly higher proof version of Jim Beam “White Label” Bourbon, the number 1 selling bourbon in the world. According to the bottle label: “By giving our classic Jim Beam Black the important added ingredient of time in our charred white oak barrels we discovered the smooth caramel and warm oak notes of this premium extra-aged bourbon. A full-bodied character that’s definitely worth the wait.”
Midway Distilling Rum Finished Rye Review
The Midway Distilling Company represents a new line of finished rye whiskeys from Bluegrass Distillers. The rye itself is distilled by none other than MPG of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. That’s not bad at all, since we know MGP makes a great rye. In fact, the rye whiskey used is the good ‘ol 95/5 rye (that’s 95% rye, 5% malted barley); MGP’s hallmark. The rye is aged 4 years, and is then finished at Bluegrass Distillers, in Lexington, KY, in a variety of different barrels.
Jack Daniel’s Heritage Barrel Review
Have you had a whiskey that completely changed your mind about a particular distillery? I certainly have! The year was 2018. For me at that time, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey represented something that I drank in my younger days… and with Coke. Then came the Jack Daniel’s Heritage Barrel. Little did I know how they had changed over the
Woodford Double Double Oaked Bourbon Review (2022 Release)
Double Double Oaked is an annual limited release bourbon from Woodford Reserve. It is part of Woodford’s Distillery series. First appearing in 2015, the Double Double Oaked bourbon was not released again until 2017. While initially remaining relatively unknown, it gradually gained popularity and has been an annual release ever since.
Broken Barrel Bourbon Finished With Stout Staves Review
Broken Barrel Whiskey Co has an unusual method of finishing whiskey. Instead of putting the aged whiskey in a second barrel, they put pieces of broken barrels in the whiskey. Their flagship releases are Heresy Rye, California Oak, Bourbon and Cask Strength Bourbon. Broken Barrel uses a variety of different types of barrels to create their finished whiskeys. They refer to this blend of stave pieces as the “Oak Bill”.
Company Distilling Bourbon Review
Have you heard of Company Distilling? What about Jeff Arnett? You may remember him as Jack Daniel’s master distiller, and he now is assuming that role at Company Distilling. Their future plans include having two locations in Tennessee, a smaller one in Townsend and a larger one in Alcoa, which will be their main distillery.
Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey Review
Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey is made by Heaven Hill Distillery and is named after the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. The Bernheim Distillery is the main production distillery for Heaven Hill. It is the largest independent, family owned distillery in the world, with a production of 1300 barrels a day. The original Heaven Hill distillery, the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery, burned down on November 7, 1996. The Shapiras purchased the Bernheim Distillery in 1999 from United Distillers to replace it.
Very Old Barton Bourbon Review
I think what is most interesting about Very Old Barton Bourbon is that it is nowhere to be found on the Barton 1792 website. So maybe it’s listed on the Sazarac (it’s parent company) “Our Brands” website. Nope. That’s OK, I’ll just check the bottle label for a story. Wait a minute – there is no back label. Strange. It’s not that Sazerac is hiding this bourbon; they give a sample of it during their tastings at the Barton 1792 Distillery. But why is there absolutely no information available about it?
Old Grand-Dad 114 Bourbon Review
Old Grand-Dad 114Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey114 proofNon Age StatedMSRP: $30-$35Review Please enjoy my Old Grand-Dad 114 Bourbon Review! I first reviewed this bourbon a couple of years ago. However, as I get some different flavors from it now, I wanted…
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Bourbon Review
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Bourbon is an excellent bourbon at a reasonable price, and another great value BiB. For $20-22 a bottle, it’s always worth keeping around.
OH Ingram River Aged Bourbon Review
Have you heard of OH Ingram River Aged whiskeys? I had posted about their rye, which was their second release, back in February 2021. Since then, I have enjoyed their whiskey on multiple occasions. So, when the newest addition to their line, this OH Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon, showed up on my front porch (Thank you OH Ingram!!) I was eager to give it a try!
Château De Laubade L’Unique Armagnac Review
Don’t worry! I haven’t become Armagnac Obsessed, but I actually am about this particular one, because it’s part of a bourbon and armagnac love story, so to speak. Sort of like Romeo and Juliet but with a happier (and tastier) ending. If you’ll remember back in the early summer of 2020, the Bardstown Bourbon Company released their Château De Laubade Bourbon, which was finished in Château De Laubade Armagnac barrels. So the cool thing is that these barrels, after first aging armagnac and then finishing BBC bourbon then went back to Château De Laubade to finish an armagnac. The circle of life. Isn’t that cool?! I have really wanted to get a hold of a bottle of this armagnac from the time I first time that I had heard of it, but it seemed like none of the 698 bottles made it to Kentucky. Fortunately my wonderful wife tracked one down in California and my wonderful brother-in-law muled it back for me.
Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon Review
Four Roses Small Batch Select is the newest addition to Four Roses’ main lineup. It was first introduced back in 2019 with limited availability, but now is significantly more widely available. At around twice the price of the Small Batch, Four Roses gives us 6 recipes instead of four, boosts the proof to 104, and delivers the bourbon non-chill filtered.
Four Roses Bourbon Recipes – The Basics
Four Roses is a unique distillery. They make all of their bourbons from 10 different recipes. They can use one recipe to make a single barrel, or multiple recipes to make a small batch. So, today I thought I would just start with the Four Roses basics, and review the 10 Four Roses recipes used to make all of their bourbons.
Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Review
Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon is one of the bourbons in Four Roses main lineup. The others being Four Roses Bourbon, Four Roses Single Barrel and Four Roses Small Batch Select. It is made by mingling together 4 of Four Roses 10 recipes after they have aged a minimum of 6-7 years, and it is bottled at 90 proof. According to Four Roses, those recipes “have been expertly selected by our Master Distiller at the peak of maturation to create this very mellow and perfectly balanced Bourbon.”
Rowan’s Creek Bourbon Review
There isn’t much information out there about Rowan’s Creek Bourbon. According to the label, the bourbon takes its name from Rowan’s Creek, which runs through Willett Distillery. In reality, the creek is down the hill from the distillery, but we’re all friends here, so that’s close enough.? It seems that at one time in the not too distant past Rowan’s Creek Bourbon bore a 12 year age statement; but alas, those days are gone.
The origins of this bourbon and its mash bill(s) are also a mystery, although that mystery has been partially solved. Originally, Rowan’s Creek was made from sourced bourbon, as were all of Willett’s bourbons. The label now does state that it is distilled, aged and bottled by Willett Distillery, so the origin is no longer a mystery. The bottle I am reviewing however only says that it was “Bottled by Rowan’s Creek Distilling” (a Willett dba), so whether it was distilled all, or in part, or not at all, at Willett is unknown.
Noah’s Mill Bourbon Review
Willett Distillery is perhaps best known for its highly sought after Willett Family Estate whiskeys, but there are many, many more brands also produced at this distillery. In fact, the Willett Family Estate is just a small percentage of the whiskey produced by Willett. One of these other brands is Noah’s Mill Bourbon.
There is not much information out there about Noah’s Mill, other than that it once bore a 15 year old age statement, as recently as the early 2010’s. It now may or may not be a blend of bourbons aged anywhere from 4-20 years and both wheated and rye bourbon recipes. That is purely conjecture, but info found all over the web.
Wilderness Trail Four Grain Bourbon Review
Wilderness Trail Four Grain Bourbon is the distillery’s latest release. This limited edition bourbon was available for purchase at their holiday open house, and it is part of their cancer series.
The folks at Wilderness Trail Distillery have had prior releases to support families impacted by cancer, notably the F*ck Cancer bottles which had included the famous 15 year old Willett Bourbon purchased at the Bourbon Crusaders’ American Cancer Society benefit in 2018 and then aged another year at Wilderness Trail. There were other whiskeys also released in this series.
Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience Bourbon Review
If you’ll recall from my last post, this is one of the bourbons that is only available at the You Do Bourbon Experience. It is made from Heaven Hill’s standard bourbon mash bill (78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley), aged at least 8 years on the 6th floor of their warehouses, and is a small batch of 10 barrels. It’s bottled at barrel proof. In contrast to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, the same mash bill is used, but aging is for at least 12 years on the 5th floor and batch size is around 16 barrels. One can not help but notice the similarities of the packaging to William Heavenhill; ignoring the fact that my wonderful wife ? had a few issues with filling in and placing the label.? It may sound silly, but it’s more difficult than it looks – check out the photos to see some of the outtakes by me!
Maker’s Mark CommUNITY Batch Review
I hope you enjoy my Maker’s Mark CommUNITY Batch Review! This is will be the second year that The LEE Initiative and Maker’s Mark have released the CommUNITY Batch. Maker’s Mark has donated all of the bourbon, so the proceeds go entirely to support the cause! The first CommUNITY Batch was released last year, and raised over $500K from 34 blended barrels of whiskey! The money provided assistance to many hospitality industry employees who were affected by the pandemic.
American Highway Reserve Bourbon Review
Brad Paisley has just released a new whiskey and it’s called American Highway Reserve Bourbon. Its novelty is that one of its components, underwent some of its aging while stored in a 53-foot semi-trailer that followed his 2019 nation-wide tour. So the bourbon travelled 7,314 miles across 25 states, from coast to coast. Thus their slogan: “Made in Kentucky, Aged across America”.
The Untold Story from Castle & Key Review
This whiskey, The Untold Story Of Kentucky Whiskey from Castle & Key Distillery, is a special one. Released by Castle & Key Distillery in partnership with the Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild, it is dedicated to uncovering and telling stories from generations past. The series honors African American contributions to the distilling industry, contributions which are many but which have not been widely recognized or discussed. This whiskey is also a step towards the future as well. It was donated by Castle & Key and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Castle & Key Scholarship Fund. This release, Chapter 1, will be the first release of a series of annual “Chapters”, each telling part of the story, right on the bottle. Check out the photos to read it.
Kentucky Owl Wiseman Bourbon Review
Please enjoy my Kentucky Owl Wiseman Bourbon Review! Have you heard of The Wiseman Bourbon from Kentucky Owl? This bourbon is unique for the brand because it is produced and distilled by Kentucky Owl in collaboration with the Bardstown Bourbon Company. It’s a blend of Kentucky Owl 4 year old wheat and high rye bourbons, combined with 5 1/2 and 8 1/2 year old Kentucky sourced bourbons. It is also the first release under Master Blender John Rhea.
Blue Run High Rye Bourbon Review
I hope you enjoy my Blue Run High Rye Bourbon Review! This is a very exciting bourbon for Blue Run Spirits. I really didn’t know what to expect from this bourbon. I have tried a few of Castle and Key’s own ryes and had a sneak peak at their bourbon, but this tastes like none of those. Nor is it particularly similar to some of the other brands who also distill there. I should have known Jim Rutledge would have created a unique high rye bourbon, given his prior accomplishments. Needless to say, this is quite different from the prior Blue Run bourbon releases, but it is nonetheless quite good.
Kirkland Bottled in Bond Bourbon Review
Please enjoy my Kirkland Bottled in Bond Bourbon Review! There are a lot of store brand whiskeys out there. But what’s interesting about this Kirkland Bottled in Bond Bourbon from Costco is that it says the name of the distillery where it was made, Barton 1792 Distillery, right on the label.
Boone County Pot Still Bourbon Review
Please enjoy our Boone County Pot Still Bourbon review! The Boone County Distilling Company as we know it has been around since 2015, although it is founded on a rich history dating back to 1833. Their releases up until now have been clear spirits, rum and sourced rye and bourbons. I have been a fan. Some of the labels, notably the Eighteen33 bourbons, are no longer with us, and they are missed. The future is now, though. Boone County has been waiting patiently for their bourbon to age. This first release is 5 1/2 years old. Made from a mash bill of 74% corn, 21% rye and 5% malted barley it was distilled in their 500 gallon copper pot still, named The Bear. It is bottled at 94.8 proof. Retail is $49.99.
McFarlane’s Reserve Bourbon Review
Please enjoy my McFarlane’s Reserve Bourbon Review! This is another enigmatic bourbon from the IJW Whiskey Company. I had posted about them and their first releases, the First Call line of whiskeys, way back in March.
Dickel Bourbon Review
Please enjoy our George Dickel Bourbon Review! So who’s a fan of Tennessee Whiskey, err… I mean bourbon? I don’t want to start the whole “is Tennessee Whiskey bourbon debate” (spoiler alert: it is?), but I think it seems pretty clear that the folks at Dickel think it is.
Blanton’s Bourbon Review
Please enjoy my Blanton’s Bourbon Review! The story goes that Elmer T. Lee, while culminating his tenure at Buffalo Trace Distillery (which I think was the George T. Stagg Distillery at the time), created this bourbon brand. He had recalled that Colonel (as in Kentucky Colonel, not military Colonel) Albert B. Blanton, former president of the distillery, would pick barrels from the center of Warehouse H to be served to his guests. So Elmer picked barrels from Warehouse H to be bottled and sold as the first bottled single barrel bourbon in 1984.
Brother’s Bond Bourbon Review
Please enjoy my Brother’s Bond Bourbon Review! I am not ashamed to admit it. Even though I am not the target demographic, I was a huge fan of The Vampire Diaries, and then its spin-off, The Originals. So when I heard that Damon and Stefan Salvatore, er, I mean Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, were coming out with a bourbon, I knew I had to give it a try. I know, I know, I am not the target demographic for the bourbon, either, but they did drink a ton of bourbon on the show, so I figured they knew what they were doing!
Michter’s Bomberger’s Declaration Review (2021)
We hope you enjoy our Bomberger’s Declaration Review! So, I am assuming that everyone knows that Bomberger’s Declaration is made by Michter’s? Shenk’s, too? But, do you know the history of the names? They both refer to the distillery that would eventually become the original Michter’s distillery. That’s the Michter’s Distillery which was in Pennsylvania, not the current Kentucky one, which is of fairly recent construction.
Basil Hayden Toast Review
Please enjoy our Basil Hayden Toast Review Basil Hayden Toast is a completely new bourbon from Beam Suntory, and a permanent addition to the Basil Hayden line. In fact, Basil Hayden has been rebranded to be more upscale. Beam-Suntory dropped the “s” from the name (the brand was called Basil Hayden’s) and upgraded the packaging, which I think looks pretty nice.
Ole George Cask Strength Single Barrel Rye Review
Please enjoy my Grand Traverse Ole George Cask Strength Single Barrel Rye Review! I have tried Grand Traverse Ole George Cask Strength Single Barrel Rye a few times now. Initially at the distillery when I decided to buy the bottle, and a few times once I got home. I absolutely love this rye, and it rivals anything I have tried.
JW Rutledge High Plains Rye Review
I hope you enjoy my JW Rutledge High Plains Rye Review! I have been eagerly awaiting what Jim Rutledge and his J.W. Rutledge Distillery would do next. Their first releases were the Cream of Kentucky line, an historic brand which was originally introduced in 1888 and is now owned by J.W. Rutledge. Next up is this recently released High Plains Rye.
Blue Run Golden Rye Review
Please enjoy this Blue Run Golden Rye review. There are a gamut of flavors in this rye, from start to finish. The lead off is the classic baking spices, which gains some black pepper as time goes on. While there is a brown sugar and honey sweetness, as well as some notes of fruit, it is overall fairly dry, especially in the finish. Although it’s a fairly spicy rye, I am enjoying the rye bread overtones as well. This is a very enjoyable rye and I’ll be looking to grab a bottle when it is released in September.
Country Smooth Bourbon Review
From the label: “Proudly made in the USA and inspired by the American lifestyle, Country Smooth was developed by the first female founder and CEO of an American whiskey company as a refined experience to be savored on its own or enjoyed in cocktails. CS is dedicated to celebrating the spirit of America and the crafting of premium American whiskey.”
Old Wm Tarr Manchester Reserve Whiskey Review
Please enjoy our Old Wm Tarr Manchester Reserve Whiskey Review! Have you heard of William Tarr Distillery? While the current iteration of the distillery is a new kid on the block, their namesake most certainly is not. You see, William Tarr and Thomas J. Megibben purchased the financially troubled Ashland Distillery in 1871. The Ashland Distillery was initially established in 1865, and in 1866 it was the first to obtain a federally registered distillery license in Lexington and was assigned RD 1. So that’s pretty cool! The original Ashland Distillery was destroyed by fire, and then rebuilt and reorganized as Wm. Tarr & Company in 1879. Old Wm Tarr Manchester Reserve 7 Years Aged Whiskey is the first release from this resurrected distillery.
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