Kentucky Owl Batch 13 Bourbon Review

Kentucky Owl
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
113.6 Proof
MSRP: $399
Review

Please enjoy our Kentucky Owl Batch 13 Bourbon Review!

Background – Kentucky Owl Batch 13 Bourbon Review

Kentucky Owl Batch 13 marks an important milestone for the brand — it is the final bourbon blend created by John Rhea, Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame inductee and Master Blender for Kentucky Owl, before his retirement. Rhea joined the brand in 2021 following a nearly 50-year career in the bourbon industry, including 17 years on the Kentucky Distillers’ Association Board of Directors. His last project continues Kentucky Owl’s tradition of unique batch releases, each crafted from a carefully selected group of barrels without a fixed recipe or blending formula.

The Details – Kentucky Owl Batch 13 Bourbon

• Blend Components: Five bourbons — one aged 4 years, two aged 5 years, one aged 8 years, and one aged 9 years (per sample bottle label). According to the brand, the blend is comprised primarily of the 8- and 9-year-old bourbons.
• Profile Notes (per brand): Older, higher-rye bourbons add depth; younger and wheated barrels contribute brightness
• Proof: 113.6 (56.8% ABV)
• Age Range: 4 to 9 years
• Availability: Limited release beginning July 2025
• SRP: $399 / 750 mL

According to John Rhea: “During my tenure at KENTUCKY OWL, I’ve had the honor of sampling some of the world’s finest bourbon barrels. Batch 13 is my tribute to the craftsmanship of blending by showcasing how a combination of very different barrels come together to create a very special expression,” said John Rhea. “This juxtaposition of mature higher rye bourbons balanced with lighter wheated barrels results in a very special flavor profile that highlights each barrel’s finest notes.”

Tasting Notes – Kentucky Owl Batch 13 Bourbon Review

🛏 Rested: 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻 Nose: Moderately sweet with sweet tan caramel, sweet corn, and sweet cherry candies, with darker cherries in the background. In addition, there is a bit of hot cinnamon, mild rye spices, and mild dry oak. Alcohol vapor is noticeable but appropriate for the proof.
👉🏻 Taste: Tart orange peel, mildly sweet caramel, mild dry oak, and hot cinnamon.
👉🏻 Finish: Lingering tart orange, mild sweet corn, mild rye spices, and mild dry oak, with increasing hot cinnamon. The profile turns drier later on, with mild char and dry wood at the end, along with fading hot cinnamon and sweet corn. Fairly long, with a pleasant warmth.

Summary

Kentucky Owl Batch 13 Bourbon strikes a balanced mix of youthful and more mature flavors. Notes of sweet cherry candy, sweet corn, and hot cinnamon reflect its younger components, while the more mature notes of dry oak, dark cherries, and barrel char bring additional depth. Rye spices, sweet caramel, and tart orange citrus round out the profile.

That said, the youthful flavors tend to take the lead, which isn’t surprising given that the oldest barrels in the blend are only nine years old. Kentucky Owl has not always been transparent about age, so the detailed breakdown is appreciated. However, with that information in mind, the $399 price tag feels somewhat steep compared to similarly aged releases currently on the market.

Conclusion

Kentucky Owl Batch 13 is an enjoyable bourbon, offering a fairly unique combination of younger and older flavor characteristics that many bourbon enthusiasts will appreciate. If that combination sounds intriguing, you might want to give it a try — though the price is admittedly a bit hard to swallow.

Have you tried Kentucky Owl Batch 13 Bourbon? What did you think? Cheers! 🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Kentucky Owl Batch 13 Bourbon Review! Next, check out these related reviews: Kentucky Owl Mardi Gras Rye Review, Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Bourbon Review and Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Rye Review!

Note: This sample was provided by the brand for my review. I appreciate it!

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