Larrikin Rosewater Bourbon Review (2025 Release)

Larrikin Rosewater Bourbon
2025 Release
86 Proof
SRP: $70
Review

Please enjoy our Larrikin Rosewater Bourbon Review!

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Proofed With Distillery Brewed Rosewater

Background

Known as Gulab Jal in South Asia, rosewater has been used for centuries in cooking and celebration. Now, for the first time, it lends its delicate, floral complexity to a finely aged Kentucky bourbon.

Founder and distiller Greg Keeley was inspired to create this unique bourbon after years of travel through the Middle East, India, and South Asia. “Everything’s better with bourbon, so why not rosewater?” said Keeley, who personally developed the distillery’s rosewater, by steeping real rose petals in spring water using petal-stuffed teabags and a 10-gallon brew pot.

The Specifics

• Age: Blend of 5- and 6-year-old barrels
• Proof: 86 – proofed down using house brewed rosewater
• Mash Bill: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
• Filtration: Non-chill filtered
• Release Year: 2025

Tasting Notes – Larrikin Rosewater Bourbon 2025 Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Dark stone fruits, like plums; dark caramel; subtle oak and rye spices; touch of hot cinnamon, background sweet floral notes; dark cherries later on; alcohol appropriate for the proof
👉🏻Taste: Mildly sweet tea, mild dry oak, light caramel; light floral notes; lighter bodied
👉🏻Finish: Increasingly dry; white pepper spice; sweet floral notes; dry oak, mild char; fairly long; pleasant warmth

Larrikin Rosewater Bourbon is quite an interesting whiskey. The nose has an abundance of flavors that appear to evolve over the course of the sip. In addition, the rosewater is noticeable as a sweet floral note throughout, but it is far from overpowering and mainly in the background.

The nose of Larrikin Rosewater Bourbon initially has dark stone fruits, like plums, as well as caramel, subtle oak and fairly mild rye spices. There is a touch of hot cinnamon, too. Later on, once I am acclimated, I noticed sweeter floral notes, which I am presuming are coming from the rosewater tea. After a sip or two, some dark cherries are evident, as well. The alcohol vapor is fairly light, and appropriate for the proof.

The taste is mildly sweet, from sweet tea, with mild dry oak, as well as caramel. There are rose petal like floral notes, as well. The finish becomes increasingly dry, with moderate white pepper spice, lingering tea and caramel, and a subtle sweet floral note. Mild dry oak with a touch of char become evident later on. The finish is fairly long, and leaves me with a pleasant warmth, deep down.

Conclusion

Larrikin Rosewater Bourbon is a flavorful whiskey. However, it is fairly light bodied throughout. Nonetheless, I am enjoying the evolving flavors, and the subtle, but omnipresent floral notes, from the rosewater. This pleasant mix of flavors, floral notes, relatively light body and lower proof make this a nice pour for the warmer days of spring and summer. If these flavors sound appealing to you, and you enjoy a lighter bodied bourbon, you’ll want to give Larrikin Rosewater Bourbon at try!

We hope you have enjoyed our Larrikin Rosewater Bourbon Review! The 2026 release has been released. You can read about it here.

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

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