The New Whiskey Row Bourbons – Reviews and all the Details

Please enjoy our Whiskey Row Triple Wood, Bottled in Bond, and Cask Strength Bourbon Reviews!

Whiskey Row Bourbon – Brand History

Whiskey Row Bourbon was originally founded by Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame inductee, Steve Thompson. At the time, Steve was also one of the cofounders of Kentucky Artisan Distillery, in Crestwood, Kentucky. Therefore, it’s not surprising that at one point, the original Whiskey Row website stated that their whiskey was the house brand for Kentucky Artisan Distillery.

Fast forward to 2025, and the brand is now owned by Avalon Spirits. Nonetheless, it is still closely related to Kentucky Artisan Distillery, with some, if not all, of their whiskeys distilled there. The brand also has a new website, new expressions, and new packaging. However, their foundational principles remain the same as Steve Thompson’s — to embrace the artistry of pre-Prohibition blending styles, experimental aging techniques, and regional variations.

The Three New Whiskey Row Expressions

To those ends, Whiskey Row released three expressions in April of this year: Triple Wood, Bottled in Bond, and Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskeys.

Whiskey Row Small Batch Triple Wood Straight Bourbon Whiskey (SRP: $49.99) is the brand’s core expression. It is initially aged a minimum of 4 years in new charred oak barrels, but then is finished in both Pedro Ximénez (PX) Sherry casks and cognac casks. It is then blended and bottled at 90 proof.

Whiskey Row Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey ($59.99) is distilled at Kentucky Artisan Distillery from a mash bill of corn, rye, and malted barley. It is then aged a minimum of four years, as is required by the Bottled in Bond Act. It is bottled at 100 proof.

Whiskey Row Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey ($69.99) is also distilled at Kentucky Artisan Distillery, from a mash bill of corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley. It is then bottled at cask strength, which may vary by batch. My sample was bottled at 108.6 proof.

A Tale of Two Websites

When trying to scour the web for some additional information about these Whiskey Row Bourbons, I found two websites for the new brand. One is free-standing: whiskeyrowbourbon.com and one is on the parent company’s homepage: avalonspiritsinc.com/our-brands/whiskey-row. The information varies a bit between these pages. However, there is mention that pot stills or pot/column hybrid stills were used for at least some of the bourbons, originally. From the taste, I would suspect that is true today. Likewise, some mention was made of a relatively low barrel entry proof of 110, which would make sense. That’s because relatively low barrel entry proofs (including lower than 110) were generally used “back in the day.”

What’s in a Name?

I would be remiss if I did not explain the brand name, Whiskey Row. According to their recent press release, it “honors the historic section of Main Street in Louisville, Kentucky, where the modern bourbon industry was born.”

So, what are these bourbons like?

Tasting Notes – Whiskey Row Triple Wood, Bottled in Bond, and Cask Strength Bourbon Reviews

Whiskey Row Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻 Nose: Fairly sweet with brown sugar, subtle raisins, and subtle earthiness; mild dry oak; slight orange citrus becomes more noticeable later on; intermittent subtle notes of mesquite barbecue sauce add an interesting touch. The alcohol vapor is fairly light and appropriate for the proof.
👉🏻 Taste: Fairly sweet, with thick Demerara sugar simple syrup sweetness, along with some added sweet corn.
👉🏻 Finish: Similar flavors continue into the finish, with subtle raisins returning and a mild white pepper spice emerging. It becomes a bit more dry later on, but the sweeter notes from the palate linger. There’s some mild barrel char and dry wood at the very end. Flavors persist for a fairly long time, although they become quite subtle.

This is a very enjoyable pour. What I consider a pot still character is quite noticeable in the nose, which is surprisingly complex. The palate and finish are a bit more straightforward, with many of the same notes continuing throughout. A few subtle elements—like earthiness and mesquite barbecue—pop in and out of the nose. The finish fades gradually, eventually becoming a bit dry with some light white pepper, barrel char, and dry wood. This is a good option for folks who like pot still character but don’t want it to be too dominant.

Whiskey Row Triple Wood Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished With Oak, Cognac Wood and PX Sherry Wood Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻 Nose: Fairly sweet — sweet corn, lightly burnt caramel, and brown sugar. Later on, plums and tart orange citrus emerge. Alcohol vapor is fairly light and appropriate for the proof.
👉🏻 Taste: Relatively soft, with a mild simple syrup sweetness, light caramel, and subtle sweet berries later on.
👉🏻 Finish: Cherries, darker plums, mild tannins, and mild white pepper spice. It becomes dry later on, with lingering dry wood, tannins, and spice. Fairly long.

The nose has quite a bit of body and depth, with what I consider pot still characteristics. However, the palate is somewhat lighter, probably due at least in part to the relatively low proof. The finish again gains complexity, starting with some stone fruits and then turning dry, with tannins, dry oak, and mild white pepper. For 90 proof, the finish sticks around longer than one might expect.

I was not aware of the sherry and cognac finishing barrels prior to tasting this bourbon, because I like to be as free from any bias as possible. However, now that I am aware of them, it does explain many of the fruit notes that I found. This bourbon will likely appeal to those who enjoy pot still notes, but want a lighter, easy-drinking pour with some pleasant darker fruit notes.

Whiskey Row Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻 Nose: Fairly sweet — sweet berries, fresh oranges with a touch of tart orange peel, mild dry oak, and sweet caramel. Alcohol vapor is appropriate for the proof.
👉🏻 Taste: Fairly sweet caramel, tart orange, and mild oak.
👉🏻 Finish: Mild white pepper spice and dry wood, with dark plums and raisins. Moderately long.

Although this whiskey is cask strength, its proof is still relatively low at 108.6. The alcohol is not overpowering, though it’s certainly present. The whiskey has an interesting progression of flavors. Initially, it has sweet and tart fruits in the nose, complemented by sweet caramel. However, as the sip progresses, the fruits become darker and drier, like dark plums and raisins. These flavors linger through the finish, along with a mild white pepper spice, and dry wood. This is another enjoyable pour, again with pot still characteristics and a pleasant change in fruit character throughout.

Summary

Overall, all three of these Whiskey Row bourbons are enjoyable pours, with each offering a little something different. The Cask Strength is the sweetest from start to finish, with more fruit and a touch of dryness at the end. The Triple Wood comes across a bit softer but has the driest finish and a nice mix of fruit and spice. Finally, the Bottled in Bond falls somewhere in between, with a bit more caramel on the palate and a finish that starts off sweet and turns just a bit dry. To me, they all have a pot still character, so I am assuming a pot still or hybrid still is being used for at least a portion of each blend.

Conclusion

With this refreshed lineup, Whiskey Row stays true to its roots while offering three distinctive takes on classic Kentucky bourbon — each worth exploring in its own right. So, if you’re a fan of a pot still-driven profile, there’s likely a Whiskey Row bourbon for you. Try them side by side to see which expression best fits your palate — there’s a good chance there will be more than one!

Have you tried any of the new Whiskey Row bourbons? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Whiskey Row Bourbon Reviews! If you would like to learn more about the KDA distillery, check out our Kentucky Artisan Distillery Tour Review! Or check out the press release about these bourbons, too!

Note: These samples were provided by the brand for my review. I appreciate it!

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!