Matt and I tasted this Bourbon back in April of this year. That was the first release of this whiskey and we both thought it was very good Bourbon. They have sold out of that release and have now had a second release of the wheat recipe. I was sent some bottles of whiskey from Bardstown Bourbon Company the other day and it included a bottle of this second release. Matt and I sat down and tasted it and found it even better than the first release. We decided to make it the “Whiskey of the Month” for August 2023.
Like the first batch, the mash bill recipe for this whiskey is 68% corn, 20% wheat and 12% malted barley. It is six years old and Bottled-in-Bond at 100 proof. It is excellent whiskey and the only difference is that this second bottling had a few more spring months of age. I do believe that it is possible that explains the difference in flavor. The whiskey is beginning to come out of the wood again and bringing more flavor from the wood. I find it an interesting theory and will have to pursue that thought with some of my friends in the industry.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Wheated Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon
Proof: 100
Age: Six Years Old
Nose:
- Mike: Caramel, apples, lemon zest, allspice, oak wood.
- Matt: Caramel and a floral note of honeysuckle, oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Caramel, apples, lemon zest, allspice, cardamom, oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the apple is enhanced to a nice red delicious apple and a hint of milk chocolate comes out. Tasted with a pecan and the caramel is enhanced and a dark chocolate comes out making it taste of a caramel chew candy.
- Matt: Caramel, honey, rosewater, coffee bean and oak wood. The dried cranberry brought out notes of tart raspberry and caramel. The pecan brought out flavors of caramel, brown sugar, coffee and oak.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak and baking spices. The dried cranberry added lingering notes of milk chocolate. The pecan made the finish very long and sweet with oak, baking spices and caramel chew.
- Matt: Medium long with oak, caramel and coffee. The dried cranberry added lingering raspberry and brown sugar notes. The pecan brought out lingering notes of black coffee and caramel.
I would pair this fine Bourbon with a fine cigar that has rich tobacco, vanilla and caramel notes and a hint of cedar spice in the smoke. I would reach for a Padron 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo Maduro cigar and be very happy with the pairing.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller