This whiskey is distilled by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers also known as the Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Willett makes several whiskeys, not just the Family Estate, and Rowan’s Creek has been an important brand in their portfolio for decades. Previously created from sourced whiskey, this small batch brand is now distilled and bottled by Willett. Of course, there has been some flavor drift in the transition but the Kulsveens are masters at creating great flavor profiles from the whiskeys they have at hand.
Rowan’s Creek is named for the creek that runs through the distillery. The creek is named for John Rowan, an early settler in Nelson County that became according to the label, “a judge and a statesman” who knew good sipping whiskey. The whiskey is a Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey with no age statement but plenty of great taste.
We purchased this bottle in the Distillery gift shop and Matt and I sat down to taste it. Here are our tasting notes.
Rowan’s Creek Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Proof: 100.1
Age: NAS
Nose:
- Mike: Brown sugar, caramel, pears, cardamom and oak wood.
- Matt: Vanilla, strawberry Star Burst and pears.
Taste:
- Mike: Corn husk, vanilla, pears, cardamom, nutmeg and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry brings out more corn husk and less oak. Tasted with a pecan brings out caramel and the spice becomes a cinnamon spice.
- Matt: Vanilla, grassiness and mint. The dried cranberry brought out flavors of vanilla, oak and cherries. The pecan brought out flavors of caramel, Boston Peanuts and oak.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood and spice. The dried cranberry brought out corn husk, oak and spice. The pecan made the finish very long with oak wood and cinnamon spice.
- Matt: Medium long with oak, vanilla and lingering mint. The dried cranberry brought out oak and burnt peanut candy flavors. The pecan brought out cocoa and caramel notes with a buttery mouth feel.
I would pair this Bourbon with a cigar that has a lot of creaminess, toffee and vanilla in the smoke. I would reach for a Rocky Patel Decade Toro.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller