Michter’s Distillery releases the Bomberger’s Bourbon about once every year. This is the 2024 release. It is aged in barrels that have had their staves air dried and seasoned for 36 months and some of the barrels were made using Chinquapin oak. This is different from their previous release and has a unique flavor profile. I received a bottle the other day and Matt and I sat down to taste it. Here are our tasting notes.
Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Proof: 108
Age: No Age Statement
Nose:
- Mike: Caramel toffee, a hint of chocolate, honeysuckle blossoms, baking spices and sweet oak wood.
- Matt: Vanilla, spun sugar and marshmallows, lavender, sweet oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Vanilla, caramel toffee, apples, honey, nutmeg and sweet oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and chocolate and cinnamon come forward. Tasted with a pecan and the oak is enhanced and the chocolate becomes a rich dark chocolate.
- Matt: Vanilla, marshmallows, orange zest and oak wood. The dried cranberry added some raisins and grape notes. The pecan brought out the lavender and enhanced the oak.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with sweet oak wood, nutmeg and lingering honey. The dried cranberry made the finish longer with oak and cinnamon. The pecan made the finish very long and dry with oak, cinnamon, nutmeg and lingering chocolate.
- Matt: Medium long with oak, white pepper and lingering orange zest. The dried cranberry added some marshmallow sweetness. The pecan made the finish floral with oak and lavender with a lingering grape note.
I would pair this fine Bourbon with a Rocky Patel Decade cigar. The rich vanilla and caramel with a hint of cedar spice would pair well with the sweet vanilla and spice of the Bourbon.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller