Speakeasy Bourbon is a fairly new release from the Willett Distillery in Bardstown. It is a Bourbon with a 79% corn, 7% rye and 14% malted barley mash bill and entered into the barrel at 125 proof. I was in a liquor store the other day and saw this Bourbon for the first time, so I picked up a bottle for $40 for review. Matt and I sat down to taste it the other day and here are our tasting notes.
Speakeasy Bourbon
Proof: 98
Age: No Age Statement
Nose:
- Mike: Vanilla, pears, cardamom, allspice and oak wood.
- Matt: Caramel, cherries, a floral note and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Vanilla, pears, cardamom, allspice, oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and caramel and ginger spice come forward. Tasted with a pecan and a citrus note and white pepper come out to join the party.
- Matt: Caramel, chocolate, cherries, a floral note with oak wood. The dried cranberry enhanced the caramel and added a buttery toast flavor. The pecan enhanced the chocolate and cherry notes.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood and allspice. The dried cranberry added ginger spice to the finish. The pecan made the finish long and spicy with oak wood and white pepper.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood, tobacco, chocolate and lingering cherry. The dried cranberry added a note of buttered toast to the finish. The pecan made the finish longer with oak wood, chocolate and tobacco.
I would pair this Bourbon with a Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Cigar. I think the rich tobacco and vanilla in the smoke would pair well with the vanilla and spice of the Bourbon.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller