When Kentucky Artisan Distillery opened their event space, they decided that they needed whiskeys to taste there that are distillery exclusive. They created four whiskeys for this purpose. I have three of them to taste here, but they unfortunately were out of the wheat recipe Bourbon when I purchased these bottles. They bear a two year old age statement but I am sure there is older whiskey in each of these whiskeys. These whiskeys showcase the styles of whiskey made at Kentucky Artisan Distillery and all three that Matt and I tasted were whiskeys that we liked. They are young but solid pours. Here are our tasting notes.
Kentucky Artisan Distillery Artisan Series High Rye Bourbon Mash Bill Number 2
Proof: 92.4
Age: Two Years Old
Nose:
- Mike: Corn, vanilla, baking spices and oak wood.
- Matt: Corn, vanilla, lemon zest and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Corn, vanilla, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and apple fruit and allspice come out. Tasted with a pecan and the vanilla becomes a rich French vanilla with green apple, allspice and oak wood.
- Matt: Vanilla, lemon zest, powdered sugar and oak wood. The dried cranberry added a creamy note to the flavor. The pecan added maple syrup and hazelnut coffee to the flavor.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood and cinnamon. The dried cranberry made the finish longer with oak wood and allspice. The pecan made the finish long with oak and vanilla.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood and white pepper. The dried cranberry added vanilla to the finish. The pecan made the finish long with lots of oak wood.
Kentucky Artisan Distillery Artisan Series Four Grain Bourbon Mash Bill Number 13
Proof: 94
Age: Two Years Old
Nose:
- Mike: Vanilla, apples, pears, baking spices and oak wood.
- Matt: Vanilla, cinnamon, hazelnut coffee and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Corn, vanilla, apples cardamom and oak wood. The dried cranberry brought the apple flavor forward. The pecan brought out caramel and pepper spice.
- Matt: Caramel, coffee with cream and sugar, hazelnuts and oak wood. The dried cranberry added orange zest and cardamom spice. The pecan made it rich in caramel, maple syrup and brown sugar.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood and cardamom spice. The dried cranberry made the finish longer with lingering apple. The pecan made the finish long and spicy with oak wood and pepper spice.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood, coffee and caramel. The dried cranberry added cardamom spice. The pecan made the finish long with oak and caramel.
Kentucky Artisan Distillery Artisan Series Rye Mash Bill Number 10
Proof: 100
Age: Two Years Old
Nose:
- Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, dried fruit and oak wood.
- Matt: Rye grass, chocolate, mint and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, apricots, peaches, nutmeg and oak wood. The dried cranberry enhanced the rye grass and brought out white pepper spice. The pecan brought out caramel and black pepper.
- Matt: Buttered toffee, chocolate, mint and oak wood. The dried cranberry added orange zest. The pecan added a note of buttered popcorn.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood, rye grass and lingering apricot. The dried cranberry made the finish dry with oak wood and rye grass. The pecan made the finish long and spicy with oak wood and pepper spice.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood and chocolate. The dried cranberry added some lingering orange zest. The pecan made the finish long with oak wood and buttered popcorn.
I would pair these whiskeys with a Nub Habano Cigar. I think the vanilla and cedar spice in the smoke would pair well with the vanilla and spice of the whiskeys.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller