Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #7

Sampled in a Glencairn glass, neat. Appearance: Deep amber, like burnt sugar. Aroma: After swirling, notes of baked cherry jam, rye spice, and dill emerge, with a hint of cinnamon. It settles into a light butterscotch scent. Not overwhelming, but a gentle whiff allows me to detect the dill. Taste: Smooth and velvety, the liquid coats the entire palate pleasantly, leaving a slight tingle on the tip of the tongue. A consistent flavor profile throughout the mouth of cooked stone fruits, with cherry being the primary note. Hints of toffee and butterscotch appear towards the end. Finish: Extended, warming, and smooth, with a subtle lingering burn on the palate. Overall: Acceptable. The aroma shows complexity with subtle layers revealing an intriguing, unique dill element. The taste is largely straightforward, with only minor flavor shifts from the middle to the back of the palate. It's clearly aged but not excessively oaked, and there's a balance between the taste and finish.

Light gold with a reddish-brown tint. The legs take their time appearing, but once they do, there are many. The scent has dark caramel, cherry, vanilla, aged wood planks, a whisper of rye and spice. Sweet and smooth at the start, an explosion of flavor! Stone fruit, milk chocolate, dried cherries, caramel, and notes of rich maple and brown sugar. A long, drawn-out finish brings back the oak with a transition to baking chocolate and Luxardo maraschino cherries. Alarmingly easy to drink at its stated proof straight from the bottle, yet a few drops of water expand its complexity. This is absolutely magnificent. Wonderfully balanced, a lengthy finish, and incredibly rich and intriguing.

Aroma: strawberries, buttercream frosting, sugar candies, like entering a candy shop, with a slight hint of cocoa powder and a faint trace of cinnamon. The smell is quite rich. Taste: This mirrors the aroma and is quite pleasing. The frosting, strawberries, and cocoa powder are all very noticeable again. Big brown sugar notes emerge in the middle of the palate, with just a whisper of rye and a dash of cinnamon to temper the sweetness and provide balance. Overall: It is very well-made. The price is a bit high but warranted. Would be a nice pour after a meal or before bed. Happy Father's Day!

Nose: Hints of floral scents. Not much stands out. Taste: Features toffee, brown sugar, and a touch of green apple. Finish: Reminiscent of crème brûlée with smoky oak. For the $130 price tag, I expected more. It's a decent bourbon. I appreciate the transparency regarding its origin and batch composition. I do like how the flavor lingers after each sip.

It's intricate and enjoyable, but not my preferred choice from the Discovery series. Significantly better than the fifth one. Prominent brown sugar followed by a slight sharpness. It then persists (in a pleasant way). I would be delighted to be offered this whisky again, but I wouldn't spend another $135. I will purchase the next installment in the series.

The aroma is excellent. I don't detect the floral notes others mention, but there's a very appealing vanilla and some oak. This carries to the palate with a touch of brown sugar, but the finish is brief. It should offer more complexity for its price.