Bardstown Bourbon Co. Fusion Series #8

Appearance: Auburn color, with fast, thick legs. Nose: Light caramel (more like brown sugar) and sourdough bread. A slight cherry or sweet fruit aroma as well. Palate: There's a definite astringency that makes it a little difficult to discern other flavors. I suspect this is due to 70% of the blend being from 4-year-old whiskey. However, getting past that, it's thin with not much mouthfeel – a slight coating on the tip of the tongue and the front of the roof of the mouth, but that's about it. Honey and a sweet cherry stand out initially. There's a light, sweet oak flavor. Some spice is present – not really like a baking spice to me, but more like the spice found in rye whiskey. Finish: There's a toasty/smoky note that lingers slightly (To be fair, I had smoked brisket about an hour and a half before this sip, and I can't determine if that's enhancing the bourbon's profile or if it's just a lingering taste from earlier. I hadn't noticed it in previous sips from this bottle, though.) A sweet oak note also lingers. The warmth going down is very mild, if present at all. Rating: 4.7/10 on the t8ke scale Overall: Low flavor, high astringency, mild warmth and finish.

A mix of two four-year-old Bardstown bourbon mashbills, plus 30% of a 12-year-old Kentucky bourbon (exact mashbills for each are in the image below). It's 95.5 proof. I've had this for seven months, and it's time to try it neat. The liquid is a light copper color with slow-moving legs in the glass. The aroma is subtle: floral grain, sweet fruit, and vanilla, with a trace of smoky char in the background. The taste brings sweet stone fruit and caramel corn, followed by tannic oak, ethanol, and grassy, baking spices. It has notes of cherry and minty pepper. The finish is long and dry, with mild fruity sweetness, a tingling mint sensation, sharp tannic oak, and dry/spicy grass. The aftertaste is clean and not sour. Adding an ice cube enhances the "juicy fruit" character by reducing the oak and spice. That's also pleasant, but I prefer the interplay of sweet, tannic, and spicy flavors when drinking it neat—a nice balance of competing elements in a bourbon that's lighter (95.5 proof, isn't that light?) than the barrel-proof options I typically favor these days. The cost is reasonable for a Bardstown, perhaps a bit high for a blend, but I don't regret buying it. As always, I'll update this review as I finish the bottle.

I've been eager to sample Bardstown for a considerable period, but unfortunately, their distribution is limited in my region. During a business trip to Louisville, I had the chance to try several of their offerings. Certainly, their premium selections are outstanding. However, this particular one stood out to me as unique and distinctive, and its reasonable price is an added bonus. Aroma: Bold and bright honey and caramel, apricot, with hints of baked cherry pie. Palate: Sweetness in the form of apricots, black plums, and slightly salty caramel. A sudden and pleasant hit of pepper carries through to the finish. Balanced. Finish: Lingering pepper, fruit, and chewy caramel. Overall: Intriguing, exciting, and genuinely delightful with every serving. Highly recommended!

I poured this neat into a glencairn. It’s loaded with fruit on the nose, like cherries and blueberries, alongside some caramel and sugar. The fruit is delightful, and I could sniff it all day; it's incredible. The palate echoes the fruitiness with hints of vanilla. The finish continues with fruit and a pleasant spice, reminiscent of a fine rye. Truly delicious, and my first taste of Bardstown has made me a fan. I strongly endorse this bottle!

This is a pleasant, easy-drinking bourbon. It's light overall, with spice that emerges gradually without burning. It's full of vibrant flavor and maintains a dark citrus note throughout, much like biting into an orange. This might be the smoothest, most effortless sipping bourbon I've encountered. It's not dry at all. I'm very impressed with my first Bardstown and would be interested in trying their other variations.

The aroma presents notes of sawdust, vanilla, cherry, a subtle touch of vinegar, and a floral quality, possibly violets. The palate offers cherry, vanilla, pastry, and chocolate, maintaining balance rather than being overly sweet. Oak and almond notes are present in the background. The finish has a savory pastry character.