Bardstown Bourbon Co. Bourbon

I really appreciate Bardstown Bourbon Co. and their Origin line, and I'm eager to explore their other offerings. I previously gave positive reviews to their bottled-in-bond and wheated expressions, and now I'm ready to taste the Straight Bourbon. The aroma of this selection is remarkably well-rounded. It evokes a smooth dessert with a hint of tannins. Honey, peanut brittle, and custard are prominent in the nose, followed by cocoa powder, oak with tannins, and leather. Further exploration of the aroma reveals stone fruit and oranges. The palate begins sweet and maintains a rather thick texture throughout. A gentle start of sweet cream and vanilla gives way to a burst of tingling peppercorn, cinnamon, mint, oak with tannins, and leather. It packs a punch and is certainly less creamy and sweet than the aroma suggested. The finish is dry and zesty. Leather and oak continue to be dominant. Your tongue, mouth sides, and palate still feel the tingle from the peppercorn. Inhaling through your mouth reveals citrus, though due to the tannic bite, it tastes more like orange rind than anything else. This is definitively the most spicy and dry of the three Origin bourbons. It's fantastic if you enjoy Rye, but I'm not particularly fond of Rye's natural spiciness, making this my least preferred, with the Wheated expression being a clear winner. Nevertheless, it's wonderful to have such diversity in their Origin lineup, and this bourbon is certainly unconventional. For the price? Grab a bottle. Quickly, before enthusiasts discover Bardstown Bourbon Co. and their bottles become incredibly hard to find.

Bardstown Bourbon Co. ORIGIN SERIES BOURBON 6YR (Fall 2017) *SMELL: RYE SPICE! And I do mean lots of it. Dry, Dusty, and Spicy. Barely hints at Sweetness with Light Cocoa Powder, Dry Brown Sugar, and some Wood Spice. Straightforward, but very good. *NEAT: There's more Sweetness here than the smell would lead you to believe, but to get to it, you've got to get through the Spicy Dry Coating that consists of Rye, Oak Spice, Black Pepper, Orange Peel, and Unsweetened Cocoa Powder. Once you do, the Sweetness shows up on the backend with the Holy Bourbon Trinity: Vanilla Bean, Caramel, and Honey. That Dry Spiciness returns on a Long Peppery Finish with an excellent KYHug. You're left with a Layering Coating of Oak, Cinnamon, and Vanilla that hangs around even after the Glencairn is empty. *SPLASH: Doesn't change the Smell much, but the Palate gets more of the Honey & Vanilla while only losing a smidge of the Spice. *VERDICT: I was underwhelmed by the lone Bardstown bottle in my collection (one of the Fusion Series, not sure which) so I was a little hesitant, but I was persuaded by the $40'ish price tag, the 6YR age statement and the super high Rye Mashbill. Glad I talked myself into it. This is good. I mean surprisingly good. Maybe even (gasp) Special Release good. Not overly complex, but if you like Spicy this should be on your radar. This is what I was hoping for from my other Bardstown bottle (which if memory serves was about $20 more). If this continues to be readily available it will definitely have a spot on the shelf.

Color: light-medium copper. Nose: Familiar notes of vanilla and caramel. A faint hint of molasses. Palate: An initial alcohol warmth is immediately followed by cocoa, much like a packet of hot cocoa. This is the first time I've detected such a pronounced cocoa taste. I've seen it mentioned in professional reviews for other spirits, but never experienced it until now. I'm sensing a lot from this spirit on its first try. A slightly sweet and subtly bitter cherry note emerges upfront, with orange zest appearing on the back end. I typically drink my bourbon with an ice cube or a large ice ball, depending on the proof. I'm using a cube here. As the cube melts, a smooth, leathery-caramel flavor is revealed. Finish: Spicy and oaky with a mild drying sensation. Final thoughts: I've been curious about Bardstown's other offerings, but their price has always been a bit higher than I was willing to spend based solely on reviews. However, at under $50.00, this is an excellent bourbon. It's a smooth, flavorful, and easy-drinking spirit. I would certainly repurchase it. Additionally, the bottle itself is quite attractive. The artwork inside, visible against a backlight, is very appealing. Bonus points!

Smell is cedar, mustiness, yogurt covered animal crackers. Salt. Body is basic bourbon done well. Caramel, leather, vanilla, sugar. There’s some grape in there too. Finish is baking spices, black pepper. Hint of marshmallow. I like this more than black label origins, but it’s for subjective flavor profile reasons. They’re both solid products, and on both they got the pricing right. If I were going to keep one Bardstown product in stock, it would be this one. Leaps and bounds better than the fusions I’ve tried, half the price of the premium products. Well done BBC. The first company ever to use that initialism, I believe. Up next: origins green.

I finished this bottle before I could properly review it. To be truthful, this bourbon isn't exceptional, but that's its charm. It's not highly intricate, yet it possesses that classic "bourbon" flavor of sweet vanilla and caramel. At around $55, it's an excellent choice for daily enjoyment. This expression and the darker label Origin from Bardstown both offer outstanding value. Don't anticipate a life-altering experience, but expect consistent satisfaction with every pour.

The legs appear slowly but in abundance, with a dark golden straw hue. The aroma is rich with corn: corn flakes and semi-sweet animal feed corn, along with buttered toast, vanilla, cobwebs, and a subtle smoky note. The mid-palate becomes a bit dry, transitioning into a sawdust and spice medley. Clove, cinnamon, and white pepper are present. It thins out rather quickly, leaving a pleasant warmth after swallowing. A subtle lingering sweetness concludes the straightforward finish. It's not bad, just not as impressive as their other products.