Bardstown Bourbon Co. Château de Laubade Armagnac Finish

I had been wanting to try this distillery for some time. After sampling a couple that I found intriguing and quite good, I decided to explore further. Having recently completed a number of tastings from Château De Laubade, this particular sample caught my eye when I was sorting through what I had. Nose: Strong, leathery, somewhat spicy, with a hint of meatiness. Naturally, there are also rich fruits in the cherry and blackberry spectrum. The spice and leather are definitely accompanied by significant barrel tannins. While not the most intricate or indulgent aroma, it is a rather pleasant one. Truly enjoyable. Palate: The characteristic Armagnac tartness and robust woody bitterness from the tannins hit immediately, yet the taste is not overwhelming. There's a distinct boldness of leather here, reminiscent of Joseph Magnus, which then transitions into barrel spices like ginger, cinnamon, and clove. Limestone adds a mineral lightness to the profile. Dried cherries appear at opportune moments, as do notes of chocolate and vanilla. This is indeed a very decadent drink. A slight touch of youthful meatiness is present, but it's not problematic. I am greatly impressed. It offers superb complexity with rich flavors. Though not the most subtle, it surprisingly succeeds quite well in subtlety. Finish: A delightful mustiness, similar to that found in some exceptional cabernets, is present. It's blended with subtly floral vanilla, creating a lovely conclusion. - Summary - This will not make my top five, but it is an outstanding drink. My primary critique is that I desired a fuller body with a more viscous texture on the palate. When compared directly to Joseph Magnus (rated 21/23), this offering is bolder, more leathery, oilier, less sweet, better integrated, and less complex. Frankly, I believe the oloroso finish is significantly contributing to the Joseph Magnus's character. Overall, both are very close in quality. This has a more youthful edge, but the aged tannins from the Laubade casks impart significant maturity. Between the two, I lean towards favoring the Joseph Magnus, but I can easily see the appeal of either. Both are exceptional drinks. In a direct comparison, a fresh bottle of Wild Turkey Rare Breed (rated 18/23) simply cannot measure up. The disparity in quality is striking. The Wild Turkey is less complex, has comparable heat, and exhibits more off-putting, funky alcohol flavors, especially when tasted side-by-side. It's inconceivable that this could be rated as low as 19, and I'm questioning if a 20 is too low. I've occasionally considered a 22 for the Joseph Magnus, but that still places this firmly in the 21 range, which is an excellent score! I am delighted to discover this is a 21 and eager to sample more from this distillery! On my final tasting sip, I'm seriously reconsidering a 20, but if it lands there, it's certainly at the upper end of that score. Revisiting this, it's undoubtedly at least a 19, but I'm not as confident about the 21. I think I'm lowering this to a 20, but I don't believe it's as low as a 19. It's either a 20 or a 21. Returning for the last few sips, I nearly awarded it a 21, but after the final taste, I settled on a 20. Thank you for sharing this sample of such a delightful drink!

Could this be the bourbon of the year for 2020? I already know someone who considers it a contender - I might have been the one who brought him the bottle and warned him he'd be cut off if he reviewed it before I had three bottles.:) Nose: cinnamon, autumn leaves, clove, freshly baked pie crust, and then a distinctive MGP rye essence. This is one of the least sweet, more complex bourbons I've encountered, yet it's not dry or bitter like traditional bourbons (that sentence was likely a run-on due to its complexity). It possesses a balance I can't adequately describe or compare. Taste: 12 years in oak barrels followed by 18 months in Armagnac casks impart a depth and complexity in this bourbon with few equals. It's simply astonishing whisky. Spicy, complex, tobacco, oak, cinnamon, apple cider, rye spice, hints of vanilla and caramel. There's far more here than I can articulate. Adding water enhances the initial sweetness without altering the profile. The spices and rush of flavors remain. Imagine autumn orchard fruits and spices within a tobacco barn; that's the best I can do to explain its nuance. Personally, I prefer a bit more vanilla and caramel sweetness, and an oak sweetness I don't typically find in my bourbons. However, this is a finish bourbon, which demands an appreciation for nuance and difference. It's not as sweet as the 30-year-old Armagnac I own, but it does evoke some similar notes. I'm left with immense satisfaction and a feeling of awe. A score of 4.5. Compared side-by-side with Four Gate Batch 6, it made the Batch 6 seem like a cheap, uninspired bourbon (though it is not). It's close, but I'd choose this over a cigar blend. I enjoyed it so much that I purchased four bottles for myself. I've been urging people to seek this one out. I may have inadvertently turned this into a locally allocated bottling that it wasn't before I started raving about it. Now I'm sharing it with you all. In my opinion, this is a top 25 all-time bourbon. It's not just special; it's a masterpiece in the bourbon world, worth paying secondary market prices while they're still reasonable. The MSRP is around $130, and the secondary market is still only about $250 shipped. Buy them all! I cannot recommend this bottle more highly, especially considering the reasonable secondary prices. BUY THEM ALL!

Having enjoyed the Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend, I was concerned this bottling wouldn't measure up, especially considering their similar price and Armagnac barrel finishing. However, the BBCo Chateau De Laubade not only meets but exceeds expectations. This is a remarkable bourbon! I sampled it neat initially, then with a tiny bit of water. The drink offers considerable depth and a multitude of equally fantastic and harmonious flavors. Nose Neat - I detected abundant warm notes of toffee, caramel, plenty of honey, and a touch of cinnamon. Nose Water - These notes persisted, and the fruit flavors like apricot, cherries, apples, and grapes became more prominent. If this aroma could be captured in a candle, I'd purchase numerous. Even my wife, who doesn't typically favor bourbon, found the scent delightful. Palate Neat - It possesses a smooth, almost syrupy texture. The sweetness is well-balanced, featuring honey, caramel, toffee, and citrus, alongside a subtle dark dried fruit essence. The spice is present but understated, perfectly complementing the sweetness. Palate Water - That small addition of water truly elevated the experience! The flavors exploded. I detected honey, toffee, caramel, chocolate, apricots, apples, cinnamon, oak, tobacco, and much more. It's incredibly intricate. Finish - Prepare for an enduring experience, as the finish lingers impressively (whether neat or with water). The taste persisted for approximately 20 to 30 minutes after my last sip. I noticed significant oak, leather, grape, and even subtle hints of tobacco. The Armagnac barrels undeniably enhance this bourbon. Each return to the glass revealed a new scent and flavor. If you have the opportunity to acquire this, I strongly recommend it. It embodies all the desirable qualities of a classic bourbon, and while my knowledge of Armagnac barrels is limited, I'd assert this represents a flawless integration. I found myself unwilling to set the glass down. There was absolutely nothing to dislike. I even purchased three additional bottles, one for a gift. Given the abundance of high-quality bourbons available today, it's challenging to maintain a definitive top 5, but this Labaude would undoubtedly secure a spot in my current top rankings. Excellent work, BBCo.

Bardstown obtained a 12-year-old MGP bourbon for this batch, then partnered with Chateau de Laubade to secure some of their Gascon oak Armagnac casks. The bourbon was finished in these barrels for 18 months before being bottled at 59.2%. The aroma presents musty grapes, aged leather-bound books, and deep earthiness, followed by cocoa-dusted prunes, cigar wrappers, and candied pecans. It then evolves into caramelized pears, dried figs, and cherry pie filling, leading to notes of spearmint, cloves, ginger, and freshly polished antique furniture, with a moderate alcohol presence. The palate begins with a rich, oily texture and sweet orange notes, which give way to musty grapes, old books, and cavernous minerality. A light spice quickly fades into cocoa-dusted prunes, fresh cigars, and pecan pie. This is followed by caramelized pears, fig preserves, and cherries jubilee, transitioning into spearmint, cloves, ginger, and freshly lacquered antique furniture, with a moderate alcohol presence. The finish is lengthy, featuring freshly lit sweet pipe tobacco, flinty earthiness, caramelized pears, Morello cherry jam, musty grapes, spearmint, cloves, aged leather-bound books, and freshly lacquered antique furniture. This is an incredibly intricate and full-bodied bourbon. The blend of aged MGP with those Armagnac casks has yielded a dram with prominent earthy, musty, and deep characteristics. The typical bourbon flavors of creamy citrus, toasted nuts, and subtle rye take a backseat, yet all the elements achieve near-perfect harmony, creating a distinctive profile that is earthy, sweet, savory, and spicy, with a long-lasting finish. In my opinion, this is the finest bourbon Bardstown has ever produced, and it was a good value at the $125 I paid. Sadly, the resale market has gone wild for it, making the inflated prices unjustified. However, I did spot it in some Kentucky establishments at a fair price and would suggest anyone try it if they can find it for a reasonable amount.

Things are finally starting to settle down. New residence. New surroundings. The holidays are rapidly approaching. But now, a moment of calm. Amidst the clutter of boxes, I discovered a sample shared by a friend. Feeling like bourbon tonight, this seems to be the perfect choice for the evening. As this rests in the glass, a delightful aroma of aged, slightly musty books stimulates the senses. This scent persists as other aromas emerge. Baking spices contribute to these additional scents, including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger snap cookies. Notes of cigar tobacco and then fruits appear: Maraschino cherries, lemon, and orange zest mingle with the baking and oak spice. It's like a liquid Christmas celebration. The spirit is rich, thick, and syrupy upon arrival. It possesses a subtle sweetness balanced by the aforementioned baking and wood spices. A blend of caramel and toffee swirls with cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger, and black pepper (essentially allspice). The pepper spice intensifies, but as its strength increases, dark chocolate with a high cocoa content emerges, accompanied by dates and figs. Charcoal and cigar ash are also present, leading towards the finish. The finish is long-lasting and pleasant. The oak and wood char linger and adhere. Flavors of caramel, spearmint, cherries, apples, pears, and bitter dark chocolate are present. There are bourbons that are everyday sippers, quite familiar to most. We mix and enjoy them. Then there are bourbons that we discover by chance or receive as a sample, and they astound us. This falls into the latter category. An exceptional bourbon that is bold, well-balanced, flavorful, and aromatic with an enduring finish. Thanks to a friend for sharing. A wonderful pour. Cheers! [95/100][Tasted: 12/17/22]

Sampled neat directly from the bottle after pouring. As someone who enjoys MGP products, I was quite enthusiastic about this release. The aroma is distinctly MGP with some intriguing variations. The finish significantly softens the bright notes (like vanilla or butterscotch) while maintaining the sweetness. You detect a pleasant layer of raspberries and blackberries. Richly charred, deep caramel. Flaky, buttery pie crust. A hint of milk chocolate. It's genuinely inviting and comforting. The texture is exceptionally thick and syrupy. It invigorates the palate with intense fruit sweetness. It's so oily it coats everything. The raspberries and blackberries are so prominent initially that they overpower other flavors. Once they subside, the oils introduce another wave of flavors that mirror the nose: caramel, buttery pie crust. Berries and chocolate create long, lingering legs. Simply devastatingly delicious. The longer I experience it, the more the bright notes emerge, and now I'm detecting a delightful MGP butterscotch. This is an amazing pour. I haven't explored Bardstown extensively yet but couldn't resist this one. It truly delivers. I still need to try the Cigar Blend, but among the finished MGP products I've sampled, I believe this is the finest.