Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #2

Featuring bourbons from Barton, Heaven Hill, and Turkey (10, 12, and 14 years old), though not necessarily in that order. Regardless, excellent components on paper. Nose: Presents fairly traditional bourbon characteristics. Can you discern the blended distilleries? Indeed, you can. Barton's rye notes are typically a bit off-putting; sourced okay, but I detect them here. Then, I notice that signature Turkey funk, along with a hint of nuttiness, though not peanuts as I perceive in Heaven Hill. For me, it strongly resembles 1792 Barrel Proof and Rare Breed, with a subtle addition of something else. It's sweet, rich, complex, and unusual, alongside classic bourbon notes of vanilla, oak, and caramel. A pleasant addition is a scent of apple cinnamon cider served in a hay barn. Taste: Again, a complex interplay of flavors, but predominantly traditional bourbon notes. It leans more towards oak, with some funky elements. I don't often say this about bourbon, but it's bordering on savory as the oak and bourbon achieve a perfect equilibrium, neither the bitter oak nor the sweet bourbon dominates excessively, though the overall impression remains caramel with a hint of vanilla. There's a nutty undertone. Notes of fancy French pastry, like bready and chocolatey characteristics. Absolutely crème brûlée. It also has a tootsie roll, dissolving candy, aged stout quality, yet remains vanilla-forward. The oak imparts sensations of being in a barn and hints of funky Turkey rickhouses. I'm highly impressed with this offering. So much sourced bourbon recently consists primarily of MGP, Barton, or Dickel. This incorporates well-aged versions of Turkey and Heaven Hill, and by blending them, you achieve a superior and frankly enhanced experience. It can be challenging initially to dive into this one; it's a whirlwind of 'what is that?' but ultimately, it's one of the most intricate straight bourbons I've encountered in some time. I'll rate it 3.75. The only real drawback is the absence of a 'wow' moment or a definitive 'damn.' It's all about the complexity and the challenge of dissecting these notes. However, I'm uncertain if many casual drinkers would appreciate that effort. If I were simply sipping this on the rocks, I'd enjoy it, but I wouldn't repurchase it. As an enthusiast, I might acquire another if available in a year.

Based on my personal standards for bourbon, this is precisely how a premium straight bourbon ought to taste. At around $130 a bottle, it's a worthwhile investment for a well-aged and expertly blended bourbon. The craftspeople at Bardstown achieve a purpose in their blends, akin to those at Compass Box, presenting complex and delicious results. This Discovery series #2 evokes a Parisian bakery. The rich, intricate aromas of sweet and baking spices are captivating and intense on the nose alone. Upon tasting, it's surprisingly smooth given its 61.1% ABV. The dark chocolate and raisin notes are well-balanced with confectionary sugar, cinnamon, and pastry dough. Subtle rye spice, oak, and pistachio emerge in a long and satisfying finish. There are no off-putting flavors. Many bourbons are released underaged and with flaws such as fusel alcohols, corn syrup, corn oil, nut oils, pumpkin, and raw peanuts. These can be masked by high ABV, and it appears many barrel strength bourbons without age statements from well-known brands are being bought and resold in the current speculative bourbon market. I recently sampled barrel strength E.H. Taylor, Elijah Craig, Weller, and Stagg Jr., which resemble bakeries in Cleveland. As I've mentioned, I have my own bourbon preferences, and while Parisian bakeries aren't necessarily superior to those in Cleveland, the pricing for the latter should not be so high. The initial purpose of oak aging is not to add flavor but to remove undesirable notes. When the price exceeds $100, one should expect a properly matured bourbon free of flaws. If you can find your preferred barrel strength non-age-stated bourbon at retail, by all means, enjoy it. However, you should not pay secondary market prices, which are comparable to or even exceed the cost of this Discovery series, for those less-refined options. Instead, invest your money at retail prices for brands like Barrell, Bardstown, Kentucky Owl, Old Carter, and others. Score: ** (unimaginably good) Estimated bottle cost: $120-140 My perceived bottle value: $160

I was really anticipating this. Positive reviews circulated, suggesting it's a top-tier bourbon. Fortunate to have obtained a sample, and with a suggested retail price of $120, I found it locally at that cost and nearly bought a bottle. Perhaps my palate was affected after tasting the William Heavenhill, the 12-year edition. That one registered at 134.4 proof! Sample poured into a Glencairn glass, allowed to rest for 15 minutes. Nose (3/5): Detected a slightly unusual musk. The aroma was present but not particularly striking. Noted a touch of fruit sweetness. After several deep inhalations following the initial tasting, there was no significant change. I've experienced more pronounced aromas from Buffalo Trace or Wild Turkey 101. Palate (3.25/5): Lacked complexity and boldness. It's decent. Found some cherry notes and a hint of mint. Adding a quarter point because the mint was pleasing and not overpowering. Finish (3.75/5): Wow... this was intense. It burned my throat. I'm generally adept at handling high proof spirits, such as JDBP, ECBP, and Stagg Jr. After the second taste, it caused me heartburn. However, the flavors were enjoyable. Vanilla and sweet oak with a hint of citrus, reminiscent of a young orange.

Excellent bourbon from a company doing some really creative blending. Nose-Maple sweetness jumps out of the glass, some cinnamon spice and leather notes are underneath the maple with a dash of fruits, mostly reminds me of pears Palate-rich and complex, lots of oak tannins, some of the maple sweetness from the nose appears Finish- lingering, creamy sweetness and cinnamon Verdict-While the price tag on this bottle is high, it is worth it for people seeking a rich, complex and oaky bourbon. One of my favorite bourbons of 2020 so far.

This bourbon is excellent. It's rich and thick, with notes of dark cherries, oak, vanilla, caramel, and dark chocolate. The finish lasts for a very long time. It strongly brings to mind a highly sought-after barrel proof whiskey that's very hard to find, but I won't mention its name, as that would make it impossible to find any Bardstown. This is superb stuff.

Sweetness and high alcohol content are prominent. It offers a touch of Rye alongside sweetness, possibly with a citrus hint. The finish brings notes of brown sugar or caramel, accompanied by a subtle wood character. It's quite good, though another product is superior.