Bardstown Bourbon Company Single Barrel

Nose: Excellent blend of light and dark elements. Tastes like birthday cake batter mixed with dark berries. Definitely a lot of dessert-like notes. As it sits, I keep getting honey graham cracker teddy bears. Very little rye character here; it's further from the glass. The alcohol is quite noticeable and kind of overwhelms the nose. Palate: Brown sugar, caramel, and loads of alcohol-soaked dark fruits. The rye character hides very well until much later in the finish, where it randomly appears alongside a drying oak note. The rye becomes quite earthy and spicy. I get a slight hint of a barnyard hay note, similar to what I find in Willet 4yr, which is one of my personal favorites. Overall: Very, very high proof. The front and mid-palate are solid. Viscosity and mouthfeel are above average too. But the finish lacks depth and is all alcohol. For a Single Barrel, Barrel Proof offering, give me JDSBBP ten out of ten times. This is good, but it's not great, and for the price point, it's just okay. I never thought I would say this, but I think the 96 proof Bardstown is far better.

A Liquor City Uncorked selection, "Gallenstein Selection #1". Mashbill: 78% corn / 10% rye / 12% malted barley. Aged for 6 years. 60% abv; 120 proof. Opened 8 weeks. Nose: Caramel, vanilla, maple, cinnamon bun, gingerbread, white pepper, honeycrisp apple, cherry, light oak, and moderate ethanol. Palate: Soft and syrupy, with caramel, brown sugar, fresh cinnamon bun, young grain, clove, peppercorns, an herbal mix, and rye bread. The finish is medium, primarily syrup with light oak tannins, cinnamon, black pepper, and light ethanol. Reportedly one of the first single barrel selections of Bardstown's own distillate, this bourbon is a sugary powerhouse. It uses the same mashbill as Elijah Craig. It honestly reminds me of some of the lighter ECBP batches or single barrels from recent years, just without significant oak. I also think this is a decent alternative to Buffalo Trace products if you're seeking something superior to overly hyped, watery sweetness.

#18-27578 75/21/0/4 Mash 120 proof Nose: Cherry and oak. It's rare for me to detect cherry, but it's quite strong here. Palate: Caramel, oak, subtle dark berries, cinnamon. Finish: A burst of heat that disappears quickly. Cinnamon and dark berries at the end. Everything Bardstown produces is fantastic.

Nose: subtle fruit, apricot, pear, and a hint of banana that's gone bad. Slightly unappealing. Palate: remarkably light and mild for 112 proof, tastes like a 90 proof. Gentle caramel, mild fruit. Very smooth and mellow, but not what one expects from a single barrel.

A whiskey cake barrel selection. Incredible notes of caramel and a subtle oak presence that emerged after 15-20 minutes. Astonishing.

I don't think the price for this bourbon is warranted. I'd much prefer the standard bourbon.