Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon French Oak Finish

Here's an interesting offering from Lux Row. Old Ezra 7 is excellent, and the Blood Oath series is reliably good based on my experience. This French Oak variant and the Cabernet version of Daviess County offer a more budget-friendly way to explore Lux Row's more experimental side. Let's investigate. Nose: Caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar. Hints of ginger and pumpkin spice. Fudge, maple, cocoa. There's a significant rye spice, which is curious given this is a blend of rye and wheat mash bills. Based on the aroma alone, I would assume this was a high rye. It's rounded out with clove, nutmeg, black pepper, and oak. Palate: More rye and black pepper. Toffee, caramel, and cocoa. Vanilla and milk chocolate. Almond and walnut. Some Gala apple, raisin, pear, and apricot. The latter two are flavors I typically associate only with Scotch or Irish whiskey. This makes it quite unique. It's again complemented by clove, nutmeg, ginger, pumpkin spice, black pepper, and oak. Finish: Gala apple, maple, caramel, and vanilla. Some sawdust. More of the rye, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Moderate length. This is an outstanding bourbon. I have not typically enjoyed French Oak finishes. All the ones I've previously encountered were Speyside Scotch. And while I acknowledge that those two profiles harmonize perfectly, I must also point out that the resulting product is consistently uninspired. Now, consider Lux Row's Daviess County interpretation of a French Oak finished whiskey. A high-proof, carefully crafted bourbon blend appears to be the solution to the shortcomings I've always found in the whiskey-French Oak cask combination. And the value for money is unbelievable here. This is exceptionally interesting. I'm pleased I acquired it. I can finally appreciate the influence of French Oak. The next bottle will be the Cabernet variant of Daviess County. The standard has been set quite high. Well done, Luxco.

Nose- French vanilla and butterscotch are prominent on a mild nose, with a pastry-like scent reminiscent of pop-overs. Tasting- Delightful notes of sweet vanilla, freshly made butter, and a hint of maple are present. The mouthfeel is quite substantial for the 92 proof, featuring a pleasing sweetness and good balance. It's well-rounded. Finish- A long-lasting, pastry-like finish that evokes a boston cream donut, almost like custard. The only drawback is a faint lingering bitterness. A cherry tartness emerges as a welcome surprise if you persist with it. Overall- I'm quite impressed! This strongly resembles a wheated version of Yellowstone. It lacks the oaky maturity of an older spirit but delivers the sweet, pastry-like flavor of a fine wheated bourbon. What truly surprised me was the luxurious richness for what appears to be a younger bourbon (judging by its straw-like color) and lower proof (evidenced by thinner, quicker legs). This is likely due to the french oak finishing, which adds a nice layer of complexity and possibly smooths out some rough edges. I can't help but compare it to some of the 4-year old Yellowstone store picks I've enjoyed, though this offers more nuanced flavor layers. It's definitely a bottle I'll purchase.

Forty dollars; Initial pour; Sampled neat in a Glencairn; Allowed to rest for ten minutes. Appealing aromas of sweet vanilla, hints of green apples, traces of orange peel, and an overall scent that is somewhat floral initially, while fresh damp oak is present in the background; shows little to no alcohol vapor on the nose. On the palate, it begins with an immediate rush of sweetness – vanilla mixed with hints of orange and light honey that emerge after a slightly slick (not thick) mouthfeel coats the tongue. The initial sweetness vanishes quickly as the short to medium (non-stinging) finish evolves into more of a pleasant fresh vanilla oak aftertaste as it fades. Deserves 3.75 to 4.0 stars if you can acquire the bottle at $40 or less; and I concur with a prior reviewer that at prices of $50 or more, it might shift the rating toward the lower end of the range as other selections could elevate the experience and provide superior value. Nevertheless, I believe many would find this selection to be an accessible, enjoyable pour, and appreciate its subtle finesse and elegant character. While others who prefer more robust bourbons might desire a more distinct profile with a stronger impact in the finish – I personally appreciate the dram, though I do wish the flavors persisted and lingered just a bit longer.

Daviess County French Oak Finish NOSE: Light and Dry. Floral. Dry Oak Spice. Leather. A Dried Musty Orange Peel note I've only encountered before in Johnny Drum Private Stock. It's similar to finding an orange in a bag that's started to spoil and get moldy. While not a scent I enjoy in reality, it kind of works in Bourbon. There's also Light Vanilla and Dried Spices. NEAT: That Dry Dusty Characteristic is the first sensation on the tongue. There's slightly more sweetness here than the nose suggests. Subsequent sips reveal Oak Spice and that dried Orange Peel. It has a Medium Length Finish followed by a Light KY Hug. The Orange, Oak Spice, and a Peppery Tingle coat the palate. After a short while, notes of Dark Chocolate and Cinnamon emerge in the aftertaste. SPLASH: Sweetens the palate a bit more. Makes it a bit more Traditional. A hint of Pencil Shavings on both the nose and palate. VERDICT: A surprisingly good pour. The French Oak is noticeable in the finish and nearly suggests a Maker's 46 profile, but it doesn't quite reach it. This is very good, but I'm docking it a quarter point due to its $45 price. I believe $35-$40 is where this bottle should be priced. I'm eager to try the other two variations.

I had seen this bottling around and was always intrigued to sample it. A French oak finish can be difficult to perfect; it contributes depth and harmony, but if overdone, it can overwhelm the primary spirit. Typically, concerning American whiskey, I've only encountered this with Balcones, where given the intensity of that Texan spirit, an excessive French oak influence was not a concern. Thanks to a generous serving from a friend, my curiosity was satisfied. This is akin to entering a bakery and diving headfirst into an almond-topped croissant. It achieves balance, though the base spirit appears somewhat sweet. If you have a preference for sweetness, you would appreciate this. Furthermore, with a sensible price point, the value for money is evident. Well executed. Thanks to the person who shared their pour!

Lux Row Distillers (Luxco), 96 proof straight bourbons, a blend of wheated and high rye, aged an additional 6 months in French oak. Golden brown color, average legs in the glass. Floral and sweet cereal grain on the nose. Soft and lightly sweet grain, grassy rye on the palate, with a little ethanol. Dry oak, light but not overly tannic on the finish. Leather, rye spice, and a dry menthol mouthfeel. Ice tames the spice and brings out sweet stone fruit. Not excessively sweet, and less vanilla than I would anticipate given the dominant oak flavors. Nicely balanced yet distinctive. Ice reduces the oak and increases the sweetness and vanilla. I plan to continue trying this.