Kentucky Owl Bourbon (Batch #10)

Score: 23/23 Nose: Sweet caramel with a hint of rich virgin oak. Hints of floral notes appear with mild orange and cherry fruit. A rich, sweet, faintly savory vanilla base gradually emerges. Plenty of wood is present, along with nice ginger and clove. It's a pleasant balance of rich and complex, which I am thoroughly enjoying exploring. Palate: This is truly impressive. I detect musty wood with sharp spices like cinnamon and pepper, along with some wood. Sweet chocolate emerges from the musty wood, with vanilla notes within the chocolate. A touch of tartness and bitterness, like orange peel, appears, then shifts to orange blossoms with just a faint whisper of cherry. It evokes Elijah Craig B520, although side-by-side, the Elijah Craig is decidedly bolder, emphasizing wood and spice more. This seems to sit somewhere between that and Russell's Reserve 10. It's sweet and enjoyable with a pleasant mustiness that obscures its age. There's no sign of youthful alcohol or raw distillate, which is excellent. It possesses a flavor reminiscent of Barrell, as if finished or aged extensively in new barrels. The complexity is fantastic. It suggests considerable age, but not an excessive amount. The barrels used were clearly of high quality, and the balance is superb. This bourbon commands my attention with every sip, leading me to savor it for minutes and forget to take notes. Finish: Lingering musty wood and chocolate, with a prickling spice. A hint of non-floral orange also appears, with a solid layer of vanilla underneath. Faint herbal notes and touches of mint surface occasionally. The balance and complexity remain excellent throughout the finish. - Conclusion - Every moment of this bourbon is thoroughly enjoyable. It's rich and mature, with decadent complexity and balance. The barrel influence suggests it might not be extremely old, but there's also a wonderful mustiness. It's quite a puzzle. Compared to top-tier spirits, this holds its own. It lacks the youthful, finished sweetness of Barrell Dovetail but offers a similar flavor range. It's less potent than Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520, but shares similar chocolate and spice notes with enhanced complexity. There's a delightful funkiness reminiscent of Wild Turkey Rare Breed, and a spicy warmth that aligns with it. Yet, the complexity and balance here are consistently outstanding. This is an amazing bourbon. I initially rated it at least a 20, then increased it to a 21. Now, it's at least a 22, and for the first time ever, I might award a bourbon a 23. On a final taste, it again performs well against Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520. In fact, surprisingly, I believe I would prefer this one over the B520. Yes, if any bourbon is worthy of a 23, this is it. It's one of only two 23s I've ever given. It's not perfect, but it has reached an exceptionally high level of excellence. Simply remarkable. This is sample A from an unmarked set of 4. It could be one of about 15 different bourbons and ryes. Of the four samples, this is the one I am least certain about the identity of. It is also, however, the one I like the most. I suspect Four Gate Split Stave is the most probable candidate due to the significant fresh barrel flavor. If not, I'd guess Kentucky Owl Batch 10, Bomberger's Declaration 2020, or Cream Of Kentucky 13, as I'm unsure what to expect from those. The proof seems too high for Barterhouse 20 or Rhetoric 25, and the complexity seems too great for Sam Houston 14. - The Reveal - I am not surprised I misidentified this one; I was merely guessing. And in my defense, my second guess was correct. The real surprise is how incredible Kentucky Owl turned out to be! The harmony of age, complexity, and myriad bourbon flavors is magnificent. I had previously considered Kentucky Owl just another overpriced sourced bourbon, but this has completely altered my perception. I now urgently need to find a bottle. Tremendous thanks to a fellow enthusiast for providing a pour of this treasure!

Very cherry, much wood. Some dust? Bottle 8058/14030. Doesn't feel very special. Let's see how this compares to my history of bad decisions and expensive non-distiller producer buys. I've never had KY owl before. When I had the chance to grab a batch 3 or 4 of their bourbon for $150-180, I passed in my younger days. Then this batch appears everywhere locally. And it lingers. And it lingers. And I ponder... Likely because it now carries a $300 price tag. When I happen upon it for $230, my weak mind thinks “What a deal!” And now we pour, either to celebrate or forget - we'll soon find out. The color is appealing - a shade of rusty orange or even light copper. The aroma straight from the newly opened bottle is somewhat strong with cherries, sweet fruit, baking spices, vanilla, and wood. Quite conventional. As it sits for a bit, some earthy, dusty character emerges and something akin to old leather. Still, the aroma is primarily sweet but hints at an enjoyable equilibrium. This is not poor. Medium bodied initially and like a twisting country road - it takes you through a few turns before an oily, extended finish develops. Let's step on it and navigate again. Butter cake, vanilla, brown sugar, dried pineapple, marzipan, tobacco on the nose. This arrives so pleasantly with a balance of brown sugar, butter, nutmeg, clove, then cherry, marzipan, followed by the oily walnut and oak until we begin to fade into bananas foster, cinnamon, and a dry, brown tobacco finish. Okay, so I'm impressed. Genuinely pleased with this. It transports me. Few pours do that nowadays. All of this from a first taste. It meets my criteria. So now we consider the financial aspect. At $230 this is one of the priciest bottles I've acquired. Garrison Bro. Cowboy is also up there. If I had to choose? Don't make me pick... the Cowboy might win but might lose depending on the mood. The finish on this is just so classic, so enduring. However, how does it stack up against a $60 bottle of ECBP, an $80 bottle of Remus III/IV, or a rare $75 ($699) bottle of Weller Full Proof? Well, to be honest, it's more intricate with a superior finish, but only slightly. It's comparable to when a car magazine posts 0-60 times and you see a 2.9 instead of a 3.6 and think wow! And then you realize both are faster than most could handle. Neither are practical for everyday use. They both come with a cost. And honestly, a 4.1 second acceleration will still excite. And with that, I bid farewell. It's uncommon for me to praise a non-distiller producer, but this is an exception. I'd like about $50 back but oh well, I've made worse choices.

To add variety, a friend sent me samples with unique markings to obscure their identities until after tasting. Will I confuse a rye for bourbon or miss a finish entirely? I'm eager to discover the contents as we continue this blind tasting challenge with the pentagon-marked vial. The nose begins with rich, decadent chocolate turtles and candied pecans, complemented by notes of orange zest, apple fritters, and vanilla crème brûlée. This transitions into spearmint, cloves, aged leather, and polished mahogany, with a strong ethanol presence. The palate presents a viscous mouthfeel, starting with mandarin oranges, candied cherries, and apple fritters, alongside a subtle floral note. A moderate spice then fades into spearmint, ginger, cloves, aged leather, and polished mahogany, again with a strong ethanol burn. The finish is lengthy, featuring orange zest, stewed cinnamon caramel apples, chocolate-covered candied pecans, vanilla snack pack pudding, ginger, spearmint, cloves, aged leather, and polished mahogany that persists for several minutes. This is essentially flawless bourbon. It starts with robust, classic bourbon aromas, leading to a decadent mouthfeel with perfectly balanced bourbon notes that flow seamlessly into a long, lingering finish. The finish echoes those traditional bourbon characteristics, vanilla pudding, herbal spices, and aged leather, suggesting a very mature bourbon. I'm thoroughly impressed. To see if it can hold its own against my favorites, I'll pit it against some contenders. Garrison Brothers Cowboy put up a strong fight but was ultimately defeated by its noticeable youth, which this contender exploited. Heaven's Door 10-year Redbreast Finish seemed outmatched from the start, appearing thin and better suited for a lighter category. Wow, you've really surpassed some of my top picks. What is this incredible spirit, how much will it cost, and is it still available? After a dramatic reveal, the slip indicated... Kentucky Owl Bourbon Batch 10!!!!

Nose: cherry and spice. A very full nose. Hints of sweet bread are also present. It's reminiscent of Eagle Rare on the nose, though obviously at a different price point. Palate: full and creamy with lots of spice on the initial taste. Definitely 120 proof. It coats the mouth well though. Almost WLW-like at first. Second sip: more fruit-forward but just as viscous. Finish: a pretty lengthy finish on this one. Vanilla until the very end. Overall: as usual with this one, the price is the first thing brought up. I told myself I wouldn't buy this, and several months later I got a different job with much more income, so I saw it again and said, "Why not give it a go?" This bourbon is good. For a high proofer, I think it probably ranks with the best. The difference is that price. I still stand by my statement that if bourbon MSRP keeps going up, I won't be into bourbon as much as I currently am. This bottle will last me a very long time, but I don't think I'd ever buy backups or try to get other batches. If I finish this one and have a little bit of funds to get another, I will buy it if I see it; otherwise, I wouldn't think about it. If this bottle was $75-150, I'd probably have a different view. I'll give this a good rating only because it's about the liquid, not how I feel about its price. But if I included price in my judgment, it'd be a 1 out of 5. If you haven't had this, you're not really missing out. Find yourself a Stagg Jr. and you'll be much happier.

My second barrel-proof bourbon sample, received from a friend. The aroma is typical of good bourbon. After misjudging the previous sample, I'm trying to dismiss any hints of Old Forester funk, but a familiar quality persists. The taste profile seems to echo this. It carries a significant burn, prompting the addition of water, which proves helpful. The nose softens, revealing more vanilla and butterscotch. Cherry notes on the palate begin to emerge, more akin to a Buffalo Trace product, yet it possesses a woodiness I haven't encountered in their bourbons. The final sip brought Elijah Craig Uncut to mind. Could this be from Heaven Hill? I don't recall an ECBP being part of the selection. It's enjoyable, but like the prior sample, requires a touch of water for my preference, and while I like it very much, I wouldn't go to extreme lengths to acquire it.

This was my initial significant purchase, and I was thrilled to find and acquire it. With that said, the aroma of this marvelous bottle!!!!!!!!!! I spent ages just smelling it! The scent was entirely blackberry, spun sugar, and baked goods. My mouth watered! I've never encountered a bourbon with such a smell, nor do I wish to encounter another, it was that exceptional. We had to wash the glass to proceed to the subsequent tasting, lest we continue to inhale that deliciousness! Regarding the taste, I enjoyed the sweet, woody initial impression and appreciated the black licorice spice on the finish. I do have a fondness for my spice whiskeys! In summary, it was an excellent discovery (happy dance)! I am eager for it to mature and for my next sampling. I will return!