Kentucky Par 12 Year Bourbon

This is the third tasting in our Bourbon marathon. The namesake Kentucky Par has a rather unusual history. The original Kentucky Parfay Co. was established in 1913 by Frank Stitzel to create a soft drink. The company was acquired by the Bradford family in 1917, and the Kentucky Par name was associated with bourbon following the end of Prohibition. It appears Beth Radford foresaw the end of Prohibition much earlier than others and purchased receipts for approximately 300 confiscated barrels from government warehouses. When Prohibition ended, she possessed 300 barrels of 12-year-old bourbon. Following WWII, the company was renamed the Radford Company and became a liquor distributor. Several generations later, the Kentucky Par name has resurfaced. So, how is the bourbon? Quite good. Likely sourced from Barton, with a 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley mash bill. It's non-chill filtered and bottled at 100 proof. Medium brown color with slight viscosity. The initial aroma reveals brown sugar and caramel. It's very reminiscent of sticky toffee pudding. There's a hint of apple and nuts, with just a touch of cinnamon. No ethanol present! The taste is true to the aroma and is richer than expected based on the swirl. This one has a wonderful finish where sweet oak transitions into hot cinnamon. I find this superior to any Barton product I've encountered, though it shares similarities and lacks the banana notes on the nose. I genuinely like this one, but at $130 a bottle, it's a one-time purchase.

Enjoying this at the Bourbon Bar in Bardstown, KY. Someone asked the bartender if they had a specific 12-year-old whiskey. I'd never heard of it, so I decided to order it. ($15 for a pour, but I saw the bottle for $144). I'm glad I did. It's really good. Quite nice. The aroma has some orange peel and hints of caramel to come. The mouthfeel is quite oily, which I consider a compliment. It has the deep caramel notes reminiscent of a "Sugar Daddy" candy, and rich brown sugar. I'm hesitant to add water, knowing I can't undo it, but I'll try soon. Wow, don't hesitate! Adding water enhances it even more, bringing out greater depth and a warming kick of winter spice. This is really growing on me. A fantastic discovery. A warming embrace. I love it.

Wonderful aroma. The full, mature oaky punch demonstrates that the 12 years were well utilized. Good taste, chewy and oily, pleasant. The aroma is a birdie drive; the taste is a three-putt to par. (A name pun... sorry.) To be fair, I've had three ounces to describe the taste and am struggling. It's not the intense taste I had hoped for, but it is pleasant. Perhaps it's just me. (I suspect the cask strength would be outstanding.) At the $125 price point, I'd recommend giving it a try. I will buy it again.

Located this in Kentucky. The nose offers banana Laffy Taffy, with tasting notes of bread and brown sugar, and mild oak. The finish is medium. A very good bourbon, though the price is on the high side at $129, it's comparable to other sourced bottles at a similar cost.

Baking spice is dominant for me. Nice finish.

Smooth, with a spicy, peppery finish.