I have long been a fan of the Bardstown Bourbon Company brand. I remember visiting the distillery and learning about their process. When Bardstown Bourbon Company first started producing their product, they blended it with older sourced whiskey. This was a new approach for a new distillery and allowed them to use some of their own new-make, while aging a portion of the production. Now that they have come of age with their own 6-year aged bourbon, it is apparent that their philosophy was worth the wait. I’ll be honest; I don’t appreciate every expression of their whiskey. But it’s fair to say that about any brand. In my reviews, I do try to be objective in terms of how well the flavors coalesce, how the heat affects the experience, and generally whether the profile just works.
This expression introduces the newest release in their award-winning Origin Series. Bardstown High Wheat Bourbon is the first 39% wheated mash bill available on the market.
As you will see in the tasting notes, this is a stellar bourbon!
Class: Kentucky straight wheated bourbon
Price: $49.99
Tasting Notes:
- Aged 6 years in new American oak barrels
- Distilled and aged by Bardstown Bourbon Company, Bardstown, Kentucky
- Mash bill: (53% corn, 39%wheat, 8% malted barley)
- Bottled on site at Bardstown Bourbon Company at 53% ABV (106 proof)
Nose: 95/100
Rich caramel dominates. Vibrant vanilla and stone fruit. Overall, an outstanding nose.
Palate: 99/100
Nice sweet and oily mouthfeel with vanilla, apricot, and a hint of citrus
Finish: 95/100
A long finish of caramelized sugar, oak, and leather.
Overall: 96/100
Recommendation: Worth buying a bottle, or two, at this price point.
Bill Varnell is the Publisher of Whiskey Network® and is the curator of WBSE’s Rickhouse
