Old Bardstown Bottled In Bond
50% ABV
$22 – $25
Website
What the Distiller Says
Tasting notes courtesy of Bill Thomas, Jack Rose Dining Saloon
The nose is “Fun Dip” candy, that sugary stick dipped into cherry flavoring. The palate is a cherry hard candy, an oily mouth feel, vanilla caramel candies and notes of oak. This is the best value in Bourbon for 2016.
Please Note: This Bourbon is exclusively available in Kentucky.
What Gary Says
Nose: Vanilla wafers, grape bubble gum, young malt, a hint of anise with a sharp oakey solvent note.
Palate: Tart cherries, caramel, a fruity/grape juice note with cracked pepper; a thin mouthfeel.
Finish: Short and dry with pepper.
Comments: I’m a fan of bottled-in-bond bourbon. While four years old may still be on the young side, there are a lot of solid bourbons that carry the bottled-in-bond designation. This didn’t remind me of any of them. Honestly, if given this blind and asked to guess what it was, “bourbon” wouldn’t be one of my first three guesses! Some have posted the mashbill for this as having 15% malted barley, which if true is a higher barley content than most other bourbons out there – and may account for the unique aroma and flavor. I’m not sure I can say it is exactly off-putting, since I particularly enjoy finding unique and interesting drams to ponder over! But if you’re looking for a classic bourbon profile – I think many might be disappointed.
Rating: Probably Pass