Kentucky Owl - The Wiseman - Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
$55
Kentucky Owl – The Wiseman – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Proof: 90.8
Age: 4+ (Blended)
Distillery: Kentucky Owl
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash: 4 Year Wheated and High Rye Bourbons (Kentucky Owl), Additional Blend with 5.5 & 8.5 year Bourbons that were sourced. A collaboration with Bardstown.
Website: (Stoli) Kentucky Owl
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Sweet upfront with Caramel & Toffee. I later pick up some fruits, Raisins and Bananas and mild spice notes of Nutmeg and Rye.
Taste/Palate: Buttery and Sweet with a thicker mouthfeel. Traditional bourbon notes of Vanilla and Caramel out of the gate. In the midpalate it opens up a little bit with the Rye spice and dries out.
Finish: The spice component of the dram is most prominent in the finish. The sweetness stays on the palate, but White Pepper, Cinnamon, and a little maturity of Toasted Oak sit with you for a while.
Verdict: It was nice to see something from Kentucky Owl for under $60 on the shelf. I’m glad I tried it, but it won’t knock your socks off. It’s very smooth with a Sweet to Spice transition from Nose to Finish, but there isn’t anything that brings the “wow factor”. My final verdict is pick this one up if there isn’t anything else in the store around $60 that interests you. I can certainly name quite a few under $60 that I would pick up over this though.
The Story: No big, crazy story here. I have seen this bottle pop up a few times in stores I’ve been visiting, but I had quite a few other bottles in my hand that were a higher priority for me so I passed this up on those occasions. I finally grabbed this guy this week since the 1792 Twelve Year was sold out that I had my heart set on and I couldn’t leave empty handed.
The Distillery’s Story: Kentucky Owl has old roots going into the 1800s. They were shut down by prohibition and 250,000 gallons of precious juice was seized and shipped to a warehouse for safekeeping when suddenly the warehouse “caught fire”. All was lost. The brand laid dormant until 2014 when the Kentucky Owl brand was dusted off and put back into production. In 2017 the brand was purchased by Stoli (Yes the well known Vodka Brand).
You can commonly find Kentucky Owl on the Shelf. Confiscated and their 10 year Rye are most commonly seen on the shelf for $125 and $200. I have recently been seeing the Kentucky Owl Batch 11 on the shelf for $300. I usually have my sights set on other bottles to purchase and I leave these bottles where they sit and I’m not the only one. I was excited to see something with Kentucky Owl printed on the label on the shelf for $60.
Since John Rhea (Former COO of Four Roses) took over Kentucky Owl its good to see things are shaking up. I have no idea if “The Wiseman” has been in the works prior to John’s arrival, but it’s nice seeing their product line moving into other price points.
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Nose, Palate, and Finish I rank regardless of cost. Value (recent addition) is ranked based on taste vs price.
Reviewer: David S
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