Bardstown Bourbon Company - Triple Blended Stave Finish
$199
Bardstown Bourbon Company – Triple Blended Stave Finish
Collection: Distillery Collection
Proof: 109
Age: Blend of 6, 7, & 12 Year – With a Final Blend of 17 Year
Distillery: Bardstown Bourbon Company
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash: See photo at the end of the review
Website: Bardstown Bourbon Company
*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: Rich on the Nose and it took me a while to unpack it all. Sweet Pipe Tobacco, Damp Oak, Fresh Leather, Rose Petal, mild All Spice. Your standard Caramel and Vanilla are there, but play second fiddle hanging in the background.
Taste/Palate: Deep and mature on the palate. Charred Oak, Leather, and Tobacco lead the charge. In the midpalate it opens up to softer notes with Caramel, Vanilla Bean, and a range of Fruits; Green Apple, Plums, & Cooked Peach.
Finish: The finish winds down and focuses on the lighter notes. The mature notes in the Palate hang in the back, but the Fruit & Caramel step up. The Floral notes reemerge and linger for quite some time.
Verdict: This reminds me of of the 4 roses OBSF I recently reviewed (I revisited the 4 Roses to confirm). Mature, well balanced, and a wide range of characteristics. I really enjoyed this dram, but it comes with a price tag. I would take the 4 Roses over this only due to the price tag. If price weren’t an option I believe I’d take the Bardstown on taste alone. Given the Value section is 25% of the overall score this one it knocked down a bit due to that factor. But don’t let it deter you. $200 isn’t out of line, but it’s pushing it. This would be in my top 10 if the price tag didn’t get in the way.
MSRP: If you can afford it, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Price Ceiling: MSRP
The Story: If you’ve been tracking me I previously reviewed Bardstown Fusion Series #4. I did not care for it and it turned me off of the brand. Not that I’m judging the entire brand based on 1 product, but rather I was more careful with my money. Discovery Series, Ferrand, and other variations of Bardstown come with a $100+ price tag here in Michigan. So my plan was to revisit Bardstown, maybe with a single pour I find behind a bar somewhere.
Luckily, my friend jumped on this Distillery bottle. I had an option to get one for myself, but I passed for reasons mentioned above. I cracked the bottle with him and tried it and was impressed. a couple months later he sent me a 2oz sample to give a review. The second time around my impression was no different. If anything, I was more impressed with the second go at it. I had the opportunity to put it up against some of my favorites and it fared pretty well.
The Distillery’s Story: To my knowledge you can only grab this particular bottle at the distillery. This version I’m reviewing is likely different than what you’ll find if you grab one for yourself when visiting. I’m interested to try another batch to see if I like it as much.
The about section on Bardstown distillery is short. A picture of the distiller makes it look brand new, like you could eat off the flood. Similar to Angel’s Envy. I did 5 minutes research to see what popped up on the first page of google and I believe all that I can come up with it Bardstown was founded in 2014… I think. They are on the Kentucky Bourbon trail (I have yet to visit) and they have contributed mash bills to brands like Belle Mead, Jefferson’s, & High West to name a few.
They are all about innovation and bringing in experience. Their executive team has a very impressive resume.
Listed below is the make-up of the Triple Stave Finish being reviewed here today:
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.
Reviewer: David S
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