Review: Blade and Bow - Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
$45
Blade and Bow – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (2021)
Proof: 91
Age: NAH – 4+ Years – Ages using the Solera Aging Method
Distillery: Blended from Unknown Distilleries & Stitzel-Weller Distilling Company (Diageo)
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Solera Aged
Mash: Unknown
Website: Blade and Bow
*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: Nothing too out of the ordinary here. Standard Caramel and Vanilla that’s accompanied by Honey Graham Cracker, Dry Oak, and Tart Apple. There’s a little alcohol heat on the nose, not to be confused with spices. There’s some underlying spices, but it’s very muted.
Taste/Palate: Very timid and mild on the palate. It starts off with Creamy Vanilla and Butterscotch and transitions to Light Fruits, subtle Pepper, and very very mild Oak.
Finish: The heat picks up a tiny bit on the finish. It’s still very smooth and timid at 91 proof. On the finish there isn’t really a dominant feature. It’s a solid blend of the previously mentioned sweet notes, Light Fruits again, low Charred Oak, with a Butterscotch to round it out.
Verdict: A very pleasant dram. It’s fairly priced and a very smooth sipper with some mature characteristics. It doesn’t really show it’s age from the Solera Aging Method and the addition of old Stitzel-Weller juice that’s blended. It also doesn’t show youth either from whatever else was blended in. This is perfectly in the middle and has great balance. I’m not saying that as a good or bad thing. I would like a some more Leather, Tobacco, and mild Oak out of this, but it’s a great sipper.
The Story: No crazy story here. A few years ago I picked up a bottle because I liked the look, the name, and the cool key attached to the bottle. I’m apparently a sucker for marketing. I enjoyed the juice, but it wasn’t something I actively sought after. I decided to give it another go and throw in a review.
The Distillery’s Story: This story is interesting. The original Stitzel-Weller closed down in 1992. The distillery itself was the main producer of Pappy Van Winkle prior to Buffalo Trace taking over. Many considered the product that came out of Stitzel-Weller superior to Buffalo Trace and the remining bottles of pappy with higher age statements and contained Stitzel-Weller (when the Bourbon boom happened) became even more sought after. Now-a-days I don’t think people care when it comes to Pappy, but there’s some back story on Stitzel-Weller. The name and the distillery site was purchased by mega liquor company Diageo in 2014.
The name Blade and Bow is a nod to the 5 keys that hung on the door of the original distillery. Blade and Bow are specific parts on the keys. Blade and Bow markets a Solera age method where the bottle is a blend of outside distilleries and original juice found from the original distillery. Based on how the Solera aging method works there will always be some of that original product present from back in 1992, but each and every year the total amount of that product would technically be less and less while the gross age of the juice can increase a product that’s no longer added into the mix will only decrease.
One thing to note, on each bottle I mentioned there is a key. Each key is numbered 1-5. If you collect all 5 keys you can submit a picture of your keys to the Blade and Bow web page and become a “5 keys Member”. At this time I’m not 100% sure what that entails and I’ll update this post when I find out. I only have 3 of the 5 keys. I didn’t seek them out, but it appears there’s a marketing plan similar to Blanton’s with their bottle toppers.
In Summery: There’s a lot of marketing with this bottle. From the name drop of Stitzel-Weller to the Keys collection, but I didn’t originally buy this for either of those 2 reasons. I’ll try to see what the “5 keys club” is all about, but I won’t go out of my way for it.
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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