Kentucky Owl - St. Patrick's Edition
$129
Kentucky Owl – St. Patrick’s Edition
Collection: Limited Release Collaboration with Louise McGuane
Proof: 100
Age: Blended Ages Between 4 – 8 Years
Distillery: Kentucky Owl
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash: Unknown
Website: 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 and Creamy. It starts out warm with notes of Honey Graham Cracker, Vanilla, Sweet Fruits – Pear and Raisins, Wet Oak, and mild Baking Spices. The Sweetness trumps the Spices.
Taste/Palate: Vanilla and Honey hit first followed by subtle Fruits – this time Pear and Apricot. In the midpalate more mature notes come through with passive spices and mature notes with Oak and Sweet Tobacco and a hint of Cinnamon.
Finish: The Baking Spices reemerge, but quickly fade. The Sweetness takes over and finishes off with a combination of Vanilla, Caramel, and Raisins. Similar to a Port Finish.
Verdict: From start to finish this is a very solid pour. Overall it’s well balanced and has range. I do feel it could have a little more age blended in to balance out the sweet notes a little. This will take a hit in the value category, but don’t let that deter you. If you have the money give it a go. If this variation of Kentucky Owl is a Bourbon targeting Irish Whiskey’s taste and process while staying true to Bourbon, they hit the mark.
MSRP: I’ve seen this for sale for $89 in FL. Yes! It’s pushing it at $129. Price Ceiling: $100 (The most I’d pay for this bottle, for another)
The Story: I’m a sucker for marketing and St. Patrick’s in general. I enjoy Irish Whiskeys, but I enjoy Bourbons more. I like the concept of taking a bourbon and utilizing Irish Processes. This is similar to McKenna products and I enjoy them too. For this particular bottle they took a variety of bourbons and blended them. They used the Irish Bonding technique that was almost extinct.
I’m not a Irish bonding expert, but did a little research. From what I can tell Bonding is when retailers would travel to their local distilleries with their own barrels and get them filled with new product. They would then age, blend, and bottle from there. This seems similar to sourcing, but maybe bonding is when the process starts with a new distillate. Either way, this release is a tip of the cap to the Irish taste and roots.
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 “St. Patrick’s Edition” has been in the works prior to John’s arrival, but it’s nice seeing a variation to classic Bourbon without getting too crazy.
It’s important to note that Kentucky Owl typically has their products in the top tier of price range categories. For that reason you can typically find them on the shelves. I saw this release and I wanted it, I was able to find it. I see that Old Fitzgerald is releasing a 17 year. I REALLY want that, but the odds are not in my favor of grabbing one.
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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