Peerless - Small Batch - Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
$69
Peerless – Small Batch – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Proof: 109.4
Age: NAS
Distillery: Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash: Unknown
Website: Kentucky Peerless
*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: A nose that tips the scales as slightly sweet. You get Mild Oak, Caramel, Vanilla Cream, and a hint of Rye Spice.
Taste/Palate: The sweetness hits first, followed by the proof, showcasing a creamy mouthfeel. There’s a little heat after the first few seconds. The sweetness expands and I get Caramel, Light Oak again, Vanilla & Raspberry.
Finish: The heat from the proof picks up in the finish and so does the Spice. The sweetness winds down and brings forward some more complex notes of Barrel Char, Light Tobacco, Rye Spice, and Cinnamon. After a few minutes you’re left with a pretty balanced taste.
Verdict: This is a solid pour and worth the price in today’s market – 5 years ago I would have disagreed. This isn’t one where I need to run out and make sure I have a bottle on reserve for when this one is finished. It’s good and I’m happy to have it on the shelf, but it wouldn’t break my heart if I had to wait to replace if needed.
The Story: I saw an abundance of Peerless in my area in Michigan in 2020 and early 2021. When I finally got around to trying to review it I couldn’t seem to find it anywhere. This dram has now gotten on a lot of people’s radar apparently. I tried this in a bar once as a single pour and I liked it, but I didn’t like it enough to “hunt” it especially since I saw an ample supply prior. I found a bottle outside of my state where apparently it isn’t in such high demand.
The Distillery’s Story: Peerless brags that they are a “True Grain to Bottle Distillery”. “Never Sourced, Never Chill-Filtered, Strictly Sweet Mash. Barrel Proof. No water added.” I don’t normally quote the site because after all I provided a link to the dang thing above. I do want to call out the statement. MANY bottles you grab these days have been sourced. This isn’t a knock on sourced bottles, but I believe a distillery is allowed to brag about their juice that they make from grain to bottle. Especially when it’s good. Peerless clearly has a high standard for their product and it should be commended. The term “Sweet Mash” refers to their method of fermentation. Many distilleries use “back set” or previously used mash in the next batch. Using a back set is commonly referred to as “Sour Mash”. Back set is used to increase the acidity in the mash which can make a more ideal environment for fermentation. The back set is also used to alter taste. The more “generations” you use the back set for the more “sour” the mash and fermentation might become. This is very similar to the method of cooking sourdough bread. Different grains can be used to control the acidity, so a back set isn’t always needed. Peerless seems to find identity in using sweet mash and that’s perfectly ok.
I’ll keep this part short since I feel like a broken record with this exact story, just a different Distillery. Peerless is one of those old brands that got shut down due to prohibition and the brand was dusted off as the Bourbon market was heating up and reemerged in 2014.
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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