Standard-Setting Bourbons Every Collector Will Want to Own
“One of the most exciting distilleries in Kentucky.”
—Andrew Whiteley, K&L NorCal Spirits Buyer

The ancestral heart and soul of bourbon in Kentucky is Bardstown, and no one is better positioned to drive the future production, consumption, and tourism of the bourbon industry than Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBC). This state-of-the-art company is transforming the way you experience Kentucky and its finest export. Aside from the award-winning bar program, replete with rare bottlings, vintage spirits, and a gourmet restaurant on site, the distillery itself is setting the bar for how whiskey is made.

Led by Steve Nally, previously the master distiller at Maker’s Mark, BBC is making some of the most exciting distillate in Kentucky while servicing the industry in every way possible, and with as much transparency as anyone in Kentucky. They make custom contract juice for brands that need a home, they make their own distillate for their own brands, and they blend sourced whiskey into some of the tastiest bottles available on the market. While K&L exclusively introduced BBC’s first Collaboration Project with Copper & Kings several years ago, the company’s first official broad market releases are finally here!

Today, they have three stunning bottles on offer that showcase their expertise and creativity in blending and distilling.

Bardstown Bourbon Company – Fusion Bourbon (750ml) ($59.99)

The Fusion Series features their own distillate heavily, but also its fusion with other fine whiskey – in the case of Fusion #1 edition – it’s all Kentucky Bourbon. The first edition in the Fusion lineup is a showpiece made up of 60% of their own distillate blended with much older Kentucky bourbon. If you’re looking to glimpse the future of BBC’s own production – this is it.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 29, 2019

This is a delicious bourbon. The nose is sweet and light with a hint of vanilla. It is soft and easy to drink with layers of flavors. One of the most interesting and fun things about this whiskey is that on the side of the bottle is a list of the different whiskeys used to make this bourbon. Both purchased and Bardstown Distilleries own whiskeys are blended together and listed along with the mash bill . A great effort both in taste and in providing information about the product.

Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 12, 2019

This new distillery started producing in 2016 and quickly started laying down some of their stock. With equal parts 11yr 7mo Kentucky sourced bourbon, 2 yr old high rye estate bourbon and 20% estate wheated bourbon, this bottle expresses what the distillery is aiming to be and gives some good insight into the juice they’re making. The nose was rich and sweet and full of spices like cinnamon and cardamom mixed with mascarpone cheese. The palate was smooth and sweet with notes of banana creme and more cinnamon. If you’re looking to venture into something produced outside of the bourbon belt, definitely give this bottle a shot.

Bardstown Bourbon Company – Discovery Series #1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($129.99)

The Discovery Series Edition #1 puts BBC’s blending chops on display. It’s a combination of 4 different sourced Kentucky bourbons ranging from 5-13 years old and is a masterpiece. Unlike anything on the market at any price, this bourbon is the definition of “greater than the sum of its parts.” The 121.21 proof is stunningly perfect to sip neat and speaks to the exceptional balance.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 10, 2019

While we visited Bardstown Bourbon Company on our annual KY trip this past April, we didn’t have the chance to taste this particular product since the blend wasn’t done yet. After receiving an explanation of what they were expecting the final blend to be made up of, we couldn’t wait! It was still on our receiving dock when I pulled a bottle and cracked it open. The nose is insane. It’s full of mint and a little bit of chocolate. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had such a strong mint nose in a bourbon before. Some of the Four Roses yeast strains give a strong mint fragrance, but this is next level. Caramel and wood spice back up the sweet herbal aroma and the high proof cuts off any sweetness from getting to cloying. The palate is equally entrancing. It attacks from all angles. You get zip and cut and weight and silky texture. The flavors are complex and layered, like a Cafe Diablo, but brighter. The finish is long and bright with a reiteration and reinterpretation of the mint note that started it all. A truly exceptional blend from the hedonistic team at one of the most exciting distilleries in Kentucky.

Cameron Hoppas | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 22, 2019

I love Four Roses for its minty and spicy aromas, but this brand-new release from Bardstown may just become one of my new favorite whiskeys. It is wildly delicious. With juice between 5-13 years old (90% is 10+ years old), the whiskey is dense and aromatically complex. Cool mint leads on the nose, with orange zest, coriander, and spiced nuts. On the palate it has an interesting spicy caramel with dried cherry and candied orange peel, but all built on a delicate and subtle, yet dark and earthy foundation. This is certainly my favorite style of whiskey, expertly crafted and blended. If this is the future of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, I’m glad I’m here to taste it.

Stefanie Juelsgaard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 19, 2019

This is one of the most phenomenal bourbons I have ever tasted. With a brand-new, state-of-the art-facility and the reputation as the premier “custom crush” distillery in the area, the Bardstown Bourbon Company has spared no expense in bringing us an epic whiskey. The BBC even prints its mash bill on the bottle, which is very uncommon in bourbon, where many try to keep their recipes secret. The nose is a blend of mint and perfume and the palate is incredibly smooth and slightly candied. The new frontier of bourbon is here and Bardstown Bourbon Company is leading the way.

Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 19, 2019

The third in a cool series of projects coming out of the relatively young Bardstown Bourbon Company. Following their Fusion and Collaborative releases, this bottling called Discovery combines Kentucky Bourbons primarily between 10 and 13 years with some 5 year old thrown in as well for a bit of punchy youth. I like that each of the bottlings give details on what’s going into the blend regarding age as well as mashbill. In our day and age, we could all use more transparency (whether we’re talking about whiskey or politics). After well-polished wood, various fruit notes play on the nose: orange zest, canned peaches, and cherry cough drops. The medium caramel scents blend seamlessly with the vibrant spices. On the palate, the caramel comes out more prominently while the spices get more earthy (clove, coriander, anise) and more herbal (mint, fresh hay), but the finish is boldly peppery.

Bardstown Bourbon Company – Collaboration Series Phifer Pavitt Reserve Bourbon (750ml) ($129.99)

The followup in the Collaboration Series, the new Phifer Pavitt Reserve bottling more than anything shows the deft hands at work at BBC. 9 year old Tennessee whiskey is finished for 18 months in Phifer Pavitt Reserve Napa Cabernet barrels. While most wine-finished bourbons lack freshness and finesse, the Phifer Pavitt has both in spades. Bottled at 107 proof, everything lines up perfectly. Simply pour it on ice and enjoy the best and most balanced Manhattan you’ll ever “mix.”

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 01, 2019

This bourbon is finished in used California Cabernet barrels which add a beautiful dark color. The nose is interesting and pretty. In the mouth it is full bodied and has a wonderful creamy mouth feel. It is layered and complex and will make a wonderful special occasion whiskey.

Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 12, 2019

A nine-year-old Tennessee whiskey finished in Napa Cab barrels? What more could you want? The nose is super expressive, giving off sweet, burnt caramel, seared pluots, and black cherries. The palate reflects some of the big tannins you get from Napa Cabs with the oak flavor coming along with them while also providing a corn sweetness, not dissimilar to the Kix cereal of my youth. The finish was a sweet plum sugar, almost jammy, undoubtedly another contribution from the Cab barrel. This dram offered the best from both worlds and played together nicely.