A Must-Have New Star in Artisan Bourbon
Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($64.99)
“…this is one of the finest entrants and well-conceived bourbons to enter the scene in a long time.” — Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer
With the explosion of the American craft bourbon scene over the past decade or so, it has become something of an exercise in keeping track of what was distilled where, and by whom. Thankfully, we have debuts like the remarkable Frank August Small Batch. To be sure, this latest newcomer to the scene was distilled at one of Kentucky’s most famous facilities and blended by one of the bourbon industry’s most recognized names, but all that information is kept a secret, and the brand relies instead on what ought to be the most important characteristic of any spirit—the top-class quality of the juice in the bottle. Our spirits team was certainly impressed with this standout overachiever—Andrew Whiteley describes this 100-proof charmer as “shockingly elegant and thoughtful in its blend,” while David Othenin-Girard notes, “very few of the luxury brands offer such opulence and well-rounded charisma.” Given the specs that we do know, coupled with the outrageously delicious spirit itself, this is also one of the best bangs for buck in the category at its startling price of just $64.99. With batches being a mere 10-15 barrels on average, we don’t expect this first installment to be available for long, so avid collectors will want to strike quickly on what is sure to become a red-hot name in the bourbon game.
Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($64.99)
K&L Notes: This new brand, from an undisclosed distillery in Kentucky, is a true small batch: only 10-15 barrels are dumped at a time. While we don’t have much information about how it was made, we can tell you that this micro-batch would easily qualify as Bottled-in-Bond if the distiller could be disclosed. And while the market for Kentucky bourbon is as tight as can be, this is proof that nearly anything is possible. Designed impeccably to bring bourbon into the modern era, Frank August isn’t relying on tired tropes about some fictional recipe. In fact, Frank August is not a real person at all, but an ideal. Instead of retelling a contrived story, Frank August is reinventing the act of storytelling completely, purposing a new narrative of what it means to be American and how and why we consume our national drink. Ultimately, they’ve put together a gorgeous package and managed to fill it with exceptional juice. And that’s a good enough story for us!
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: September 02, 2022
It is incredibly refreshing to see a new bourbon brand come to market and move away from the “my great-great-granddaddy moonshined back in the day” BS story that so many brands cling to. While ultimately at K&L we try to make the bulk of our decisions about what to sell based solely on the quality of what is in the bottle, a nice package and story is always good to be able to add in. Fortunately, here with Frank August, we’ve got the whole kit & kaboodle. First off, the package is extremely elegant and thoughtfully designed (the special glue on the back label peels off to make reuse as a vase or decanter extra easy). The whiskey itself is also shockingly elegant and thoughtful in its blend. Bottled at a respectable 100 proof, it’s no punch-in-the-teeth bruiser but instead is packed with flavor and nuance. The color is a lovely, golden amber. The nose is bright and clean. It has a great deal of sweetness mixed among fruit, candied sugars, and wood. A flash of cherry and stone fruit, maybe even a blackthorn’s sloe berry with its bright tang, caramels, molasses, brown sugar syrup, and a wood profile that isn’t all varnish, but rather freshly hewn green branches and a kiss of dried vanilla. The palate carries much of the nose into it, but also adds a bit more herbal complexity on the edges and a sweeter mid-palate than you might expect. Molasses and tarragon both come to mind as does fresh Granny Smith apple. The finish is medium in length, lingering pleasantly but never cloying or aggressive, with just a kiss of heat. In short, this is one of the finest entrants and well-conceived bourbons to enter the scene in a long time. It bucks the trend of going for broke on a hazmat-proof single barrel in favor of thoughtfully executing a quality dram. A delightful surprise and fine addition to any bar or collection.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: August 30, 2022
Frank August is a refreshing take on the bourbon category. Not caught up in any old tropes, this is just really well-crafted bourbon from a couple of good guys who seem to know everyone. Again, Kentucky is all about who you know, and while very little can be divulged about the sources and methods here, I think the whiskey speaks for itself. It’s safe to say that this is coming from a well-regarded distillery, and the blending is done by an industry veteran who’s taken the idea of small batch to a whole new level. Blends matter a lot at this scale, and this inaugural batch is tasting pretty stellar. The style isn’t a baseball bat to the palate like some of the geeks might want these days, but instead it’s a subtle and elegant expression of bourbon that’s rarely on display in the modern market. Let’s taste it! The lovely, reddish hue tells us that this one is maybe a bit older than some others on the market. The nose is a deft and well-aligned bouquet of caramel candies, toasted vanilla, baked clove, and other aromatic spices. Hints of cacao, burnt sugar, and dried fruit support. The texture is rather rich and unctuous with a full body but no heat at 100 proof. No oddness or distinctive flavors beyond the classic, elegant, and well-rounded character of an excellent, medium-aged Kentucky bourbon. The finish is long and inviting, offering tons of sweetness and tempering the spice that lingers on the front palate. It’s hard to say where this was sourced exactly, but very few of the luxury brands offer such opulence and well-rounded charisma. I’d say that this is better than most every new product we’ve come across—and there are many. Frank August might sacrifice power for elegance and completeness, but no good bourbon drinker will be disappointed, and the overtness allows even the most novice entry into this still somewhat hard to parse category. Plus, the bottle looks awesome and doesn’t scream or shout, but just looks pretty on the bar for as long as you can keep it full, which likely won’t be long.
