A Highly Coveted New Release from a Rising Star Distillery
Bardstown Bourbon Company “Discovery Series #6” Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($135.00)
“We ALWAYS have people coming back asking for more, but usually we only get a handful of cases. Now, we can actually spend some time talking about this outstanding whiskey …”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer
For a few years now, we’ve enjoyed tremendous success with the line-up of highly unique, expertly crafted whiskeys from Bardstown Bourbon Company. Eponymously named for the town at the epicenter of the Kentucky bourbon tradition, this distiller maintains a healthy respect for its roots while also pushing the innovative envelope in its blending practices and collaborative ventures. This latest release, the sixth in their much-coveted Discovery Series, shows the blending team in its finest form. A marriage of three exceptional whiskeys from Kentucky (probably Barton), Tennessee (Dickel from Cascade Hollow), and Indiana (MGP), this rendition is once again a flat-out stunning piece of work. Each of the components announces itself in turn, giving us a wonderful tour through three American whiskey traditions with three different age profiles. Spirits buyer David Othenin-Girard declares, “I’m certain anyone who cracks a bottle will be coming back for more,” which incidentally speaks to the best feature of today’s offer—there’s no allocation this time around. With past releases, demand always far outstripped supply, so we were forced to parcel out what we received. Not now. We’ve secured a sizeable stash in the warehouse, so fans and aficionados of this one-of-a-kind bottling can go big and load up to their hearts’ content.
Bardstown Bourbon Company “Discovery Series #6” Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($135.00)
K&L Notes: The exceptional Discovery Series from Bardstown Bourbon Company has consistently brought us some of the highest quality releases each year. This fabulous, new, gleaming distillery isn’t shying away from the details when it releases these sourced products, and they spend an inordinate amount of time and energy making sure these small batches deliver an incredible drink from the first nosing to the final sip. This batch is a meticulous marriage of whiskeys from three states. The primary component, at 68% of the blend, is an 11-year-old Kentucky bourbon with a classic 75% corn, 13% rye mashbill. This is presumed to be distilled at Barton Distillery just miles from Bardstown’s facility, but the producer has never confirmed that fact. The rest of the blend is made up of equal parts Tennessee 17-year-old at 8% rye and an Indiana 7-Year-old at 21% rye. The sources of these are pretty obvious considering no other distillery in either state sells to other parties, so we assume Cascade Hollow and MGP for these components, respectively. Despite the very distinctive profiles of each distillery, none dominate in the blend, and the resulting bourbon is a perfect balance of the rich, dusty, old Tennessee bourbon, the deep, fruit-forward Kentucky, and the zesty, youthful Indiana. Very few products at this price point, or any other, offer such a high-quality drinking experience, and with no allocation, you’re free to load up the bunker.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: December 21, 2021
For those who haven’t had Bardstown’s Discovery Series, it is really the product that’s setting them apart from many other young distilleries. Of course, they didn’t distill it, but they’ve managed to acquire some exceptional stocks, and they’ve got a great group of blenders who are putting together these lovely whiskeys. We ALWAYS have people coming back after finally opening their bottles asking for more, but usually we only get a handful of cases. Now, we can actually spend some time talking about this outstanding whiskey, and I’m certain anyone who cracks a bottle will be coming back for more. Let’s have a taste. The nose is a pungent medley of toasted pecan, butterscotch, wild honey, dried citrus peel, dark charred wood, dried stone fruit, and the most subtle mineral character—not at all vitamin-y, which is a flavor I’m very sensitive to. It feels very old on the nose, but on the palate it shows a more medium age. Medium-bodied and full of vanilla, white pepper, charred oak, baking spices, and candied citrus. The finish is rather long, and the tiniest earthy twinge reminds us it has some very old Dickel in there, while the spicy fruit takes top billing as it lingers on the palate. A truly fun drink and an exciting example of the power of blending.
