Old Bardstown Estate Bottled Bourbon: Earthy & Girthy
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I first tried this bourbon during a tasting at the Willett Distillery. The guide told us that this was one of the highest-rye bourbon mashbills that they release, so I was intrigued. I remember liking it, but easily keeping my socks on. I finally picked up a bottle last month, and now she’s gone. This was a fun one to drink my way through. I tasted it neat in a glencairn after a 10-minute rest for this review. It was raining outside, so I wept and let out some of my screams as I nosed & tasted. Definitely would recommend pairing this bourbon with weeping, screaming, sobbing, and/or rain.
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Old Bardstown Estate Bottled Bourbon
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101 proof | NAS | Straight Kentucky bourbon: undisclosed mashbill | $30
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Nose: earthy anise Willett funk | vanilla | barrel char | peach pie with a slightly burnt crust | leather, big league chew bubblegum, & nutmeg
Palate: big earthy vanilla | pop of butterscotch | hint of peaches | anise & barrel char
Finish: black pepper | big league chew & leather | tobacco | spicy tarragon | earthy dirt funk | barrel char, clove, & anise
Body: surprising viscosity – really great heavy mouthfeel
Thoughts: This stuff is so herbal & earth-forward, it’s sure to be divisive. That earthy anise funk is something I’ve only gotten from Willett distillate. I have mixed feelings about it. The peach notes are easy to miss on the nose and palate (hiding behind that funk), but once you find them, they’re great. The palate & finish are wild – I dig what’s happening, but I’m not sure it’s always pleasant. It reminds me a little of the experience of drinking peated Scotch – I might not think it tastes “good,” but I really enjoy it. I was tempted to score this higher. The mouthfeel is great. I really enjoy it, and this won’t be the last bottle I own – I actually reached for it almost compulsively when I’d open the cabinet. But I am a demented fuck, and I can revel in the weirdness of this juice. This juice is not for everyone – if you hate it, I understand. But if you want some earthy girthy complexity with a hint of stone fruit – this bourbon will hook you up.
Score: 5.5 | Good
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