Bardstown Bourbon Company‘s latest lineup of bourbons is now available in Wisconsin, and I happily accepted an offer to try them out.
“As we continue expanding Bardstown Bourbon’s availability throughout the U.S., we are excited to be offering our premium bourbons within Wisconsin this spring,” Bardstown President and CEO Mark Erwin said in a statement. “Wisconsinites are known for good taste in alcohol, so we look forward to seeing them add Bardstown Bourbon to their bar carts this March.”
If you’re not familiar with the brand, it was launched in 2014 and is located in Bardstown, Ky. With its Collaborative Distilling Program, Bardstown Bourbon Company produces ryes, whiskeys and bourbons for other companies, including Jefferson’s.
Bardstown’s newest products are its Fusion, Discovery and Collaborative Series, and I focused primarily on Fusion Series #4 (94.9 proof, $59.99 for 750 ml). Wow, is this bourbon smooth, and it has a slight oaky-nuttiness.
It’s a blend of a 40% 13-year Kentucky bourbon, 11% three-year Bardstown bourbon (60% corn, 40% rye), 15% three-year Bardstown bourbon (78% corn, 10% wheat, 12% malted barley) and 5% three-year Bardstown bourbon (70% corn, 18% wheat, 12% malted barley). I’ve never liked wine blends because the taste seems off, but this fusion of four bourbons is absolutely incredible.
I didn’t try Discovery Series #4 (115 proof, $129.99 for 750 ml), but if it’s anything like #3, then it’s sure to be a hit. #3 is made up of bourbons that have aged between 10-13 years. As a result, I thought the taste was more complex, including the prevalence of both fruit and spice. #4 features bourbons that are 10-15 years old, and the Discovery series would double-gold at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
I also didn’t try the Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series (100 proof, $124.99 for 750mL), but it sounds amazing. It features a 10-year-old Tennessee straight bourbon whiskey aged for an additional 18 months in Phifer Pavitt cabernet sauvignon barrels from Sonoma, Calif.
Of note, I also received a tasting kit so that I could sample the aging process of the bourbon. The clear Distillate had a strong corn aroma and a nice burn. From there, you move onto the Maturate–what a difference three years makes. It has a caramel flavor, and there’s still a little burn. The last two samples in the set are Fusion #3 and Discovery #3.
Top photo courtesy of Bardstown Bourbon Company
Tags: bourbon
