Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #11

Have had a few small pours of this so its been open for a good 4-6 months before this rating. Nose is a great combination of sweet and spice...some grassy/hay notes up front. Next comes a solid dose of ripe fruit - cherry and pear. And there's plenty of caramel, brown sugar, and especially vanilla to back things up. Its a complex nose that gives a bit of a different vibe with a few drops of water. All in all its a phenomenal nose and one that suggests a nice age and great blending. Flavor is quite pleasant with more of the cherry presence, a bit more wood than the nose would suggest, and some ethanol, though definitely not 'hot', like others might suggest...it drinks as advertised or a bit easier. Overall its a sweet sipper, with the brown sugar and caramel making another appearance on the palate. But while it is sweet, it remains somewhat complex and interesting, with plenty to explore if you take some time. Moderate viscosity...and slightly more than moderate length to the finish with just a mild burn. I think this is a very nice pour. This is a personal bottle though I had this alongside Discovery #10 and #9 at the distillery and for me, this was the clear cut winner. Not a hard find on the shelves at the price, but I sense with some other name on the label this would be near impossible to find for 13-year old juice inside and this nose and flavor profile. A win for the folks at Bardstown...

Oh my! This is special! OK so I tried this over the weekend at the bourbon on the banks event and instantly took one home! Nose - that old whisky varnish is the first thing that jumps out! Woot! Rich caramel and vanilla with wheat notes, soil, dirty, think the cleanest turkey funk ever. Rich oak as well, god this is rich and yet that wheated whisky is adding this clean funky and sweet n ote. Taste - At first it's just sweet kentucky bourbon. Very good, but lacking. A second sip however lingers forever. The age jumps out of the glass and once again that tiny bit of 6 year wheated bourbon is doing magic to these older whiskies. This is different from the 1-4 which were all great, 1 being the only one I didn't get...never saw one to buy, but had it. This is richer and longer lasting while not being as aged and perhaps "classic high end bourbon". Instead it's still got a lot of great notes of high end bourbon, but it's got it's own truly imo unique character. 3.5 I think. I'm buying another I think. This is just too unique a bourbon to not get a back up.

NEAT NOSE - Bold on the nose. Dark Brown Sugar and Maple PALATE - There is a herbal spice that introduces itself immediately on the palate followed by a dominant oak note with brown sugar and maple. 💧💧💧With just three drops, the NOSE opens up with notes of vanilla and caramel. The maple note also starts to come across more as a table maple syrup full of sugar. The palate still has a dominant oak note but the herbal spice is subdued and vanilla comes out to shine along with the brown sugar and maple. FINISH - Long. Oak and Herbal Spice with touch of vanilla on the back end. BUY? - Yes. I’m sure this will only evolve beautifully over time as well. BUY AGAIN? - The price point of the Discovery Series always deters me from backing these up, so no.

Cherry, wheat mash dominant. Slightly flat at first intro but quickly materializes in fizzy cherry wholesomeness. Some oak barrel present in presentation and chew. The heat is disguised by a strong flavor profile. Finish is sparkling cherry and not as hot as expected for 118 proof. Some butterscotch picked up in subsequent pours. Not sure this is worth a $130 bottle investment at MSRP but if you can try it at a bar or tasting enjoy!

Might be subliminal but i heard it had wild turkey in this blend namely Russel’s reserve 13 (wild turkey mash bill at 13 yo) and it totally tastes like a smoothed out rr13. Might just be in my head but it is reminiscent of rr13 for me. And availabe. Easy to get and tasty.

Tried this side by side with Russell’s Reserve 13 yr, and the unnamed 13 year Kentucky whisky that is 70% of this bottle tastes and smells just like RR13. Beautifully balanced bourbon that is worth the $.