Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #5

The nose starts with a nice cola note with a light oak spice and peanut brittle then fruits of cinnamon spiced caramel apples, watered down cherry juice and orange sports drink followed by chai spiced latte, leather and mild oak with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with a medium and drying oak spice that slowly but eventually fades to fruits of caramel apple fritters, cherry juice and orange sports drink followed by a blonde espresso mocha, leather and medium ashy oak with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with caramelized peaches, apple pie, maraschino cherries, vanilla gelato, Hershey’s chocolate syrup, leather and ashy oak spice. This has a nice and rich nose with traditional bourbon flavors that seems promising, but the taste is an overly drying spice fest that lingers until finally fading to some enjoyable fruits, coffee and ashy oak that finishes fruity with chocolate and a medium ashy spice. At the $130+ price, I really expected a lot more and better balance of flavors. I decided to put this in a side by side with a Russell’s Reserve single barrel and found that the Russell’s has a lighter nose and mouthfeel but manages to keep a better balance of flavors without the medium and drying oak of the Discovery #5. For me, I think the Russell’s provides a better experience and is nearly half the cost of the Bardstown Discovery #5. A big thank you to @ctbeck11 for the generous sample of this to try.

Neat. Sample. I adored Series 2, 3, 4 but the Dickel in this one has me skeptical at the price. I am hit and miss on Dickel, love or hate it pending certain qualities. Super excited to be able to sit down with a 2 ounce sample before I choose to invest. The nose is subtle but there appears to be some depth to it though. Milk chocolate and a slight apricot lead. Royal vanilla icing. Leather, clove and cinnamon. Dark cherry. Salted caramel. Honey and graham crackers. You know, the graham cracker, honey and icing made me think of those old Dunkaroos as a kid. Definitely some nice layers here. May lack cohesion. It’s definitely Dickel but it’s a nice Dickel so far. Mouth feel is a bit thin but oily so it costs nicely. It’s bright and sweet immediately. Honey and green grapes. Transitions into a salted caramel / milk chocolate combo accompanied by a dark cherry. The finish is almost all the Dickel. Oak, leather, chocolate with a hint of the medicinal cherry. Getting a hint of blood orange on subsequent sips on the finish. If this was Dickel 13 year bottled in bond for $40-$50, I would be raving right now. But Discovery 5 at $135, it doesn’t fit the series or the prices. Probably the best Dickel blend I have ever tasted, but I don’t think I love it enough to justify a purchase.

Nose: fruit (raspberry or other red berry - this really dominates the nose), caramel, vanilla, chocolate, baking spice. Body: medium to full Palate: leather, caramel, vanilla, again the red fruits but this time with some smoke. Finish: medium to long. I got the Tennessee whiskey orange starburst sneaking out on the finish. That was fun. Note: last taste from Jared. I’m interested in this whiskey given what I’ve heard. This is really good. I’m impressed by this and the widow Jane 15.

Post virus take: Nose: spice and cinnamon. Palate: lots of rye spice up front. 104 proof but it drinks like 80 proof which is very impressive. Finish: medium length. Rye spice at the end as well for me Overall: my profile might be off due to just getting over being sick. Still, this bourbon is good. Right on par with other good ones I think.

This is very complex, I feel like it changes every pour. Very unique. Nose: Brown sugar, cookies, vanilla, pepper, cinnamon, floral Palate: Peat, grass, chocolate, vanilla, sugar, leather, cinnamon, banana Finish: Long finish, cinnamon, chocolate and sugar

My least favorite of all the discovery series. I never tried 4 or 1 but 2 and 3 were spectacular. The Tennessee Whiskey overwhelmed the flavor for me and made it taste Jack Daniels. A smooth Jack like single barrel but it was NOT $130 dollar bottle IMHO