Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon French Oak Finish

Here's a cool offering from Lux Row. Old Ezra 7 is great, and the Blood Oath series is solid from what I've had. This French Oak and the Cabernet variant of Daviess County are a more affordable way to experience Lux Row's more experimental side for a more reasonable price. Let's check it out. Nose: Caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar. Ginger and pumpkin spice. Fudge, maple, cocoa. There's a big rye spice, which is interesting because this is a blend of a rye and a wheat mash bill. I'd think this was a high rye on the nose alone. Rounded off with some clove, nutmeg, black pepper, and oak. Palate: More rye and black pepper. Toffee, caramel, and cocoa. Vanilla and milk chocolate. Almond and walnut. Some Gala apple, raisin, pear, and apricot. The last two are generally something I'd only find in a Scotch or Irish whiskey. It makes this very interesting. Once again, it's rounded with clove, nutmeg, ginger, pumpkin spice, black pepper, and oak. Finish: Gala apple, maple, caramel, and vanilla. Some sawdust. More of the rye, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Moderate length. This is an awesome bourbon. I've never particularly cared for French Oak finishes. Every one I've had before was a Speyside Scotch. And while I'd admit that those two profiles play perfectly together, I must also point out that the product is always perfectly boring. Enter Lux Row's Daviess County rendition of a French Oak finished whiskey. A high proof, carefully blended bourbon seems to be the cure for the weaknesses I've always found in the whiskey-French Oak cask combination. And the VFM is unbelievable here. This is incredibly interesting. And I'm glad to have grabbed it. I can finally appreciate French Oak influence. Next up will be the Cabernet variant of Daviess County. The bar has been set high. Well done, Luxco.

Taste- 2 oz. neat in glen cairn. Nose- French vanilla, and butterscotch dominate a soft nose. There is also a pastry-like aroma that reminds me of pop-overs. Taste- Really nice notes of sweet vanilla, fresh churned butter, and a slight maple note. The mouthfeel is very coating for the 92 proof. There is a pleasant sweetness and balance to this one. Nicely rounded. Finish- long lasting pastry type finish.....think boston cream donut, almost custard like. The only flaw is a bit of bitterness that lingers. There is a cherry tartness that is a great surprise at the end if you stay with it Overall- I am really impressed! This reminds me alot of a wheated version of Yellowstone. It lacks the oaky older notes of a more elder statesman, but it delivers on the sweet, pastry-like taste of a great wheated bourbon. What really surprised me is the luxurious richness for what looks like a younger bourbon (strawlike in color appearance) and a lower proof (thinner quicker running legs). This is likely attributed to the french oak finishing which adds a nice complexity level, and perhaps tempers some of the rougher edges. I can't help but make the comparison to some of the 4 year old Yellowstone store picks that I have had and thoroughly enjoyed, although this is punched up a bit in flavor layers. A definate bottle buy for me.

$40; Neck Pour; Tasted neat in a Glencairn; Rested 10 minutes. Pleasant scents of sweet vanilla, touches of green apples, hints of orange peel and an overall note that is somewhat floral at the fore, while fresh wet oak lurks underneath in the background; shows faint to no ethanol on the nose. On the palate it opens with an initial burst of sweetness -- vanilla intermingled with traces of orange and thin honey that appear after a slightly oily (not viscous) mouthfeel coating. The opening sweetness dissipates quickly as the short to medium (non-burning) finish transitions into more of a (pleasant) fresh vanilla oak aftertaste while it fades. Merits 3.75 to 4.0 stars if you can pick up the bottle at $40 or less; and agree with a previous reviewer that at prices of $50+ it would perhaps knock the rating towards the lower side of the range as other offerings may ratchet up the experience and provide better value. Still, I believe many would find this offering to be an easy, pleasing pour, and appreciate its refined finesse and elegant quality. While others who prefer bolder styled bourbons may find they would want a more pronounced profile with a heavier punch in the finish -- I for one enjoy the dram, however do wish the flavors held on and lingered just a little longer.

Daviess County French Oak Finish NOSE: Light and Dry. Floral. Dry Oak Spice. Leather. A Dried Musty Orange Peel note I previously have only gotten from Johnny Drum Private Stock. It's like when you find that one orange in the bag that has started to go bad and has started to mold. It's not a smell I like in real life, but it kind of works in Bourbon. There is Light Vanilla and Dried Spices as well. NEAT: That Dry Dusty Character is the first thing that washes over the tongue. There is a little more Sweetness here than the nose would lead you to believe. Subsequent sips reveal Oak Spice, and that dried Orange Peel. There is a Medium Length Finish followed by a Light KY Hug. The Orange, Oak Spice and a Peppery Tingle coats the palate. After a bit, an aftertaste of Dark Chocolate and Cinnamon emerge. SPLASH: Sweetens the Palate a little more. Makes it a little more Traditional. A hint of Pencil Shavings on both nose and palate. VERDICT: A surprisingly good pour. The French Oak is evident in the finish and almost hints at Maker's 46 in profile, but doesn't quite get there. This is very good, but I am going to ding it a quarter point for its $45 price tag. $35-$40 is where this one should be IMHO. Looking forward to trying the other two expressions.

I’ve seen this one around a few places, and was always curious to try it. A French oak finishing is tricky to master, it adds a layer of depth and balance, but over do it, and it takes over the base spirit. Generally, as far as American whiskey, I’ve only seen this in Balacones, where considering the oomph of that Texan, an overpowering by French oak wasn’t a concern. Thanks to a generous pour from @jonwilkinson7309, I had my curiosity met. This is like walking into a pastry shop and going head first into an almond topped croissant. It does get that balancing, albeit the base spirit seems a bit sweet. If a sweet tooth is your thing, you’d love this. And at a reasonable price, the VFM is there as well. Nicely done. Thanks Jon for the pour !

Lux Row Distillers (Luxco), 96 proof straight bourbons, wheated and high rye blend, aged 6 additional months in French oak. Golden brown color, average legs in the glass. Floral and sweet cereal grain on the nose. Soft and lightly sweet grain, grassy rye in the mouth, and a little ethanol. Dry oak, light but not overly tannic in the finish. Leather, rye spice, and a dry menthol mouthfeel. Ice tames the spice and sweet stone fruit comes out. Not overly sweet, and not as much vanilla as I'd expect from the dominent oak flavors. Nicely balanced and yet unusual. Ice tones down the oak and raises the sweetness level and vanilla. Going to keep trying this.