Old Bardstown White Label Bourbon 90 Proof

Color: Light copper Nose: Somewhat light and slightly sweet nose at first whiff, but becoming more "grassy" upon further nosing. I've got to say, I think this is the first time I've ever gotten a definite "grass" note from any of the nearly 200 bottles of bourbon, rye, and other whiskeys I've had over the past 4-5 years. Palate: As it's such a relatively low proof, I decided to drink pour #1 neat... and, Jeez! Was not expecting THAT chest hug. Second sip brings on a tongue-coating spice bomb. This is interesting... there's something coming through that I just can't pin point. The chest hug is lingering. Crazy at 90 Proof. I think I am detecting "youth"... yes, "youthful corn". Not sure of the age statement (because there is none), but I'd be surprised if this were older than 4 years. I'm guessing less. I'm going to drop an ice cube into pour #2 and see if anything comes out of it.... Not really. I'm getting maybe a little more "oak", and the ice definitely tamps down that burn. Maaaaybe, the ice is bringing out a little more sweetness... maybe some caramel (?). Further dilution has revealed some "not-quite-ripe apple". Finish: I'd give this one a medium finish, with some spiciness and some slight bitterness. Final Thoughts: I don't typically order whiskey online. But I've been looking for Old Bardstown Estate for a while now. When I found it online, with free shipping, I decided to pull the trigger. But what did they send me? The wrong Old Bardstown! (Womp-womp). I decided to keep it, and unfortunately I can't say it proved a happy accident. This is youthful stuff with not a whole lot going on. I mean, it's not bad, but it's not great. Definitely not worth the price I ended up paying, even after I was reimbursed for the screw up. Probably a mixer mainly. 2.5 stars.

BACKGROUND: Old Bardstown is produced by the Willet Distillery, which originally opened in 1935 - two years after the end of Prohibition - and continued operating through the mid-1970s, when it converted to the production of ethanol fuel. Norwegian Even Kulsveen acquired the distillery in 1984, changed its name to Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, and served as a bottling plant for other brands. The facility turned its focus to bourbon production and marketing in 2012, first by acquiring product from contract distillers and, eventually, making its own whiskey. In addition to the 90 proof Old Bardstown that I sampled, the distillery produces a 101 proof Old Bardstown Estate Bottled and a 100 Proof Old Bardstown Bottled in Bond. The bourbon retails for around $24, and is aged at least four years as determined by its lack of age statement. NOSE: The nose offers an odd combination of cherries - not cherry cough syrup like some bourbons but like you stuck your nose in a jar of maraschino cherries - and hay. PALATE: Like the nose, the palate is very cherry-forward. Some butterscotch - not caramel but butterscotch - is also present, but it is buried in the jar of maraschino cherries. FINISH: Old Bardstown offers a short finish with a most unpleasant grassy note that hangs in the back of the throat. The grassy note becomes more obvious with each subsequent sip. FINAL ASSESSMENT: Old Bardstown is a very one-dimensional bourbon, and even that one dimension ain’t a great one. This bourbon is obviously more at home in a rocks glass mixed with something else rather than standing alone in a glencairn.

Running low on your Bookers, Bakers and candle waxed Makers? Need a quick bottle off the shelf(no not the top one) that will do the job and NOT dent the wallet too severely? You might want to try Old Bardstown, Willett seems to have gotten something right and put it on the market ready to go for the average buyer. Of course anybody can put a "Kentucky" label on a bottle and claim they are selling something "authentic" yet the folks rebooting the Willett family distillery aren't short changing with this somewhat less than upscale offering. Labeled as "straight bourbon whiskey" you get a spicey and sweet blend of some traditional bourbon along with a hint of oak notes and leather finish. Certainly some similarity to the well known Willett genie bottle of Pot Still Reserve. What might be more notable is the lack of green, un-aged mash bitters so common with anything new on the market. A 90 proofer that gives something not watered down, Old Bardstown is well named, not a bottle I was looking for when I found it, might remind some of an old flame, "I wasn't looking for her when she found me". I'm going on record to call this the "value bourbon release of the year". A nice bourbon worth giving a spin!

I'm happily shocked by this Bourbon. My concern with Willet starting their own distillery and producing their own juice was that the taste of their Whiskey was going to be completely different from what I'm used to from them. I like Willett's Pot Still Reserve to me I get cinnamon candy/red hots on the nose and the palate which I really enjoy and no other Bourbon/Whiskey has that to me. So my concern with the new in house juice was this would be lost due to different production facilities, storage location, storage conditions, etc. But after trying this Old Bardstown it is still there. I don't know how they did it but they did. This immediately on first nosing had that familiar smell of Willet Pot Still Reserve and on tasting it is there on the palate too. This smells and tastes to me like a slightly weaker Willet Pot Still Reserve at less than half the cost. It made me immediately get up and poor the Pot Still Reserve for a side by side. After the side by side it confirmed my first assessment. It is Pot Still Reserve slightly turned down but the nose and flavor is there which surprised me and put my concerns at ease.

OLD BARDSTOWN WHITE LABEL NC has just recently started carrying Willett products after about an 8 year absence. GLASS: Glencairn NOSE: Burnt Caramel, Vanilla, and Butterscotch. On the non-traditional side, I’m getting Dr. Pepper Jelly Bellys. There’s also the Musty Orange Note I get from Johnny Drum Private Stock, just lighter in character. NEAT: Salty and only slightly sweet. Honey Roasted Peanut, Orange Peel, and Vanilla. Mouthfeel is a little on the thin side with some peppery spice. Some Oak on the Finish paired with a Peppery Spice lingering and coating. SPLASH: A little water brings out Maple and Hazelnut. The Dr. Pepper from the nose shows up. Improves the mouthfeel and the flavors become a little clingier. VERDICT: Solid and Slightly Different, but maybe a bit overpriced at $27.

(Good Spirits Co. Glasgow – Virtual American Whiskey Tasting, 26 February 2021) Nose: Floral, vanilla, oak, moss, acetone Palate: Oak, caramel, popcorn, citrus, spice, black pepper Finish: Musty and short. Spicy and floral finish with a slightly sour aftertaste. Quite a ‘hot’ bourbon. Spicy and citrusy sour in the aftertaste. The main thing that let it down for my palate was the watery mouthfeel. There’s not a lot to it. Average and ultimately a little forgettable. Came fifth out of the six whiskeys, with 5% of the final vote for favourite of the night. 50% of those present said they enjoyed the whiskey.