The Old Bardstown label featuring the name and a horse pays homage to a legendary race horse. The horse, named Old Bardstown was named after the city of Bardstown, Kentucky and was bred and trained by Calumet Farms. One of the most acclaimed racehorses of his time he ended his career with 18 first place finishes, 7 second place finishes and 1 third place finish.
The Old Bardstown Estate Bottled enters the barrel at 125 proof before reaching its bottling designation of 101 proof.
Bourbon Review: Old Bardstown Estate Bottled
ABV: 50.5% (101 Proof)
Age: Not Disclosed
Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Malted Barley
Distillery: Willet Distillery
Location: Bardstown, KY (USA)
The Nose: Sweeter than expected the initial pull from the glass reveals an aroma reminiscent of twizzlers. Letting the glass sit for a bit sees additional aromas of rye, berries and nuts making this extremely season for this time of the year in my opinion.
The Taste: Earthy on the front end of the sip, the bourbon opens up to notes of plums and raspberries with a subtle cranberry finish. Subsequent sips reveal notes of notes of black cherry, rye and a brief grape like finish.
The Finish: The 72% corn is evident at the tale end of the finish. However, before we get there we are treated to warm spices (cinnamon, anise, cloves) and oak. It’s relatively short in duration but the bourbon hits as if it was stronger in proof by the time the first pour is done.
Conclusion: Different. It’s not your typical bourbon and while it is an enjoyable pour I firmly believe you need to be in the right mindset. As you can see from the image above, this was not a virgin bottle when I chose to review it. Of the 4 times I have poured from the bottle this was probably the most enjoyable as I knew what to expect. The first time I poured (for the most part I try to write a review the first time I taste something), I didn’t particularly care for it. Each additional pour since then, knowing what to expect and being in the mood for it I found it more and more enjoyable.
Score: 88
Price: $34.99
