Bourbon Review: Barmen 1873 Bourbon

Barmen 1873 is made by Coors Whiskey Co., yes, that Coors.

It all started 20 years ago when David Coors turned to his Dad and asked, “Why don’t we make whiskey?” His Dad would respond, “Because we’re good at one thing, and that’s beer.” In many families that would be the end of the discussion, but David didn’t stop there. A nearly two decade journey led to the creation of Coors Whiskey Co.

After four generations of beer it took the 5th generation to develop bourbon. 

The Barmen 1873 is inspired by the founder of the brand, Adolph Hermann Joseph Kuhrs who was born in Barmen, Germany in 1847. After a 3 year apprenticeship at Kronen Brewery he would come to the USA as an undocumented stowaway in 1868 where his last name would be changed to Coors. On November 14, 1873, Coors and the Denver confectioner Jacob Schueler purchased the abandoned Golden City Tannery and converted it to the Golden Brewery which would become Coors Brewery a year later.

The Barmen 1873 name honors his birthplace and the year in which he established his legacy, now 150 years strong.

Bourbon Review: Barmen 1873 Bourbon
ABV: 46% (92 Proof)
Age: Not Disclosed
Mash Bill: Blended, Not Disclosed
Distillery: Bardstown Bourbon Co (Bardstown, KY) & MGP (Lawrenceburg, IN)
Blended & Bottled: Coors Whiskey Co.
Location:  Bardstown, KY

The Nose:  When I popped open the bottle I was very surprised at the aroma rising from the bottle. That aroma carries over into the glass and consists of apples, vanilla and a wisp of butterscotch. It’s wonderfully aromatic and secondary pulls from the glass reveals oak, corn and stone fruits.

The Taste: My first though is that the bourbon is a little thin but that becomes an afterthought as this explodes with flavor. The initial sip reveals big notes of toffee alongside oak and a subtle brown sugar that lingers on the lips. Secondary sips see the inclusion of cinnamon and oak. The finish has a nice balance of heat and sweetness especially with the lingering brown sugar. The lingering heat does however suggest this bottle is a bit young.

Conclusion: While I am not a big beer drinker, I am not a fan of Coors or any mass produced beers. I bought this bottle saying, it can’t be that Coors and, it if it is, it can’t be any good. Well, it turns out it is that Coors and it is good but could be better if they aged it longer. With that being said I would love to see Coors open a bourbon distillery as it appears that David Coors definitely as a feel for it. It’s a company I plan to keep an eye one.

Score: 93
Price: $39.99 (750ml in New Hampshire)