The Cream of Kentucky brand was originally introduced in 1888 by I. Trager & Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio. Just prior to the end of Prohibition, the brand was acquired by the famed Schenley Company and subsequently re-introduced in 1934. Through the 1930s and 1940s Cream of Kentucky grew to become one of the leading bourbon brands, with renowned artist Norman Rockwell providing much of the award winning artwork for the brand during its heyday. Cream of Kentucky is now owned by J.W. Rutledge, and Jim has recently purchased a limited supply of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey he feels is worthy of the rebirth of Cream of Kentucky Bourbon as a premium whiskey.
Today, J.W. Rutledge along with Stephen Camisa and Jon Mowry are collaborating to build a modern, energy efficient and sustainable, mid-size distillery. Where they will produce Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Straight Rye Whiskey the “old-fashioned way” relative to the requisites, guidelines and standards for Straight Whiskey production that have been in place for close to two centuries.
If you don’t know the name J.W. Rutledge, you should as he served as Master Distiller for Four Roses from 1994 until he retired in 2015 after 49 years of employment by the distillery.
Bourbon Review: Cream of Kentucky Cask Strength (2024)
ABV: 53.2% (106.4 Proof)
Age: NAS
Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Bottle #: 24-3839
Distillery: Not Disclosed (See Conclusion)
Bottled At: Kentucky Artisan Distillery for J.W. Rutledge
Location: Crestwood, KY (USA)
The Nose: Just opening the bottle and pouring a double for the purpose of this review I could smell the sweetness nand floral components wafting upward on a crisp March morning with the temperatures hovering around 30 degrees. With the picture taken the glass is brought inside and a pull from the glass serves up an abundance of corn and cloves. Letting the glass sit for a bit reveals additional aromas of orange rind, oak, honey and a floral component that lingers.
The Taste: My initial thoughts on the first sip is it feels a little thin until the heat creeps up on you at the end. The initial flavor profile of the Cream of Kentucky Cask Strength has apples, honey, oak and a coarse black pepper. Subsequent sips reveal additional notes of cinnamon, clove, vanilla and a subtle floral component while black pepper only appears as an afterthought.
The Finish: The initial sip saw a lingering finish of licorice that was simply epic and had a long duration. Sadly, it didn’t appear in subsequent sips which sees the finish encapsulate brown sugar, oak, and red apple skins.
Conclusion: Coming in at 106.4 proof, it is safe to say that this bourbon enters the barrel at a lower strength then your typical bourbon. One such distillery that sees a fairly low entry level is Brown-Forman at 115 proof. Interestingly enough, Woodford Reserve and Old Forester distilled by Brown-Forman consists of the same mashbill.
Wherever the juice comes from, it’s quite enjoyable but spending $90 on a bottle I would like to see an age statement. The bourbon comes off as young, maybe 4 years at best which would make the bourbon overpriced at this price point. It does however offer a nice amount of complexity to it and a richness to it that is very enjoyable. I plan to hide this bottle on my bar so no one asks me for a pour when they come to visit but I don’t see replacing it when it is gone due to the price/value.
Score: 88
Price: $89.99 (750 ml)
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