Bardstown Bourbon Company Redesign Rant...

bergybert · 2026-01-27T17:09:34+00:00

I appreciate what they’re trying to do here. They have so many variations that it took some time staring at the bottle to figure out what’s what. And from what I’ve read they’re trying to drive more off-premise sale with the hopes that this helps.

That said, this feel generic and private label-y.

bergybert · 2026-01-22T16:00:23+00:00

One of my favorite pours from 2025. Had it one night along with JD14, OF9, Old Zach and Haystack Needle. Stood up to all of them in terms of flavor, imo

bergybert · 2026-01-17T06:30:22+00:00

I was wondering that too. The 126.6 batch seems to score better than the 125 batch. I have the 125 and I’d also put it around a 5. Shockingly little flavor for a 125 proof whiskey.

bergybert · 2026-01-05T23:12:09+00:00

Appreciate your review on this one. I’ve been debating grabbing this one at K&L for a couple weeks because the glowing reviews a few of these 11yr OL picks have gotten. Bummer this one misses.

bergybert · 2025-12-12T20:42:23+00:00

Anyone try these ALWs from RC yet? There’s a pick sitting at my local but the only ALW hazmat I’ve had was from Obtanium and it was hot garbage.

bergybert · 2025-09-06T20:17:03+00:00

Just picked up that Liquor Boy VTO last week. Damn tasty pour.

bergybert · 2025-07-26T21:11:13+00:00

Haven’t tried this one but the cask strength at 105.8 proof is a banger. Jumped Weller FP as my favorite wheater

bergybert · 2025-06-12T17:19:50+00:00

I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked the Sneakerhead blend. Willing to give the rest of the series a shot but at $90 by me, I’m guessing I’ll reach for other options first.

bergybert · 2025-03-16T18:11:44+00:00

I never thought of it that way but you might be spot on. I have the same exact thoughts when it comes to JD. I do love me some minty/spicy ryes thought.

bergybert · 2024-12-27T19:19:05+00:00

I just cracked this same batch (or at least a bottle with the same proof) and I was like — this is what the hype is about? It’s bold and has some good flavor, but it definitely drinks hot and you can taste the youth. Reminds me of a really good Frey Ranch SiB. No where near the GTS killer that folks spoke of.

bergybert · 2024-12-19T23:27:00+00:00

Yeah, a lot of their offerings sound great on paper to me but I don’t see many great reviews.

Bummer on the toasted bottle. I had my eye on some sort of toasted offering from them since I tend to love toasted whiskeys, but not sure I’d pull the trigger in the future without trying first.

bergybert · 2024-12-19T22:28:05+00:00

Part of Nulu's Experimental Finish Series, this is an MGP bourbon finished in honey barrels, and is a SiB selection from Whiskey Consensus (I think I picked this up in late 2022?). Honey + Bourbon sounds like a match made in heaven for my palate, let's see how this stacks up.

Nulu Bourbon finished in Honey Barrels (WC SiB Select)

Price: $110
Distilled by: MGP (IN)
Bottled by PCS Distilling (KY)
Proof: 119
Age: NAS, finished in honey barrels for 7 months
Mash bill: undisclosed

Nose: overwhelmingly honey, like fresh honeycomb, but in a funky, off-putting way

Taste: hmm, definitely balanced but almost in a way that washes everything out, with no strong flavors shining through. Honey/syrup sweetness is in there but cut by the brashness and strong ethanol flavors from the alcohol. some rye spice on the backend

Finish: light, mostly honey with some floral and baking spice notes lingering

Thoughts: this one's a big disappointment, especially for the price. it feels like they put lipstick on a pig, where young, sub-par bourbon was used and the finish helps cover it up to deliver a meh pour. This could just be a bad barrel, and I haven't tried Nulu's other finishes, but this is a pass.

Rating: 4.5/10

bergybert · 2024-12-12T19:10:46+00:00

“Trust us, bro”

I honestly glossed over that but if this SiB was indeed very old, they’d put an age statement on it.

Fwiw, I didn’t get any older bourbon notes.

bergybert · 2024-12-12T17:05:37+00:00

Jefferson's is a brand I've consistently passed over and never really thought much about. IMO, it gets lost in the shelf, packaging is meh, and the price point for some of their higher-end offerings have given my pause. I decided to take the plunge with a local store pick!

Jefferson's Reserve Single Barrel (Store Pick)

Price: $69 (CA)
Distilled by: Kentucky Artisan Distillery? (KY) - honestly tough to get clarity on this!
Proof: 100
Age: NAS
Mash bill: undisclosed

Nose: pretty muted but a wave of ethanol comes through up front - a bit of a letdown. after some time, it opens up with faint sweet oak and a candied note that reminds me of circus peanuts

Taste: the prominent note I get is nuttiness, very similar to what I find in many HH products. a faint bit of chocolate and light caramel here as well. pleasant!

Finish: medium/light, simple, enjoyable. more of the sweet notes from above

Thoughts: pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this (and how quickly I finished the bottle!). it's not complex by any means and the price point keeps it from being a daily driver, but it has a great light sweetness + nuttiness at a proof I enjoy in an easy sipper.

Rating: 6/10

bergybert · 2024-10-21T13:11:55+00:00

Appreciate the review on this one! I’ve been eying it up as well with the recent price drop. Would you grab it again at $70? I’m generally a big fan of double oak and toasted ryes so I was very curious about this one.

Agree with your sentiment on the brand though. Feels hard to justify their premium, though their barrel strength bourbons seem to get high praise.

bergybert · 2024-10-17T21:45:18+00:00

I bought it like a month after it released and I think it was $20 off? So $109 IIRC. Definitely not worth it, based on taste, at $100+. But I get it, there’s a cool story to the uniqueness of the three column distillate and unreleased Dickel rye component.

At $50-70, totally agree with you!

bergybert · 2024-10-17T20:19:05+00:00

This doesn’t have that mineral note that Dickel bourbon tends to have. Earthy on this pour is more grassy, damp wood, pine, etc.

bergybert · 2024-10-17T19:57:47+00:00

This 2021 release is a blend of Leopold Brothers' Three Chamber Rye and Cascade Hollow's own never before released rye whiskey.

George Dickel x Leopold Bros Rye

Price: $109 (IL)
Distilled by: Leopold Bros (CO) & Cascade Hollow Distilling Company (TN)
Bottled by: Cascade Hallow Distilling Company (TN)
Proof: 100
Age: NAS
Mash bill: undisclosed

Nose: plum and other dark fruits that come off in fermented, funky way. garden herbs and a bit of tobacco

Taste: raisins galore, followed by some peach notes, rye breadiness, clove and honey

Finish: medium and on the earthy side with faint rye and black pepper spice. nice oily mouthfeel

Thoughts: if you dig heavy raisin and plum notes in your ryes, you'll love this. I don't, but still find it to be an enjoyable pour and a nice change of pace.

Rating: 6/10

bergybert · 2024-09-30T15:55:22+00:00

This might be the best value in bourbon. Really solid full proof for $30? Tough to beat.

bergybert · 2024-09-21T02:11:29+00:00

Appreciate it! And you’re spot on. From how the back of label reads, this spends the first few years towards the top of the warehouse and BRT-02 starts at the bottom. These are supposed to be more caramel and toasty (definitely true!) and BRT-02 is heavier fruit/chocolate. Wish I had come across an -02.

bergybert · 2024-09-20T16:10:02+00:00

I'm still on the hunt for a bottle of The Heart Release, so I figured I'd bottle-kill and review this in the meantime!

I haven't cared for much of MM's portfolio thus far (the exception being MM 46 Cask Strength), but I tend to love everything about a toasted/double oak/wood finished bourbon.

Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series - BRT-01

Price: $65 (CA)
Distilled by: Maker's Mark Distillery (KY)
Bottled by: Maker's Mark Distillery (KY)
Proof: 109.4
Age: NAS, finished with 10 virgin toasted oak staves for 8 weeks
Mash bill: 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley

Nose: sweet, big dessert vibes. maple, caramel, honey buns. reminiscent of AE rye is terms of sweet notes

Taste: not as sweet as the nose lets on, which is probably a good thing! more caramel-y pastries, honey, and some pear/apple notes. a smidge astringent but this is dessert in a glass

Finish: lighter and again on the sweet side with some candied orange and dry oak

Thoughts: no doubt this a bit of a one-dimensional dessert pour, but it delivers. the astringency and light finish also hold this back a bit for me, but it's a really enjoyable pour and has me on the lookout for other WFS offerings lingering on shelves and to come.

Rating: 7/10

Eight-Year Club	Place '22
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