Review of Bardstown Origin Series Bottled in Bond Bourbon
The Bardstown Origin Series marks the company’s first release of 100% in-house distilled whiskey. For this inaugural release, the company created one rye and two bourbons. Each bourbon has a unique mashbill, with each carrying a 6-year age statement. The brand brought one to market as a bottled in bond bourbon, while the other was proofed down to 96 proof.
Nose
The sip opens with soft and gentle baking scents. Light fresh bread combines with gentle wheat and hints of soft cream to kick things off. Inhaling deeper pulls out swirls of light honey and coffee cake. While they mingle well together, the bourbon’s scents are definitely on the lighter side with a large amount of concentration necessary to pull them out. I do wish for a little more presence from the components of the nose, however, it’s an acceptable way to kick things off.
Palate
The palate brings about some of those same baking elements found in the nose, but also adds in complimentary flavors to give it more depth. Instantly noticeable are flavors of fresh peach bread, muted cinnamon powder, and light sweet syrup. Touches of vanilla cream and pops of white peppercorn spice along with a subtle light charred oak add further intrigue. The gentleness of the wheated mashbill creates a softer and creamier palate that is simpler yet also still very tasty at the same time.
Finish
Much like the rest of the sip, the finish isn’t overly complex, instead being more functional in nature. Fresh wheat bread, lightly charred oak, and a subtle green peppercorn spice pop instantly kicking off the finish. A flash of sweet cream is present and adds balance. As flavors fade, dry bread and subtle simmering spice notes present themselves and grip your taste buds, refusing to let go. They linger for a surprisingly long time, and while not overly potent, provide a nice way to cap off the sip.
Uniqueness
The switch from using sourced whiskey to using a 100% in-house product is a monumental achievement for a distillery, but also can be a tricky path to navigate. Often when brands source, they stick with one or two mashbills. When they try to either blend in their own product or make the switch to 100% in-house distilled whiskey, consumers are greeted with a whiskey that doesn’t taste the same as what they’ve come to expect from the brand. Bardstown Bourbon Company was smart in that sense, as no two past releases followed the same mashbill, instead, each one stood alone as a unique offering. That means no consumer expectations have existed for what a Bardstown Bourbon Company whiskey should definitively taste like.
The fact that Bardstown Bourbon Company chose to release two distinct bourbons in their inaugural Origin Series release is intriguing. Their 96 proof bourbon has a high rye mashbill (60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley) while their bottled in bond bourbon offers a traditional wheated bourbon mashbill. Other well-known brands release ongoing wheated bottled in bond bourbons, such as Bluegrass Distillers and Heaven Hill’s Old Fitzgerald, however, wheated bottled in bond bourbons are still the exception to the norm.
Bardstown Origin Series Bottled in Bond Bourbon delivers a distinctive sip compared to its rye-focused brethren in the Origin Series. It does a nice job of leaning into its wheat component and pulls out sweeter and creamier notes along the way. Its overall sip doesn’t particularly wow in any one area, instead delivering an incredibly easy-to-drink whiskey that’s hard to dislike. That’s okay though, because in the end, Bardstown Origin Series Bottled in Bond does just enough to stand out from the pack.
Value
Bardstown Bourbon Company has never been known to be a value brand. The company has done a good job of creating a more luxury feel both in perception and price of their products. This is the result of the bottle choice they use to package their whiskey, with a simple yet elegant later and gold embossed cork top, to the actual in-person experience they offer when you visit onsite. When it comes to price, they certainly haven’t held back with their Fusion Series being the lowest cost of their offerings starting at $65, which mixes a blend of sourced and in-house distilled whiskey, to their entirely sourced Discovery Series, often costing around $140 dollars. Their finished bourbons cost even more, coming in north of $150. All this to say, buying their whiskeys has never been a low cost endeavor
Classification: Bottled in Bond Bourbon
Company: Bardstown Bourbon Company
Distillery: Bardstown Bourbon Company
Release Date: January 2023
Proof: 100
Age: 6 Years
Mashbill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley
Color: Light Copper
MSRP: $50 (2023)
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Written by Emma Jones
“Lost Lantern Whiskey Unveils First Tasting Room”
Antons-bottled-in-bond-an_initial-review”>Blanton’s or Old Fitzgerald, but wheated bourbons are rarely used in products besides those releases. It’s refreshing, and frankly surprising, to see a bottled in bond wheated bourbon from a new brand.
“The Bardstown Origin Series is a promising debut from the distillery, showcasing their bold move to release 100% in-house distilled whiskey. The distinct mashbills and 6-year age statements make the experience unique and enjoyable. The nose and finish may be a bit subdued, but the palate is where this bourbon shines with delicious notes of peach bread and cinnamon. It’s refreshing to see a bottled in bond wheated bourbon and I look forward to seeing what else Bardstown Bourbon Company has in store.”
Anton-s-bourbon-single-barrel”>Blanton’s Gold Edition and Weller Full Proof, where the wheater mashbill helps to tame the higher proof. While not common, Wild Turkey Heavy Char Depth also uses a wheated mashbill and is bottled in bond. Since Bardstown Bourbon Company bottled this bourbon in bond at 100 proof it’s interesting to see the impact on its flavor.
“I was impressed by the first release of the Bardstown Origin Series Bourbon, which features a unique wheated mashbill and a 6-year age statement. The soft and gentle flavors on the nose and palate make for a tasty and approachable sip, while the dry and lingering finish adds a nice touch. It’s exciting to see Bardstown Bourbon Company’s success in switching from sourced whiskey to their own in-house product.”
Anton%E2%80%99s-released-from-bond-bourbon-hits-all-right-notes”>Blanton’s and Very Special Old Fitzgerald, but Bardstown Bourbon Company has one of the few wheated bottled in bond single releases on the market,constituting it even more interesting and unique.
“I am excited to try the Bardstown Origin Series Bottled in Bond Bourbon and experience the first release of 100% in-house distilled whiskey from the company. The unique mashbill and flavors described make it a standout among other bottled in bond bourbons on the market.”