Review of Lucky Seven 15 Year Barrel 92 The Proprietor

A whiff of black cherry, cranberry, and blueberry are followed by a dense mature oak scent. The nose is well balanced, finding even footing between its lush fruit scents and oakiness. It’s largely straightforward and not overly complex, though this is the result of the aroma delivering everything its got all at once. As a result, the nose makes a statement very matter-of-factly and it doesn’t have anything to hide. It’s confident, gives off a warming presence, and is quite effective overall.

A sweet mix of raspberry, black cherry, and strawberry makes for a delectable opening of the palate. Packed with boldness thanks to the whiskey’s proof, the sweetness is amplified and blossoms as the whiskey touches each part of your tongue. Soon after, a slightly musty, mature oak note intervenes, providing a welcome contrast. It’s a manageable amount of oak, but equally as bold and impactful nevertheless. Its sweet fruitiness and mature oak meld well together, producing a yin and yang relationship that is surprisingly well-balanced despite its overall potency. It’s very well done overall, creating a positive impression immediately.

A sudden ramp up of sweet raspberry and strawberry combined with the ever-present mature oak carried over from the palate, makes for a delightful tour de force. As the fruitiness wears off, the mature oak note is left to linger. From there, brown sugar, molasses, and leather are exposed, and the bourbon concludes on a heavy dark note. With just the right amount of complexity and flavor theatrics, the finish ends almost as nicely as the palate started.

Lucky Seven quickly made a name for themselves when they released their 12 year old The Proprietor and quickly followed it up with a 14 year old version. A year later, they’re back with a 15 year old release. Yet they aren’t the only ones with a 15 year old bourbon on the market thanks to an abundance of 15 year old stock that hit the market over the last few years. Pappy Van Winkle, once the main flag holder of 15 year old bourbon, now faces more competition than ever thanks to Barrell Bourbon, Calumet Farms, Chicken Cock, George Dickel, I.W. Harper, Knob Creek, Sam Houston, Three Chord, Widow Jane, and more.

It’s unknown where the majority of the sourced 15 year Kentucky stock is coming from (guesses include Barton, Beam, and Heaven Hill). It’s hard to say if it’s even all coming from the same place. Some brands’ 15 year old offerings share similarities with others – as to be expected since they’re sourced – yet even within the single barrels Lucky Seven releases, there is a good degree of variation. Like with any bourbon, of any age, not all bourbons are created equal.

Lucky Seven has proven they have a knack for selecting great high aged barrels. Many of their 12 year and 14 year bourbons featured a plethora of sweet and fruity notes that contain a minor yet noticeable base of aged oak. Their 15 Year The Proprietor dials back some of the fruitiness and instead turns its attention to mature oak as the now prominent feature.
<

Review of Lucky Seven 15 Year Barrel 92 The Proprietor

Bottle Info

Classification: Straight Bourbon

Company: Lucky Seven Spirits

Distillery: Sourced from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery

Release Date: January 2023

Proof: 120

Age: 15 Years

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Color: Mahogany

MSRP: $170 (2023)

Official Website

Reader Rating3896 Votes

9.2

10