Bardstown Bourbon Company 2021 Phifer Pavitt Reserve - Review

Stats

Bardstown Bourbon Company - Tennessee Straight Bourbon

Finished in Phifer Pavitt Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels

Collaborative Series

NAS (No Age Statement) - 10 Years Min + Finished for 18 Months

Bardstown Bourbon Company - Bardstown, KY

100 Proof - Cask Strength

Mash Bill: 84% Corn / 8% Rye / 8% Malted Barley

Retail Price: $125

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Dark Cherry Red

Nose: Dark Cherry, Plum and Dark Chocolate

Palate: Dark Chocolate, Oak, Molasses, and of course, Cabernet

Finish: Calm, Mellow, a slight linger with hints of dark chocolate.

Overall: I won't lie. I've only had the Fusion Series releases from Bardstown and I do enjoy those. So pulling the trigger on a bottle for more than twice that price was tough. It was one of those moments I knew I may not come across again. So here we go. The nose really paved the way to the plate on this pour. There are very few finished bourbons which I've tried that I can say that about. The Dark Chocolate and Cherry paint the picture. Late morning (as I'm sipping), early afternoon, evening or after dinner, this is a winner. It's not overloaded with sweetness, but still gives you that feeling that you had dessert. I don't mind the price point at $125 because i recognize the added effort and time spent finishing to reach this level of flavor. One of the top-5 pours on my finished bourbon list thus far.

Library Rating: 8.6 / 10

Daviess County Double Barrel Finish - Review

Stats

Daviess County - Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Finished in Missouri White Oak Barrels

Small Batch

Limited Edition

NAS (No Age Statement)

Lux Row Distillers - Bardstown, KY

96 Proof

Mash Bill: Blended High Rye & Wheated

Retail Price: $45

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Amber/Charred Caramel

Nose: Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Baking Spices and Oak

Palate: Dark Chocolate, Nougat, Caramel, Custard and Toasted Vanilla

Finish: Warm, Medium Linger with a Rye Spice coating

Overall: What comes to mind first, is a Midnight Milky Way candy bar. Call me crazy, or tell me my palate is jacked up, but that what sticks in my head. I revisited this once more in the morning with a clear palate and sure enough, same result. I'm a fan. This pour brings forth that extra toasty profile that is really a huge hit for me in the Library. I didn't think Lux Row could top the already delicious French Oak Finish, and here they drop this on us. At 96 Proof, your mouth and esophagus won't burn while you enjoy this wonderful sipper. I even went as far to pair this with a nice medium-bodied cigar and it brought forth toasted custard notes. I'm happy to have backups of this as this first bottle will not last very long.

Library Rating: 8.4 / 10

Blue Note Crossroads - Review

Stats

Blue Note - Crossroads

Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished with Toasted French Oak

NAS (No Age Statement) ~4 Years

MGP Sourced

Produced & Bottled by B.R. Distilling - Memphis, Tennessee

100 Proof

Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley

Retail Price: ~$40

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Amber

Nose: Corn Flakes, Vanilla, Caramel Oak and a hint of Leather

Palate: Vanilla Bean, Custard, Honey, and Torched Sugar with a slight touch of Cinnamon

Finish: Medium Linger with a very mild burn. Viscous and coats the throat.

Overall: Just when you think Blue Note is ready to live on all the praise from their Juke Joint Uncut, they drop a bomb like this. I have a great appreciation for most Toasted Barrel finishes and this is absolutely no exception. The Nose gets you thinking and wondering exactly what's in store. Being this product is sourced from MGP, leather always seems to show its presence with my senses, albeit, it is very faint. At only around 4 years in age, the oak really makes itself known as well. The palate reminds me of the top crust of a well torched Creme Brûlée with that perfect sweetness and little dash of Cinnamon. Add just a drop of honey and now you have a dessert in a glass with the right amount of heat and viscosity on the finish. This is set to retail around $40. I will be snatching some up to keep in the Library, thats for certain.

This sample was provided by Blue Note for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. As always, that's what I share. Cheers and Thank You!

Library Rating: 8.4 / 10