Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Straight Bourbon Review
In-Depth Review
Bardstown Bourbon Company has been waiting a long time for this. Earlier this year, for the first time in their history, they began releasing their own distillate as a standalone product. Started in 2014, Bardstown Bourbon Company has been to the go-to contract distiller for many up-and-coming brands over the years – building a huge facility in the process. They started distilling in 2016 but promised never to release their own standalone products till they had reached an acceptable level of quality. In the meantime, they focused on the art of blending. Over the years taking some of their own distillate and blending with sourced whiskey to create their “Fusion Series” as an entry into the brand while at the same time, taking higher aged, sourced whiskies to blend and create their acclaimed “Discovery Series”. But after 6 years of age, it seems like Bardstown Bourbon Company has finally found the profile they were looking for and decided the time is now right to release their first 100% in-house whiskey.
After 6 years of maturing in their Bardstown area warehouses, Bardstown Bourbon Company has released what they are calling their “Origin Series”, releasing three different expressions, each highlighting a different mashbill. The white label Origin Series is their Straight Bourbon whiskey – featuring a mashbill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley. This is their entry to the brand and is priced quite attractively at $45 for a 96 proofer with a 6-year age statement. Let’s dive in and see if it was worth the wait!
Age: 6 Years
ABV: 48%
Cask: New oak
MSRP: $45
Distillery Name: Bardstown Bourbon Company
Review Date: 9/1/23
Color: Medium Caramel
Nose: A subdued and gentle nose that starts off with a sweet, earthy character with whiffs of malty sweet corn, wood shavings, caramel popcorn, burnt eraser tips, and peaches and cream. Despite all of these notes, nothing pops out from the glass, and it feels a bit closed off at first. As it sits in the glass, a note of astringency lingers – with the entire nose feeling a bit disjointed yet very approachable.
Palate: Wow. What a remarkable reversal from the nose. Where the nose felt disjointed – the palate immediately comes off as balanced and well-structured. The mouthfeel is the first thing you notice, with a thick syrupy viscosity and gentle demeanor. There are waves of apple peel and custard, creamy French vanilla, gentle warm oak, and crème brulee mixed with a small hint of spice and delicious puff pastry. It’s gentle and approachable, drinking lower proof than its 48% ABV would lead you to believe.
Finish: This is where the high rye spice comes alive. It’s a medium length finish but pops with bursts of rye, drying oak, and mixes with lovely notes of honey and a touch of floral character. It leaves a nice spicy vanilla flavor that lingers between sips.
Final Thoughts: In this industry it’s not often we see companies doing right by the consumer. But Bardstown Bourbon Company made the right choice to wait to release its own distillate till it was ready. Their Origin Straight Bourbon whiskey is an example of a brand understanding its customer and delivering a product that will satisfy almost everyone. The 6 year wait paid off by creating a spirit that is gentle, well rounded, has a fantastic mouthfeel, and just enough rye character to keep things spicy. And while the nose may be forgettable, the palate is a redeeming element – and reminds you why Bardstown Bourbon Company has become one of the fastest growing brands in all of Kentucky.
