Bardstown Bourbon Company "Discovery Series #9" Blended Whiskey (750ml) (Previously $120)

Bardstown Bourbon is back with the 9th iteration of their "discovery" series, and this might be my favorite of the bunch so far - confectionary tones direct the nose with flashes of tiramisu cream & ladyfinger cookies, held together by notes of kiln-dried wood and a central lift of gravely minerality. A whisky with this much Ontario Corn could be anticipated as "overly rich", but Bardstown are true craftsmen when it comes to blending, so the sweet-corn never becomes obnoxious or overstays its welcome, handsomely complimenting the deep barley tones waiting just below the surface. Leave it to Bardstown to help you Discover these new frontiers of Bourbon!

The Discovery line from Bardstown has been one of those slightly controversial releases because Bardstown is not afraid to take chances here, lots of old timers are skeptical. That's of course until they taste it! Previously releases have transitioned from Older KY juice to TN, KY blends, but the big change was the addition of Canadian Corn whisky. Now we've got a totally unique blend of 4 states, 4 mashbills, 3 ages, included an 8 year old whisky from Georgia which will be an absolute first for me. In addition to this unique blend, we've managed to push the price down significantly, making this one of the best Disco Deals yet. That's if it tastes as good as we'd expect. Let's have a go! Gorgeous nose of burnt sugar, buttercream, charred citrus, sweet oak and vanilla. It's a very appealing but hard to pin down style. It doesn't fit nicely into any standard American Whisky category. It really loves air and opens more into a complex grade B maple syrup and raisinets. On the palate it's rather nutty, sweet and creamy. Lots of roasted fruits, toasted vanilla, hints of Dickel mineral, but nicely balanced by a rich chocolate notes and spicy finish. This is damn good whisky, perfect for when you want something that's ultra complex and mature, but you don't want to pull the ultra fancies off the shelf. Considering the quality, age and unique character this is an exceptional deal. We have the killer price and mini-exclusive now, but when it goes broad market expect to pay at least $30 more a bottle, so now's your chance to try before the prices go up!

Color: Liquid Amber. Nose: Maple syrup, cherry pie, hewn oak, chocolate truffle shop, candied orange peel, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, berry compote, creme brulee, tiramisu, Nilla wafers, it's extraordinary, the list of desserts and sweet things on the nose is seemingly endless. Palate: Given all the sweet aromatics you'd expect it to be almost cloying when you actually taste it, but the 112.5 proof does a tremendous job giving it a serious kick without being hot. The flavors are a little more cola-y with a distinct nuttiness that goes with all the sweet spices. Dusty cocoa and dark roast coffee beans, tons of oak both sweet and savory, fresh juicy corn, cigar box, and sarsaparilla. The finish is lively and flavorful, a quick burst of intensity followed by a lengthy and more mellow lingering. It's another impeccable blend from BBC with top tier components and showcasing phenomenal skill in bringing together different whiskies to make something that is unique, but wholly worthwhile and delicious. It's heart breaking to think that California drinkers almost missed out on #9 entirely. Fortunately we were able to secure a small amount for those dedicated to the Discovery Series.