Candy corn, butter, warm frosted buns, strawberry tart, and powdered sugar on the nose. The palate is spiced with cinnamon, clove, and roasted walnuts, as well as chocolate-covered cherries, raspberry cobbler, and a hint of coconut shavings. Length, depth, and heat on a finish of chocolate, caramel, and bursts of sweet baking spice. Deep and complex, balancing dark fruits, chocolate, spice, and tobacco. Powerful and subtle all at once.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2019)

Powerful aromas of blackberry cobbler, brown sugar, honey, baking spices, cola, peanuts in the shell, and hay loft give way to a muscular palate that, despite its big oak character, never becomes bitter. Zingy lemon oil, dark berries, cola syrup, espresso, dark chocolate, and roasted peanuts fill out a chewy mouthfeel. The finish has excellent length with rich flavors of chocolate, coffee, roasted nuts, and spices.

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Summer 2021)

Distilled in Indiana and finished at Bardstown Bourbon Company in barrels that previously held Goodwood Brewing Company's Brandy Barrel Honey ale. The honey is immediately apparent on the nose, along with molasses, sweet pecans, cherry pie, baking spices, and peanut butter cookies. Viscous and thick on the palate, with flavors of roasted peanuts, dark chocolate, leathery oak, cooked cherries, citrus oil, and velvety baking spices, which persist into the finish along with root beer, blueberries, grapefruit oil, and copious chocolate. (104 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Winter 2019)

Aromas of corn meal, corn muffins, and buttered toast on the nose, along with vanilla frosting, warm raspberry tart, nuttiness, and polished oak. A big palate offers baking spice, vanilla ice cream, blackberries, and coconut shavings. A long finish of rich caramel, chocolate, cracked pepper, and roasted coffee beans, is completed by a final note of cigar ash. Warm and inviting, as the sweetness melds gracefully with dark fruit and spice.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Winter 2019)

A basket of berries—blue, black, and rasp—plus brown sugar, dark chocolate, iced tea, and walnuts in syrup on the nose. The berries carry through to the palate, though it’s more chocolate-oriented, with cocoa powder, coffee bean, and peanut butter-swirled brownies. It’s full and deep, and remarkably smooth without water, though a drop or two doesn’t go amiss. The finish is full and lengthy, with chocolate, roasted walnuts, rich oak, and a hint of spice. Outstanding. (8,340 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2020)

Thanks to its finishing casks, there are dried and syrupy fruits on the nose—cherry cordial candies, raisins, figs—along with sugared pecans, maple syrup, candied ginger, and leather. That finishing asserts itself even more strongly on the palate, which is fruity and sweet, becoming better integrated with water: cherries, blackberry and raspberry jams, figs, raisins, pecans, milk chocolate, ginger, white pepper, and coffee bean. Incredible length on the finish, with more dried fruit, leather, hazelnuts, ginger, and white pepper. (1,974 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2020)

Finished in barrels from cognac maker Ferrand, to great effect. A hint of barrel char on the nose, along with burnt brown sugar, baked peaches, taffy, grenadine, toasted almonds, nougat, cooked pears, crème de cassis, and banana flan. The palate is smooth and thick, with pastry shop flavors, manuka honey, and rhubarb pie. The finish is oak laden, but rich with cooked fruit, charred oak, iced coffee, and dark chocolate.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2022)

From Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s very creative Collaborative Series—this one finished in oloroso sherry casks used by Louisville’s Copper & Kings to age its brandy. Mocha, oak char, roasted coffee beans, grilled herbs, leather, orange peel, and dried raspberries on the nose. The palate melds baked apple, more herbs, grilled meats, and pleasant oak. Raspberry and orange ride atop a bed of spice, bitter chocolate, and coffee to the finish.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Winter 2020)

Aromas of oak, dried fruit, and horse saddle set up for a sucker punch of leather boxing glove from this big and brawny bourbon. But it also dances with grace, tickling the tongue with sweet spices, dark bitter chocolate, and wisps of tobacco. Intriguing notes of horehound, cocoa-dusted almonds, and baked apples are lip-smacking good, and it handles water well, revealing ever more depth.

Reviewed by: Jeffery Lindenmuth (Fall 2019)

It’s all about the grain with this whiskey, made with two high-rye bourbons and a wheated bourbon. Honey Nut Cheerios, strawberry shortcake, lemon tart, almonds, pistachios, candied ginger, and a touch of coconut cream on the nose. The palate keeps the mashbill in play, with sweetness and warm pastry notes, but showcases the barrel’s best qualities: chocolate, cinnamon, and integrated spice. Consistent into the finish, which is peppery and warm with cinnamon-laced dark chocolate, nuts, and toasted cereals. (30,600 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2020)

Contract distiller Bardstown Bourbon has begun building its own portfolio of whiskeys, and this inaugural release—comprising 60% Bardstown’s own 2 year old bourbon and 40% sourced 11 year old bourbon—is an auspicious debut. Rye and an herbal rush of peppermint and dill greet the nose, swathed in cotton candy, vanilla cream, and nutty caramel. The palate is loaded with chocolate fudge, honeyed almonds, dark fruits, light pepper, and allspice. Bitter chocolate, espresso, orange peel, leather, and spice complete a sumptuous finish. Number 11 in the 2019 Top 20

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Winter 2019)

Part of Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s Collaboration Series, distilled in Tennessee and aged 9 years, then finished 18 months in French oak barrels that previously held The Prisoner wine. The nose offers raspberry, grape hard candy, bubble gum, and dried orange slices. A palate of chocolate fudge, coconut, cinnamon, and baking spice leads to a finish that’s rich and smooth, with more chocolate and lively fruit. Balanced and with excellent depth; a unified, harmonious whiskey. (10,000 bottles)

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Summer 2020)

This is Bardstown Bourbon’s first release using its own whiskey—60% 2 year old bourbon, along with 40% 11 year old from another Kentucky distillery. The nose is herbal, with a rush of peppermint, along with caramel-swirl ice cream, peanuts in the shell, and root beer. In the mouth, it’s dense with cooked dark fruit, cola, chocolate, nuts, and well-integrated spice (nutmeg, white pepper, allspice). More dark fruit, spice, dark chocolate, espresso, and oak on the lush finish.

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2019)

A syrupy sweet nose of maraschino cherry, peanut butter cookie, and strawberry rock candy. With water, savory barbecue smoke emerges, as does dusty oak. There’s more sweetness on the palate: peanut brittle and strawberry shortcake with whipped cream, along with coffee bean, vanilla cream, and water with lemon. The finish finds pipe tobacco, bitter chocolate, and barrel char. A rich and intense showcase for the finishing cask.

Reviewed by: Ted Simmons (Fall 2021)

A blend of three bourbons—7, 11, and 17 years old—for a layered whiskey bursting with flavor. The nose is rich and chocolaty, with banana, honey bun, and toasted oats. There’s a lovely blend of lavender, lilac, and mint singing harmony. The palate is honeyed, with semi-sweet chocolate, berry compote, and ample baking spices. The finish is strong, with long-lasting candied orange and spicy honey.

Reviewed by: Shane English (Spring 2022)

Licorice, root beer, and ripe dark fruit aromas, with dried tobacco leaf, savory musty oak, and cedar wood. The palate is closed at first, but then lets fly with a peanut blast—peanut oil and peanut butter, with peppery spice and bitter espresso. Water releases fresh grapes and red apples, with the spice lingering. The finish offers roasted peanuts and pleasant earthiness. Unusual, but appealing.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2021)

On the nose, this delivers plenty of semi-sweet delights, with orange peel, dark chocolate, Andes mints, and vanilla extract all nestled in a bright pine forest. The palate is lively, with well-integrated heat. The flavors follow the nose, and water brings out candied maple and coconut. The finish takes a roasty turn, with toasted coconut, maple syrup, and dark chocolate sprinkled with sea salt.

Reviewed by: Shane English (Summer 2022)

New oak on the nose, with notes of mint and peppermint jumping out from a base of vanilla. Quite youthful in its overall profile. Very smooth on the palate, with generous baking spices—ginger, cinnamon, clove, plus black pepper and vanilla. A spiced finish offers vanilla, chocolate fudge, licorice, and spiced oak. Overall it seems barrel forward and needs more space for the flavors to come out and play.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2022)