Review #411 - Bardstown Discovery Series #12
The most recent release in Bardstown Bourbon Company's 'Discovery Series' is here, the 12th edition. Like the Series #11 that came before it, this is a mixture of sourced bourbons and the distillery's own stock, which has now aged up to 6 years old. Here's the breakdown of the blend, which they provide on the label:
48% - 14 year old Kentucky Bourbon, with a mashbill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley (rumored to be Wild Turkey)
29% - 10 year old Kentucky Bourbon, with a mashbill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley (rumored to be Heaven Hill)
15% - 10 year old Kentucky Bourbon, with a mashbill of 78% corn, 13% rye, and 9% malted barley (rumored to be Jim Beam)
8% - 6 year old Kentucky Bourbon distilled at Bardstown Bourbon Co., with a mashbill of 60% corn, 26% rye, 10% wheat, and 4% malted barley
[One note - on the company's website, they list their own distillate as 26% wheat and 10% rye for this blend, as opposed to the 26% rye and 10% wheat on the bottle. We're not sure which is correct, though it makes only a small difference in the overall mashbill.]
Similar to the previous iteration, this is actually a four grain bourbon, due to that inclusion of wheat in the BBC component. The derived mashbill is 75% corn, 13% rye, 1% wheat, and 11% barley; we can also figure an average age, which falls at 11.6 years.
Like previous batches of the Discovery Series, this has cask strength presentation: 57.6% ABV (115.2 proof), in this case. With components from such established, high quality distilleries comprising the bulk of the blend, and a great proof point, can this bourbon measure up to the hype?
Bardstown Discovery Series #12
USA - Bourbon
Price Paid: USD 140 (2024)
Current Locally Available Price: USD 140 (2024)
Age Statement: 6 Years
Strength: 57.6% ABV
Details: Bottled 2024
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 4 times over 1 month; bottles at 90%, 100% (blind tasting), 80% (blind tasting), and 70% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Leather and oak greet the nose first - dark, brooding, and rich. Brown sugar and dark cocoa add some sweetness, along with molasses and hints of butterscotch; coffee, wood smoke, and nutmeg add spice. In the background, we get little hints of red cherry fruit; the complexity builds with cardamom, even smoked paprika. Very mature.
Palate: A medium-thick mouthfeel - oaky, warming, with a dark complexion. Lots of leather and mature wood notes, some brown sugar, and bitter dark chocolate; soft barbecue adds just a hint of a savory side. The cherry returns from the nose, and we get more maturity from amaro and elderflower flavors in the background. Great texture, very viscous.
Finish: Medium-long, and while the oak is contributing some tannins, it's never overwhelmingly dry. Some nice perfume and soft tea notes, cardamom, cocoa, and dark espresso all show the maturity; brown sugar and molasses are still present, adding that sweeter side. The aftertaste is still full of leather, and the great texture remains.
Final Note: Great bourbon. For us, this is a step up from Disco #11, which we felt a little underwhelmed with after seeing so many stellar reviews. While oaky and leathery notes were still dominant, this had more sweetness in the forms of fruit and baking spice to balance out the profile; texture is great at this strength, and the complexity gave us unique flavors in each tasting session.
This is a pretty expensive blend, but because of the great flavor, value is still at least alright. This is a bourbon that we would definitely splurge on again if we found it on the shelf.
Our Average Rating: 8.3 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.36
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Bardstown Bourbon Company reviews:
Review #367 - Bardstown Discovery Series #11
Review #312 - Bardstown Collaboration Series: Foursquare Rum Distillery
