Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #8 Blended Whiskey adds an entirely new dimension to the already successful series: treated staves.

The Bardstown Discovery Series is one of the best examples of blending skill and how blended whiskey is rapidly shedding its negative connotations. There are no sub-par whiskies in this blend, no neutral grain spirits, just whiskies - ryes, bourbons, Canadian varieties, and more - that by themselves would be called whiskey without hesitation.

The previous edition, Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #7 Blended Whiskey, was a blend of 5 different whiskies: two bourbons from Kentucky (likely Heaven Hill and one other), one bourbon from Tennessee (Cascade Hollow), one corn whisky from Ontario Distillery, and a 51/45/4 rye from Indiana (MGPI).

I felt this blend was already a new height for Bardstown Bourbon Company’s (BBCo.) blenders. Five whiskies from five distilleries, two countries, and three states, none of them clearly coming through but all present and contributing to a sum greater than its parts.

*Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #8 Blended Whiskey Components. From BardstownBourbon.com.*

Then Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #8 Blended Whiskey came along. Gone is the Tennessee bourbon and the second Kentucky bourbon, replaced by a 95/5 rye from Indiana. The corn whisky from Ontario and 78% corn bourbon from Kentucky remain, as does the 51/45/4 rye also from Indiana, albeit in different proportions.

The intrinsic subtractions also include age - after all, the Tennessee bourbon in Series #7 was 17 years old - and corn content. On paper, Series #8 should be spicier than its predecessor, and it was, with a much stronger rye influence that comes across as a balanced battle between pure corn and pure rye whiskies with more cautious bourbon and rye in between.

Then, BBCo. threw in a Maker’s-worthy wrench: toasted oak staves.

Creating a harmonious blend is no easy task, and I imagine the team at BBCo. would have been happy releasing the blend as it was. And yet, they went a step further - an intensive step. Enter the wood staves.

Wood stave finishing is most associated with Maker’s Mark and their Maker’s Private Select program. At Maker’s, a store or group can pick a barrel of Maker’s Mark and choose from five stave types, putting ten total into the barrel for further aging. The final flavor profile depends on the staves inserted. The idea is simple, yet the variation is incredible. Maker’s Mark will also put out their own special stave recipes (RC6, SE4PR5, FAE-01 and -02, and the upcoming BRT-01 and -02 in 2022).

Other companies have done similar stave finishing experiences, but Maker’s Mark is undoubtedly the most-referenced of them.

*Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #8 Blended Whiskey Staves. From BardstownBourbon.com.*

For Discovery Series #8, Bardstown Bourbon Co. finished the whiskey with staves in its blend from ISC (Independent Stave Company). According to Bardstown:

French oak double toast – adds spice and creaminess
Spice Rack – adds baking spices
High Vanilla – adds rich vanilla and creaminess
Rioja – adds light fruit and spice
Charred Barrel – adds vanillas and hints of smoke

This was clearly a thought out set of staves, and it created a whole new experience.

Being the idiot I can be on occasion, I did zero research on this before tasting it blind. I had no idea it was finished with staves or what the whiskey blend was. All I knew is that it was from BBCo. and was the Discovery Series. Normally that wouldn’t make much of a difference, but the stave finishing threw me off right away on the nose. The toasted notes - nuts, seeds, and fats - were not expected, and I honestly thought the sample might have been contaminated. After all, it’s been hot as hell around here recently, and it wouldn’t be the first whiskey crossing my threshold after a multi-day heat bath.

Knowing the finishing and the staves involved (even if just by name and inferred influence) gave me a new perspective on this. It’s a paradigm shift for the Discovery Series to be sure, and I’m now eagerly awaiting the next batch to see if they use the same technique. If Bardstown Bourbon Company can pull this off multiple times, watch out Maker’s Mark: you’ve got some stave-finishing competition.

Thank you to Bardstown Bourbon Company for providing a sample of this whiskey at no cost and with no requirements.

Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #8 Blended Whiskey: Specs

Classification: Blended Whiskey

Origin: Blended at Bardstown Bourbon Company Distillery from Three Distilleries

Mashbill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley (likely Heaven Hill), 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley (MGPI), 51% Rye, 45% Corn, 4% Malted Barley (MGPI), 100% Corn (Ontario Distillers)

Proof: 114.1 (57.05% ABV)

Age: NAS, Whiskies are 6-12 Years Old

Location: Kentucky, Indiana, and Canada

Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #8 Blended Whiskey Price: $139.99

Official Website

Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #8 Blended Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes

Eye: Bronzed honey. Thin rims and hang-on droplets.

Nose: Lemon zest and toasted sesame oil. A toasted nut flavor that’s familiar but not in whiskey. There’s an intensely savory undertone of brown butter, date syrup, and myriad toasted flavors that blend together.

Palate: Rye and red fruits hit first, peppery sensation all over my tongue, front tip and sides all at once. The toasted and charred staves add body, especially on the back palate moving forward. French oak-like perfume, nutmeg, and stewed dates. Mouthfeel is astringent, drawing moisture from my gums and under my tongue. New sensations and tastes keep evolving alongside the oak on each sip.

Finish: The red fruit and date remain present while the toasted notes reassert themselves. Medium length and drying, settling where an oaked wine would.

Overall: The nose threw me off at first, but the stave profile makes perfect sense as I smell and taste this. Tons of different toasted profiles. A more ambitious phase for Bardstown Bourbon Company - I wonder if this is a one-off or a new direction.

Final Rating: 7.1

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary

8 | Excellent | Exceptional

7 | Great | Well above average

6 | Very Good | Better than average

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary

4 | Has promise but needs work

1-3 | Let’s have a conversation