Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Series Bottled-in-Bond Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
I tried this Origin Series(™) release second after the Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, figuring I’d go by the usual rules: go up in proof as you taste, and rye after bourbon. After the first tasting went so aw-rye (yep, I did that), I kept on chugging - after all, there couldn’t be that kind of rye profile in a wheated bourbon, right?
Thankfully, there was not. Instead, I got my favorite of the three Origin Series whiskies, and the one I hope will most reflect a house profile for Bardstown Bourbon Co. going forward.
Claiming to be made from the best locally-sourced corn and wheat (the barley came from elsewhere), the whiskey has the feel of corn off a Mexican street cart, smoky and charred on an open-flame grill. Reminds me a bit of an MB Roland smoked corn whiskey. I only say “claiming” because “local” is undefined - seriously, the next time you see a Chipotle commercial claiming to source local ingredients, read the fine print at the bottom and tell me you don’t want “local” defined anywhere you see it.
The smoke isn’t like the mesquite from a Whiskey Del Bac, either - it’s straight up caramelizing corn. The char adds layers of depth without any bitterness.
There is bitterness, though, and it comes from a burst of fresh and candied grapefruit and Meyer lemon peels, citrusy and bright enough to lighten the corn’s smokiness and an otherwise oily profile.
Overall, it drinks right at proof, going from the smokiness to the citrus to a finish of brown sugar and cinnamon over toasted wheat bread. At six years old, there’s zero woodiness and the barest astringency, making it a win for me. And, using the same mashbill as Heaven Hill’s Larceny and Old Fitzgerald wheated bourbon lines, it tastes nothing like them - testament to why people shouldn’t keep their mashbills or processes a secret. Doesn’t matter if someone uses the same mashbill, it won’t end up the same at two different places or by two different people (or more).
This was by far the most successful of the three Origin Series, and one I’d happily make a house bourbon. Not even a house wheater, just flat out a house bourbon, it’s that good and that tasty. It’s solid as a sipper, and would add sweetness, fruitiness, and a little smoke to any cocktail. As a wheater, it accomplishes what many cannot, a balanced sweetness that’s complex and a whiskey with a desirable mouthfeel.
At just under $50 a bottle, too, it’s cheaper than Larceny at a comparable age and slightly higher proof and offers something different.
Want to get me interested, that’s really the first step: make something interesting. And, when doing an “origin” series, do what Bardstown did here - leave it the hell alone and let the whiskey speak for itself.
Thank you to Bardstown Bourbon Company for providing this sample bottle with no restrictions for review.
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Series Bottled-in-Bond Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Specs
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Origin: Bardstown Bourbon Company
Mashbill: 68% Corn, 20% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
Age: 6 Years
Location: Kentucky
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Series Bottled-in-Bond Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Price: $49.99
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Series Bottled-in-Bond Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Tasting Notes
Eye: Buckwheat honey. Bleeding rims, thin legs and hang-on droplets.
Nose: Smokier bourbon, caramel catching. Still an unusual herbaceousness, but far below the levels found in the Origin Series Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The smoked corn flavor is intriguing - I’d love to know how this translated to the palate, an excitement I don’t always get when tasting.
Palate: There’s bourbon here! Wheated, with plenty of corn smoked on an open wood fire. Bitter grapefruit and Meyer lemon, maple syrup and barrel char. Mouthfeel is coating, medium-bodied, leaving fresh corn and charred grain while drinking right at proof. The caramel comes back around towards the end, remaining charred and toasted.
Finish: Brown sugar and cinnamon develop late, coating under the tongue with toasted wheat. Medium to long finish.
Overall: Smokier than expected, and I love it. The bourbon is so much clearer here without the rye, allowing the caramel to fully develop. Straddles the line between being new and being identifiably “bourbon”, a hell of an achievement for a first release.
Final Rating: 7.5
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
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