Blood Oath Pact 7 (2021)
Blood Oath Pact 7 had a lot of pressure on it, in my mind at least. The last two batches (pacts) were underwhelming for me, especially after the toasted finish of Pact 4 in 2018. Add in that this is a Sauternes (pronounced saw-turn) finish - which, like most finishes, can very much go either way - and I’ll admit, I was nervous.
Thankfully, this Pact returns balance to the oath. The finish and the bourbon both shine - neither is overshadowed by the other, and likewise neither is lost. The bourbons are well-balanced in themselves: a blend of three rye’d bourbons, one 14 years old, one 8 years old, and another 8-year-old that’s given the Sauternes finish. I don’t know for how long the finish was done, but it was enough to give clear, crisp flavor without becoming too sweet or overpowering the bourbon.
Sauternes is a sweet white wine from a small region within Bordeaux. Unlike many white wines, Sauternes takes well to aging, and can be aged in a well-kept cellar for decades. The three grape varietals allowed in Sauternes production are infected with Botrytis cinerea, known as “noble rot”, which makes the grapes partially raisined and thus more concentrated in sugars and flavors. Because the inoculation has to happen naturally, the vintages and the year-to-year output can be incredibly varied. Combine that with a relatively small growing area, and Sauternes becomes expensive to make and to buy.
Due to the price, Sauternes is not on my regular wine rotation. This bottle is a great proxy that crosses bourbon with sweet wine, hitting both cravings at once.
Blood Oath Pact 7 (2021): Specs
Classification: Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskies
Origin: Lux Row Distillers, Unknown Source
Proof: 98.6 (49.3% ABV)
Age: NAS
Location: N/A
Blood Oath Pact 7 Price: $100
Blood Oath Pact 7 (2021) Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Dark apple juice. Thin-to-medium rims bleed syrupy droplets.
Nose: The wine finish is immediately apparent, but not necessarily that it’s a Sauternes finish. Solid bourbon nose, just a touch of heat. Expired baking spices. Nose isn’t shy, flowing right out of the glass.
Palate: Astringent, creamy oak right away. The Sauternes and sultanas are much clearer here - if not familiar with Sauternes specifically, you’ll definitely taste a sweeter, dessert-y white wine. Not too much proof heat, mostly oak if anything. Mouthfeel is creamy, medium-to-full-bodied, some oak spice and dryness continue. Coating and fruity.
Finish: Medium length, lingering, lots of golden apple and sultanas. Plenty of bourbon and corn, too, with a pleasant heat.
Overall: A notable return to the better Blood Oath pacts. The bourbon is there, the Sauternes is there, neither is lost and neither is overpowering. Balanced and creamy - welcome back, Blood Oath.
Final Rating: 7.1
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)
3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)
2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)
1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)
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