Daviess County Lightly Toasted Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Surprisingly, this is my first taste of Daviess County whiskey. I had seen it so many times in the store but never pulled the trigger, despite a seriously competitive price point.
It’s a good first taste, and one that leans into the toasted barrel craze without letting it overwhelm the bourbon.
Daviess County is a brand under the Lux Row banner, one I had to learn a bit about. They blend together a rye and wheated mashbill into their bourbon, keeping corn front-and-center but allowing both rye spice and wheat softness into the taste.
The name itself comes from a pre-Prohibition distilling company in - you guessed it - Daviess County, Kentucky, where several distilleries operated before the Great Experiment. It started with a man whose name also adorns a Lux Row brand: David Nicholson, in 1843. From Nicholson’s distilling would grow brands like Ezra Brooks, Nicholson Reserve, and Rebel Yell (now known as Rebel).
The brands eventually made their way into more recognizable ownership, such as Stitzel and Lux Row, but the Daviess County name became mired in obscurity, not to be resurrected until 2020.
Daviess County is by nature experimental, launching with three products among which are two finishes. The wheated part of the mashbill - 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley - is used in Lux Row’s Rebel and David Nicholson 1843. The ryed bourbon - 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malt - is used in David Nicholson Reserve and Ezra Brooks. In addition to the “original” Daviess County, the two widely available finishes are Cabernet Sauvignon and French Oak. Given the increase in wine finishing and diverse oak finishing, both are easy entry points into figuring out what those finishes taste like.
This bottle is, for now, a limited release, though I do hope it becomes a regular one. So many toasted barrel finishes fail because the toast is either too strong or doesn’t pair well with the whiskey inside. This one, however, brings out the best from the bourbons with lots of honey, black licorice, and an above-proof drinking level.
This was my first taste of Daviess County, but it won’t be my last.
Thank you to Byrne PR and Lux Row for providing this bottle for review purposes without restriction.
Daviess County Lightly Toasted Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Specs
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Origin: Lux Row Distiillery
Mashbill: Blend of 78% Corn, 10% Rye, and 12% Malted Barley and 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, and 12% Malted Barley
Proof: 96 (48% ABV)
Age: NAS
Location: Kentucky
Daviess County Lightly Toasted Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Price: $46.99
Daviess County Lightly Toasted Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Wildflower honey. Disappearing rims and splotchy drops all over.
Nose: The toasted barrel is immediately apparent, warm and graham cracker heavy. The bourbon underneath is buttery and vanilla forward. A hint of black licorice and aniseed come out in the background. Minimal proof.
Palate: The proof and wood astringency hit first, blasting through with toast and a strawberry-and-black-pepper jam spread on top. Wow that’s good. Fruity, oily as hell, too. The dryness sticks around and the mouthfeel fills up quickly on the chew. Walking into a humidor, dried berries and cinnamon raisin bread.
Finish: Medium to long, toast char throughout without overpowering. Black pepper fades as the bourbon and vanilla linger under the tongue and along the sides of my mouth.
Overall: A well-done toasted finish. It’s there throughout, flowing from the glass, while never overtaking the bourbon underneath. Proof is on point, enough to carry the flavor but easy enough as a sipper for an introductory pour.
Final Rating: 7.2
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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