Old Bardstown Bottled-In-Bond
The Old Bardstown brand from Willett Family Distillery was one of their originals reborn in 2012 when Willett began distilling their own bourbon and rye again under the Kulsveens. Before then, it was likely sourced from Heaven Hill. The sample I tried was more recent, so I will assume it is from the Willett Distillery.
Willett is something of a closed book…its history is not as black and white nor as well-known as its Kentucky neighbors. But, as with its competitors, each has an “Old” brand under its auspices. Of course, adding “Old” to the name rarely means anything, and to be honest I do not believe it means anything here, either, other than a means to market.
Here’s the odd thing about Willett for me - I do not like their bourbons or ryes at all. The tall purple- and green-sealed bottles that people hunt for and pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars for taste terrible to me. And yet, I enjoyed this as I do their Johnny Drum Private Stock (at a similar 101 proof but older, near 15 years). It would be the equivalent of loving Evan Williams Black Label from Heaven Hill but hating Elijah Craig Barrel Proof or the William Heavenhill line. The positive? One fewer brand to hunt and more money to spend elsewhere.
Old Bardstown bottled-in-Bond Specs
Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Origin: Willett Distillery
Mashbill: 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Malted Barley
Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
Age: NAS (4+Y)
Location: Kentucky
Old Bardstown Bottled-In-Bond Price: $25-$30
Old Bardstown Bottled-In-Bond: Tasting Notes
Eye: Light honey, medium rims and legs.
Nose: Very fruity - apricot forward. Plums and cherries, too. Slight proof burn on the nose but it’s enjoyable. Baking spices, too. Lots of caramel opens with air.
Palate: Lots of spice up front overlaying the same stone fruit palate. Vanilla comes slowly with orange zest. Oily, medium mouthfeel with some young oak peeking out.
Finish: Vanilla and spice, especially clove and some mint, too.
Overall: Odd - I continue to enjoy the lower-priced Willett products tremendously more than their hunted products. At that price, it’s hard to turn down a bottle, but I don’t have much more space on my shelves.
Final Rating: 6.5
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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