Bardstown Bourbon Company
Bardstown Bourbon Company
55%
10 Years
Bottled at a respectable 55% ABV, this is the newest chapter from Bardstown Bourbon Company. This release features 10yr Tennessee bourbon with an 84% Corn, 8% Rye and 8% Malted Barley mashbill finished in a Kentucky Breakfast Stout barrel from Founder’s Brewing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. KBS has long been a notable release in the beer universe - the stout is coffee and cocoa infused before aging in ex-bourbon barrels. Stout finished whiskey are often polarizing among critics and enthusiasts alike, so let's dive in and see how it fares.
Sweet and malty on the nose, lots of cocoa, espresso, cinnamon and a touch of praline.
Rich on the palate, a touch of oak. Bold and viscous, loads of stout character that melds nicely with the whiskey presence. Cocoa, espresso and maple candies are prominent on the palate. ABV is well placed, lots of brownie, rising bread and cocoa.
Long finish, a great blend of tannin, bourbon character, and some malty stout character here. Each stops before becoming overbearing - expert balance.
I don’t always enjoy beer finishes - they almost always end in a too-sweet, malty, fake chocolate combination of notes that don’t land well. This, on the other hand, works well and while I don’t suspect it will reach the levels of unified glory that Labaude did, it will be polarizing yet delightful to many.
7
Disclosure: The producer provided this sample to review free of charge, and without expectation of review or rating.