Review #189: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13

MASH BILL and AGE: This is a blend of the following 4 bourbons, double barreled into Hungarian and American Oak:

• 45% 9yr Kentucky Bourbon (74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley – likely Barton)
• 22% 9yr Kentucky Bourbon (78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley – likely Heaven Hill)
• 20% 15yr Kentucky Bourbon (75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley – likely Jim Beam)
• 13% 8yr Kentucky Bourbon (70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley – likely Green River)

(NOTE: Based on how I read the description and release, all 4 bourbons are blended together, and then divided into the second barrels of Hungarian Oak and American Oak. What proportion the final blend was from the Hungarian or American oak is unstated.)

PROOF: 110.8

COST: $145 for 750mL bottle at the distillery

I was at Bardstown Bourbon Company last Friday which happened to be the release of Discovery Series 13. That also happened to be the day they released their Collaborative Series: Ferrand 2 bottle as well! Naturally, I got a pour of each while I was there to make a decision of which bottle to buy. Well…I left with a bottle of each… However, one stood out significantly more than the other.

The Discovery Series from BBCo has had some bangers and some duds, but the upside is real high, while the downside is still a decent whiskey. So these releases generally command a lot of fanfare and most think it’s worth taking a risk on each release. On the other hand, I’ve always just sought Disco releases as a pour at a bar or a sample swap for no reason other than I just wasn’t interested in a full bottle (though I still have regret at times for not getting a bottle of Disco #8). But the last couple Disco releases, #11 and #12, have been really well received. Just looking at an arbitrary 9 reviews for each on r/bourbon, they both averaged a rating of about 8.5/10.

Since you already know I decided to buy a bottle after trying it, and this is the first Discovery Series expression I’ve bought my own bottle of, I obviously must have thought highly of it. But let’s get into the details!

Reviewed neat in a Glencairn.

APPEARANCE: A dark, old oak color (1.8); thick like honey!

NOSE: Rich, robust, layered. Without it sounding too pretentious, it smells sophisticated… Burnt brown sugar, toasted vanilla, and earthy toasted malt up front. I even occasionally get a dense malted rye like note to it. Waves of bitter old oak, expressed orange peel, cardamom, and clove dance around with even deeper layers of black cherry, pipe tobacco, and black pepper. There’s a lot going on here. It’s familiar yet elevated. 9.5/10

PALATE: Pillowy soft on the palate – nothing like what I was expecting this mouthfeel to be after seeing how thick it was and how robust and dark the nose was. The mouthfeel alone is a 10/10. Lots of aged, bitter notes hit early: tannic oak, stale tobacco, and a hint of smoke, but even preferring sweeter notes, none of it is offensive. It is quickly contrasted by notes of caramelized Demerara sugar, toasted vanilla, ripe cherries, and burnt brown butter. Just before the finish, the bold oak note begins to return with a peppery spice and a touch of candied ginger. 9.2

FINISH: A long, tannic finish. While the tannic, oaky dryness dominates here with some nice spice, the sweetness hasn’t said it’s last word yet. Burnt brown sugar returns along with dark chocolate and rich, Luxardo cherry. The oak really dominates though with black pepper, paprika, and toasted cinnamon stick. As the sweeter notes fade, an earthy dryness is all that remains for minutes after the swallow. 8.7

RATING: 9.1/10

OVERALL: Damn…this is quite a pour! Complex and layered. Bold but subtle. The sweet and earthy notes complement each other well throughout the sip. Even though the 15 year component of this is only 20% of the blend and the rest is 9 year or less, it comes across as complex as a 15 year age stated bourbon. I really enjoyed the depth and richness of this pour. I pairing this with a cigar this weekend because of the depth and richness and how well it just sinks into the palate. This is a really great pour and a Disco drop not worth passing up!

 

1 | Disgusting | ...I've not subjected myself to this level

2 | Poor | Balcones Lineage

3 | Bad | High West Double Rye, Jefferson's Ocean 28

4 | Sub-par | Weller's SR, Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select, Hillrock Estate Sauternes CS

5 | Good | Buffalo Trace, Sazerac Rye, Green River Wheated

6 | Very Good | Blanton's, Holladay Bourbons, Eagle Rare

7 | Great | Baker's 7yr SiB, BBCo Origin High Wheat, 1792 BiB

8 | Excellent | Most ECBP batches, Maker's Mark Wood Finishing releases, High West MWND Act 11

9 | Incredible | Woodford Reserve Batch Proof 121.2, BBCo Disco #7 and #13, Four Roses OESQ

10 | Perfect | Found North Batch 08, RR15