Review #220: Bardstown Bourbon Company Single Barrel Cherry Toasted Rye
Review #220: BBCo SiB Cherry Toasted Rye
MASH BILL: 95% rye, 5% malted barley
AGE: 6 years
PROOF: 125.8
COST: $80 for 750mL bottle (South Carolina)
When Bardstown Bourbon Company first released their Origin series, I think the most interesting staple was their 95/5 rye whiskey finished in an infrared toasted oak and cherry wood barrel with alternating staves (zebra barrel). Lately, a lot of single barrel picks of this particular Origin release have been available across the country, and if you have been following the reviews of them, they’re pretty much all bangers! My favorite local liquor store recently got their bottles in from this exact single barrel. Unexcitingly, but aptly named “Cherry Toasted Rye,” I didn’t hesitate to pick this bottle up based on all the other SiB reviews I’ve been seeing of this expression. So, let’s see if it is as good as everyone else has been claiming.
Aged on floor 6 of rickhouse A. Reviewed neat in a Glencairn.
APPEARANCE: Burnt sienna in color (1.7), oily with slow, fat legs.
NOSE: Cherry vanilla ice cream, caramelized brown sugar, and seasoned oak cover
a large majority of the nose. There are some subtle spices in the form of white
peppercorns, dried rye, cinnamon sticks, and allspice. There’s a slight sweet floral
note along with a touch of orange peel that softens the spice and makes a great
addition to this nose.
PALATE: Oily mouthfeel coats the palate well. Sweet notes swarm the palate initially with brown sugar, Luxardo cherry syrup, toasted vanilla, and sweet cream. Within seconds, cinnamon powder and toasted rye bring some heat. A big tannic oak note enters and lingers long into the finish. The toasted cherry wood is very noticeable late on the palate. There is a slight herbaceous note late that carries into the finish as well.
RATING: 8.0/10
OVERALL: Total banger! This bottle exemplifies what is awesome about store pick single barrels: you’re never going to pay outrageous prices, but you can get some killer whiskey! The cherry wood is surprisingly potent throughout this sip. The amount of cherry and vanilla in this 95/5 rye whiskey is impressive. It really tames the spice and adds something unique to the classic 95/5 rye profile. I’m in love with this bottle, however, as I mentioned in my introduction to this review, all these BBCo SiB zebra barrel ryes have been bangers lately! So, if you see one near you, don’t hesitate to pick it up!
1 | Disgusting | see my 1/10 ratings
2 | Poor | see my 2/10 ratings
3 | Bad | see my 3/10 ratings
4 | Sub-par | see my 4/10 ratings
5 | Good | see my 5/10 ratings
6 | Very Good | see my 6/10 ratings
7 | Great | see my 7/10 ratings
8 | Excellent | see my 8/10 ratings
9 | Incredible | see my 9/10 ratings
10 | Perfect | see my 10/10 ratings
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