Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #5

It’s good, but not astounding. One you can live without.

Fruity cherry barrels, pretty exceptional, I’m a fan.

The nose starts with a nice cola note with a light oak spice and peanut brittle then fruits of cinnamon spiced caramel apples, watered down cherry juice and orange sports drink followed by chai spiced latte, leather and mild oak with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with a medium and drying oak spice that slowly but eventually fades to fruits of caramel apple fritters, cherry juice and orange sports drink followed by a blonde espresso mocha, leather and medium ashy oak with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with caramelized peaches, apple pie, maraschino cherries, vanilla gelato, Hershey’s chocolate syrup, leather and ashy oak spice. This has a nice and rich nose with traditional bourbon flavors that seems promising, but the taste is an overly drying spice fest that lingers until finally fading to some enjoyable fruits, coffee and ashy oak that finishes fruity with chocolate and a medium ashy spice. At the $130+ price, I really expected a lot more and better balance of flavors. I decided to put this in a side by side with a Russell’s Reserve single barrel and found that the Russell’s has a lighter nose and mouthfeel but manages to keep a better balance of flavors without the medium and drying oak of the Discovery #5. For me, I think the Russell’s provides a better experience and is nearly half the cost of the Bardstown Discovery #5. A big thank you to @ctbeck11 for the generous sample of this to try.

Nose: fruit (raspberry or other red berry - this really dominates the nose), caramel, vanilla, chocolate, baking spice. Body: medium to full Palate: leather, caramel, vanilla, again the red fruits but this time with some smoke. Finish: medium to long. I got the Tennessee whiskey orange starburst sneaking out on the finish. That was fun. Note: last taste from Jared. I’m interested in this whiskey given what I’ve heard. This is really good. I’m impressed by this and the widow Jane 15.

Post virus take: Nose: spice and cinnamon. Palate: lots of rye spice up front. 104 proof but it drinks like 80 proof which is very impressive. Finish: medium length. Rye spice at the end as well for me Overall: my profile might be off due to just getting over being sick. Still, this bourbon is good. Right on par with other good ones I think.