Bardstown Bourbon Co. Fusion Series #5

I struggle with the general positivity for the fusion series. Disclaimed. Nose is caramel, vanilla, sugar. Body is cinnamon, caramel. There’s something bright there, at least in mouth feel. If I force the issue: tangerine. But it really is more of a feel that a flavor. Finish is more cinnamon, with a bit of cocoa. Medium in terms of burn. It’s very oily, but I ain’t mad about it. This is a perfectly fine bourbon. But. This is priced in the same region as things like RHF. Blantons. OWA. Henry McKenna 10. Bakers 7. EHT, ELT… do I need to go on? This is not of the same level of quality as those. It’s less good than a dozen bourbons that cost $20 less. This is the only product line from Bardstown that is massively overpriced. Origin series: perfect. Finished series: $$$$ but I’ll argue for them. Discovery series: totally fine by me. But this one is all wrong. Every time I try one I think: “This is a fine bourbon… that should cost $50.”

Fusion Series #5, 47.45% ABV, straight KY bourbon whiskey. 56% Bardstown 4yr bourbon (70% corn, 18% rye, 12% malted barley); 14 % Bardstown 3yr bourbon (60% corn, 26% rye, 10% wheat, 4% malted barley); and 30% Kentucky 11yr bourbon (75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley). Yes, I like their blending transparency, even if I'm a novice in what that blending really means. Found this last April 2024 in Colorado, time to open it. Tasting neat. Golden straw brown and average coating legs in the glass. Nose is dry grass, sweet grain, light milk chocolate. In the mouth, a burst of baking spice and caramelized sugar and floral vanilla with a little ethanol bloom. Sweet and coating mouthfeel that fades quickly into a thinner spicy/minty tingling finish that is rather short but pure. Oak is rather understated until the finish. I've found a lot to like in these Bardstown blends. This one seems sweeter/lighter in flavors: less oak, leather, and tannins, but at the same time not overly fruity or floral. Nice sipping. Will see how this grows on me.

Young parts came through for me a bit too much.

2 oz. pour on ice at Iza. Spicy rye flavor from start to finish. Slight sharpness. A bit hot.

Quick kick to the tastebuds. But lovely finish and taste at the end

It's interesting seems like I get the younger more harsh up front then at the end more of a flavor profile of a one with a little more age or better finish. Won't be the smoothest but pretty good

Smooth, nutty, sweet. Not what i would expect but tasty nonetheless