On a recent visit to Kentucky with some friends, the three of us started our day enjoying some bourbon at Lux Row distillery while trying to find some peacocks, thanks to the story by @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington followed by dinner at Bardstown Bourbon Company. Upon being seated, we were presented with a whiskey list, but none of Bardstown finished releases were on there and we were warned that many on the list were out of stock. After placing our orders, I was notified my choice was out of stock, followed by another failed order while the other two surprisingly were able to pick correctly on their first attempt. Frustration, on top of my bourbon thirst intensifying while jealously watching my friends enjoying their whiskey, I might have made a rash decision to order the Kentucky Owl Dry State because surely no one orders that and correctly, a glass finally arrived at our table for me. The nose starts with dusty oak that encompasses everything but allows for some light fruits of apple and orange along with a vanilla caramel followed by salted peanut shells to peek through before barrel spices of ginger, black pepper, old cracking leather and what seems like the two slabs of charred dusty oak with a pureed acorn filling sandwich with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with dusty oak that stays in the background along with light fruits of apple peel, light cherry and orange peel followed by a moderate spice before fading to cocoa nibs, old cracking leather and highly tannic dusty oak with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long with notes of light citrus of apples and oranges, some vanilla sweetness all in the background of an old cracking leather armchair, tannic old dusty oak, black tea and cocoa nibs. Overall, this is a very old bourbon that the earthy oaky notes have overpowered all of the traditional bourbon notes and you really have to work to be able to find them underneath all that oak. When the pour came to our table, we all took a sip and the best way to sum this whiskey up was my two friends reaction when I offered another taste, followed by a vocal “Nah, we’re good!” If you’re into an old tannic dusty woody profile with light citrus, this might be for you, but those earthy notes were just too much for me and apparently my friends too. It’s not a terrible whiskey, but probably just slightly above average and definitely not worth that hefty price tag.