Dreaming-of-Islay
Kentucky Owl Bourbon (Batch #8)
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
July 20, 2019 (edited February 10, 2020)
We had the pleasure of trying this $300+ bourbon at Old Owl Tavern, the bar/restaurant at the Beaumont Inn. The owner of the Inn and Tavern is the same person who revived the Kentucky Owl line and selects the batches that go into this highly coveted product (although it's since been bought out by Stolichnaya).
Essentially, what we have here is a sourced bourbon picked by a person with generations-long connections in the industry, but which goes for a sky-high price. Online sources suggest that it's a blend of at least four different batches, ranging in age from 5 years -- which is quite young! -- to 14 years.
Its impressive start recalls a berry-picking trip to a gentleman's farm, with ephemeral early chords of strawberry, brown sugar, buttercream frosting, and shortcake that emphasize that this is going to be a sweet pour showcasing the fruit-forward nature of young, high-quality juice. After about 15 minutes, a decent amount of dry cedar and guaiac wood announce their presence. Its nose is its highlight, as the palate reverts to a classic but spicy profile: caramel, charred oak, some chili oil and cinammon, no significant tannic grip. It almost tastes better after the swallow, when dark fruit and cherry flavors reemerge to duet with the charred oak and chocolate swirling around the back of the throat. This is a great bourbon but a bad value.
12.0
USD
per
Pour
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Great review! Will be interesting to see what happens with these guys - recently learned that Stoli purchased KO and is building a large distillery. From what I’ve read/heard, Dedman will continue to manage KO and production will increase some but will still remain small batch. Stoli is going to create a separate brand(s) that will he produced/distributed on a larger scale. Did you get any insights on their plans during your visit?