Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Rye Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

The Bardstown Bourbon Company is one of the country's largest and most sophisticated distilleries. It released its first estate-distilled collection of whiskies in early 2023. In my last blog posting, I reviewed the Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Wheated Bottled in Bond, a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey aged for six years. Bardstown Bourbon Company finally has its in-house distilled Rye. The company uses custom barrels of alternating toasted American oak and cherry wood staves to create their new Origin Series Rye.  Described as a "zebra barrel," the finishing casks from West Virginia Great Barrel Company comprise one light-toasted cherry wood stave, one medium-toasted cherry wood stave, and one American oak stave repeated until they form a complete vessel. Precise infrared light is used in place of fire for the toasting period, taking more time (about 15 minutes as opposed to several seconds) while imparting fewer tannins and a more even toast for each stave.  The finishing period varies greatly, anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months, before being bottled at 48% ABV.

Tasting Notes:

Appearance: I poured this Rye whiskey into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. Inside, the liquid was a deep amber, forming medium to thin droplets with few legs in the glass.

Nose: I allowed this whiskey to breathe for 15 minutes in my Glencairn. I found aromas of dark cherries, orange peel, a floral, herbaceous mix of pepper and rye spice, wood, clove, and cinnamon. It has a nice level of depth with toasted oak cherry wood with a touch of dark brown sugar.

Palate: The first sip unfolds a spicy rye whiskey with a nice viscosity; the mouthfeel is medium-bodied and somewhat syrupy, with peppercorns, light clove, and cinnamon on the tip and sides of the tongue. There are also notes of fresh rye bread, cherry, orange marmalade, green apple, and sticky toffee that come to mind before the earthy and mildly toasted oak and cherry wood undertones are noticeable. The flavors of spices, fruit, and toasted wood create a complex and enjoyable whiskey.

Finish: The finish eases into an earthy and herbal mix of pepper, warm rye spice, clove, and cinnamon. A medium-lasting finish sits on the tongue, with dry oak and a hint of menthol and rye spice notes that linger.

Summary:  I'm very impressed with this bottle. The nose has just the right complexity for a mash bill of 95% Rye / 5% Malted Barley and has a wonderful medley of scents. The palate shines through at 96 proof, and the mouthfeel is medium-bodied with spices, fruit, and toasted wood flavors, leaving a medium-lasting pleasant finish of dry oak and a herbal spice mix and hints of menthol.

This Rye is a relatively unique product meant to stand out (I think it does). Finishing Rye in different types of wood is very interesting for me. I will have to try a few more brands using various kinds of wood-to-barrel-finish Rye whiskey. So, stay tuned for our future blogs with more Rye tasting notes.

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