This actually is a bourbon used for the barrels of a bourbon aged beer we’ve tried (but not reviewed) that if I’m honest was terrible on account of being too sweet and falling victim to the classic bourbon barrel aged problem that most beers can suffer from. And when the bourbon used is like this instead of it’s hotter 100 proof cousin you can see why.
However I had a taste of this at an event which came with a reduced price, and being me I felt it was perfect to buy. My thinking being that once I got more than a splash I could determine how good it was, and in the worst case it made a nice decanter for my barstock. While this is not really the neat or rocks bourbon I want – it is good though when mixed, and is damn pretty.
What they Say: “”The city of Lexington, Kentucky was built on the banks of Town Branch with its waters providing power for early industry. Local folklore credits floods and feuds for the mysterious disappearance of Town Branch. The Alltech Lexington Distilling Company is proud to revive the spirit of Town Branch with our carefully crafted bourbon.
Introduced to America by Irish and Scottish settlers in the early 18th century, whiskey translates from the Gaelic words ‘Uisce beatha’ meaning ‘water of life’. From this proud tradition, Kentuckians created a special whiskey called bourbon. Aged in new, charred, white oak barrels, Town Branch is infused with a distinct taste and aroma. Enjoy Town Branch Bourbon with the Spirit of Kentucky.”
Taste: 5.5 – It starts off nice and sweet, and it goes by rather quickly.
Aftertaste: 5.5 – Here you get more of the spice and power, and while not bad it’s not endearing itself to me.
Burn/Smooth: 6.5 – It goes down rather smooth though, but it lacks a nice warm feeling.
Aroma: 7.0 – It has the right amount of sweetness, spice and power – it smells delicious.
Honesty: 7.5 – The text is right on the edge of being a bit wanky, but when you look at that color, and the bottle that a short label rip away becomes a nice decanter for your bar and it still does well here.
Mixability: 6.5
W/ Rocks: 6.0 – It does get better on ice though.
Whiskey and Coke: 7.0 – That is actually a really nice Whiskey and Coke.
Value: 7.0 – I actually got this at an event which had a reduced price, and I think I could recommend it at that price. However unlike other whiskies I end up with a fairly nice decanter at the end here so this is actually good value in my mind.
Google Shop Average: $35
Website: http://www.kentuckyale.com/
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 6.0
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Metric Score: 45.5/70 |+| Metric Average: 6.5 |+| Reviewer Average: 6.0
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Final Thoughts: I am totally okay with this bourbon however in the crowded market of small batch or weirder and more exclusive new bourbons coming out these days it does little taste wise to stand out. It’s not a middle of the road bourbon overall, but it doesn’t win your heart.
