Bluegrass Distillers is a new kid on the bourbon block and one we haven’t quite made our minds up about.
Bluegrass Distillers started releasing products back in 2015 and has since offered a wide-variety of bottles including a high rye, wheated, cinnamon whiskey, and even a pickleback whiskey. But their Blue Corn Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon is what really sealed the deal for bourbon drinks. Unfortunately for us, it canceled the deal.
The Blue Corn Bourbon may have left us skeptical about the distillery, but then we saw their Toasted Oak Bourbon. The Toasted Oak is a 100 proof, twice-barreled bourbon and well, we’re pretty big suckers for a twice-barreled bourbon. Bluegrass Distillers’ Toasted Oak Bourbon tempted us into giving the company another try, and man – we’re certainly glad we did.
The Toasted Oak Bourbon holds up to its name with a deep, rich oaky flavor throughout the pour. It’s rounded out by thick, almost syrupy, toffee and caramel notes, most likely due to the bourbon’s high percentage of corn (75%) and the distillery’s twice-barreled technique. The second barrel is toasted, rather than charred, and imparts a softer sweetness to the bourbon than a charred barrel would.
Overall, Bluegrass Distillers’ Toasted Oak Bourbon is a pleasant surprise and an enjoyable new addition to the growingly crowded twice-barreled community. At about $45 a bottle, it’s still middle of the road on price, but is still a more affordable option than other twice-barreled options like Woodford Reserve Double Oaked or even other toasted selections such as Basil Hayden Toast.
We couldn’t have asked for anything more in this Toasted Oak Bourbon, except for maybe more consistency from the company making it.
STATS: Bluegrass Distillers Toasted Oak Bourbon
- Price for us: A gift for us, but retails for about $45.
- Proof: 100
- Aged: NAS, but aged secondarily in toasted oak barrels
- Distillery: Bluegrass Distillers
- Recommendation: Neat
