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Taylor is Chicago-born but received his whisky education in Scotland and Japan, before returning home to embrace bourbon and American whiskey.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series #8 And #9
No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune. Plutarch
Bardstown Bourbon Company is a behemoth in terms of the Kentucky bourbon landscape. They are already the seventh largest whiskey producer in the United States despite having only been in existence for eight years, which is no small feat.
A large portion of Bardstown Bourbon Companys output goes toward contract distilling for other brands, but theres also been no shortage of their own products hitting the market. Those products include their critically lauded Discovery Series and a cavalcade of finished expressions under their Collaborative Series, many of which have developed a following unto themselves, but today Ill be reviewing what might presently be considered their hallmark offering: the Fusion Series.
As a relatively new whiskey producer, Bardstown Bourbon Company made the savvy decision early on to blend some of their own young distillate with some of their mature stock of sourced barrels in order to bring a product to market that would be indicative of their potential without souring future prospects. That is to say, they didnt want to simply release young whiskey.
The bottling proof is 95.5 and the price for this expression is $64.99. These were both samples provided free of charge by Bardstown Bourbon Company which, per Malt editorial policy, does not affect my notes or scores.
Jakes Tasting Notes: Bardstown Bourbon Company: Fusion Series #8
Color: Honey
Nose: The nose is very balanced with hints of pepper and thanksgiving baking spices that turn to vanilla, oak, and caramel.
Palate: On the palate, you get a very simple mouthfeel that is refreshing like a crisp glass of water. The flavors pack a punch after that with typical the bourbon flavors we all know and love oak, caramel, and vanilla. What I enjoy beyond those notes are the hints of nutmeg and pumpkin. I dont know if it is because pumpkin pie is on my mind, but I get a lot of sweetness and flavors that remind me of it.
Finish: Simple finish not too long or short a very solid finish.
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Review: Bardstown Bourbon Fusion Series #7 And Discovery Series #7
The seventh editions of Bardstown Bourbon Co.s Fusion and Discovery Series have hit the shelves. While the concept behind the two hasnt changed, this latest pair of releases does appear to mark a new level of complexity and uniqueness, at least in their basic construction. The blending wizards at Bardstown Bourbon Co. have rarely combined more than three whiskeys for either bottling, but this latest run relies on five different component whiskeys including the first use of a house-distilled four-grain recipe in the Fusion bottling and the use of a 100% Canadian corn whisky in the Discovery release, making it the first ever blended whisky in the lineup and the first international release to date. Lets check them out.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series #8 Review
Color: Medium gold
On the nose: Its bursting with fresh fruit, wow! I mean blueberries, raspberries, peaches, juicy orange everything. After resting a moment Im picking up a little bit of oak and it turns a bit floral with a brush of mint gum and bits of butterscotch. Its overall very bright and sweet with just a hint of nutmeg and clove plus a dash of thyme. It doesnt have any of the darker notes I tend to gravitate towards like brown sugar, leather, or black cherry but Ill be damned this is a delightful and inviting nose.
In the mouth: It has a very clean taste which Ive found to be common with Bardstowns Fusion series. Their own distillate has no off notes, and it has a very approachable mouthfeel. Again, the fruit flavors burst on the palate and stick to the tongue while a bit of clove and mint makes its way up the roof of the mouth complemented by some confectioners sugar and green tea which is a note I more typically associate with rye. After sitting with the glass for a while there are also some vanilla ice cream notes which make an appearance as well. Safe to say Im a fan of this release.
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Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series #9 Review
Color: Light gold.
On the nose: Altogether much darker and more caramel-forward with plum, a touch of chocolate, and a stronger charred oak influence than Fusion Series #8. This one also has a crack of black pepper that smells delicious. Theres still a hint of mint on the nose, but overall the similarities between #8 and #9 are very limited, in all likelihood due to this containing a different Kentucky bourbon plus some of Bardstowns wheated mashbill, which is a favorite of mine. While Fusion #8 excited me for how bright it is, Fusion #9 is exciting for being more of a traditional Kentucky bourbon blend executed efficiently.
In the mouth: The mouthfeel is denser and the caramel and vanilla that roll over the tongue on first sip are simply enchanting. This is even more mouth coating than Fusion #8 and thats paired with a greater depth of flavor as the notes of caramel, vanilla, milk chocolate, and oak are more pronounced while the black pepper and baking spices in this expression are more prominent without throwing either the sweetness or the spice out of balance. The finish has a medium length and dries the palate only slightly, which gently encourages repeat sips. This just screams well-rounded to me, and it doesnt miss the mark at any point in the tasting experience.
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Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series Review
When new distilleries are getting up and running they have a couple of avenues available to get money in the door while their stock is aging. They can source whiskey they can release new make or other non-aged products like gin or vodka they can also blend their young whiskey with mature sourced stock to make a unique release. This Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series is the later.
Bardstown has mixed their own 2-year-old whiskey with some sourced 11-year-old whiskey to make something unique and different on the market. I commend them for the effort and taking a road thats a bit tougher than just bottling some MGP and calling it a day. Its also commendable that 60% of the whiskey in this blend is theirs. Full breakdown below before we hit the bourbon review.
- 40% Unknown Kentucky Source 11 Years 7 Months
- 18% Bardstown Wheated Bourbon 2 Years 3 Months
- 48% Bardstown High Rye Bourbon 2 Years 1 Month
Toffee
NOSE Candy sweet with notes of raspberries, marshmallow fluff, peanut brittle, nutmeg, baking spice and a light bit of cocoa powder.
PALATE Peanut brittle meets oak with notes of vanilla frosting, hazelnut, nutmeg, cocoa powder, oak and spice.
FINISH Med-short -> Peanut brittle and vanilla.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL Ok balance, medium-thin body and a warm easy feel.
Bardstown Bourbon Company: The Penultimate Fusion Series
Over the last several years there has been one name in Bourbon and Whiskey that has grown exceptionally fast and that is Bardstown Bourbon Company. Whether it is talk of their distillery expansion, being acquired or acquiring other distilleries, but most importantly it has all comes back to their whiskey production and blending. What started just a few short years ago with Fusion #1 and Discovery #1 has led them to this penultimate batch.
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Whiskey Review: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series #5 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
There are distilleries whose entire business model is never being seen. Bardstown Bourbon Company started out as one of those distilleries, making stuff for resale under other peoples names, but they recently started putting out some interesting blends and experiments under their own mark as well.
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Bardstown Bourbon Company: Fusion Series #3
Purchase Info: This sample was provided as part of a media kit for the 2020 Kentucky Bourbon Festival. The suggested retail price is $59.99 for a 750 mL bottle.
Price per Drink : $4.00
Details: 49.45% ABV. A blend of 40% 13-year-old Kentucky bourbon , 18% 3-year-old Bardstown Bourbon Co bourbon , and 42% 3-year-old Bardstown Bourbon Co bourbon .
Nose: Almond, vanilla, cinnamon candies.
Mouth: Nice mouthfeel. Cinnamon, caramel, and Vanilla custard.
Finish: Warm and medium length. Cinnamon, mint, dark chocolate, and oak.
Thoughts: this took me sips to get into as it needed a little time to open up. But once it did, it was lovely. Sweet, creamy, and spicy with a nice mouthfeel. I enjoyed it. I will have to keep an eye out for other releases after I can get to Kentucky again.
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Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series #6 Bourbon Whiskey
- Availability: In Stock
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series #6 Bourbon Whiskey
Aromas of caramel corn and fresh popped corn some soft vanilla bean, toffee/caramel. This is very pretty, but there is some nice rye sweetness, nuttiness, and spice to add another layer. A bit of mango on the finish. The proof does show up on the finish, but time in the glass softens it. D& M Tasting Notes
Baked apples with toffee, walnut, and cinnamon lead to luscious maple with vibrant spice. Our richest Fusion blend to date unfolds with a signature smooth finish.
The Fusion Series celebrates the blending of newer and older bourbons to create something unique. The younger spirits are 100% our own product mellowed with hand- selected, supremely aged bourbon that beautifully complements our specific recipes. As we grow, our bourbon ages a difference you can taste with each Fusion release.
97.9 % ABV
Blend of straight bourbon whiskies: 68% Kentucky 11 yr. old, 16% Tennessee 17 yr. old, 16% Indiana 7 yr. old.
Bardstown Bourbon Co To Release Final Expressions In Fusion Series
BARDSTOWN, Ky.—-With Bardstown Bourbon Company’s own distillate reaching maturity and the forthcoming Origin Series impending release, the Fusion series is preparing to take a rest from the shelf. Fusion 8 is now available at the Bardstown Bourbon Co. gift shop, online and at retailers across 20 states. Fusion 9, will be available later this fall.
Fusion series releases combine older sourced whiskey and younger bourbon which has been distilled and aged by Bardstown Bourbon Co. and shows a range of mashbills across the blends including corn, rye, wheat and malted barley. The journey of the unique series has been to see the changing flavor profiles as the Bardstown Bourbon Co. bourbon ages, becoming more prominent in the blends over time as the distillery has established itself as a major player in the industry. Both Fusion 8 and Fusion 9 feature 4-year-old bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Co., the oldest bourbon yet released by the brand.
Fusion 8, available now, brings together two vibrant high-rye Bardstown Bourbon Co. distilled bourbons, balanced by a bold 12-year-old Kentucky expression. The round mouthfeel leads to sizzle and spice on the palate making this Fusion a unique, standout blend. Ripe apricot, mint, and green tea are balanced by layers of caramel and honey over baked apples. A refreshing, lively spice awakens the palate and leads to a balanced, signature Fusion finish. Fusion 8 is presented at 95.5 proof .
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Fusion 8
95.5 proof
96.8 proof
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Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series Review: Overall And Score
It needs to open to get it open to get the full effect, but its pleasant once it does. The Aroma is light and sweet with minimal oak notes Palate brings the oak which helps reign in the heavy peanut brittle note a bit Finish kicks the oak to the curb and barrels through with peanut brittle.
I dont know what they put in the Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series, but Im getting some heavy notes that remind me of younger Jim Beam mixed with some younger Heaven Hill. If you can imagine that, you can imagine this whiskey. By no means is it bad or unpleasant, just kind of average.
SCORE: 82/100
*Disclosure: This Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series sample was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series Review 60
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series Review Summary
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series is an interesting whiskey that shows some off some of what this young distillery is doing and theyre off to a good start.
Overall
The 7 Best Bourbons To Gift This Holiday
Ready to get into the holiday spirit? As November comes to a close, its just about time to start thinking about what wed like to give to our nearest and dearest, be it for your easygoing uncle or the sibling whos a serial regifter. For those who like spirits, look no further than Americas favorite tipple, bourbon. The nations native spirit appeals to drinkers of all ilks, and with a wide array of bottles at varying prices, theres a bourbon for nearly anyone on your list.
For big-ballers to budgeters whiskey geeks to newbies the below list features the best giftable bottles the category has to offer. Read on for the seven best bourbons to give this holiday season.
Bardstown Bourbon Fusion Series #7
Bardstown Bourbon Companys Fusion series demonstrates how young and old bourbons can mesh in a single blend. The seventh release in the lineup, Fusion #7 shows off the chops of skilled blenders and distillers with a liquid that feels harmonious without losing the nuances of each spirit in the blend. Brown sugar and cinnamon aromas are followed by notes of ripe nectarine and toasted nuts on the palate. If your family member of a different generation is always sparking not-so-healthy debate at the holiday table, gift them this bottle to remind them that the generations can come together as one.
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