Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass, rested for about 15 minutes.
Distillery: Bardstown Bourbon Company.
Proof: 114.24.
Mash Bill, Age & State of Origin :
62 % 9 Year KY – 78% Corn/ 13% Rye/ 8% Malted Barley
18% 13 Year KY – 75% Corn/ 13% Rye/ 12% Malted Barley
10% 10 Year GA – 80% Corn/ 10% Rye/ 5% Wheat/ 5% Malted Barley
8% 6 Year KY – 53% Corn/ 26% Rye/ 21% Malted Barley
2% 10 Year TN – 84% Corn/ 8% Rye/ 8% Malted Barley
MSRP: $140.00.
Appearance: Golden Amber.
Nose
Sweet Werther’s caramel, butterscotch, roasted peanuts, red berries, peaches, cherries, vanilla, and lemon citrus. Green tea is upfront with sage and mint with some malt hanging back there with cinnamon spice and oak.
Palate
Butterscotch, roasted peanuts with peaches, cherries, berries, vanilla, green tea, and oak. A good and balanced cinnamon spice enters softly but builds momentum lasting through the finish. This tastes great but isn’t as complex as the nose suggests. I like the creamy mouthfeel and balance which drinks below its proof.
Finish
Cinnamon spice lingers for a very long time with peaches, caramel, peanut, vanilla, and lemon citrus. Oak turns to delicate tannins of subtle tobacco with peanut coming back around for a delicate but long and very tasty finish.
Conclusion
As a reminder of what the Discovery Series is all about Bardstown Bourbon’s website says, “Our Discovery Series highlights the Art of Blending, creating exciting expressions that together are greater than the sum of its parts. Through artfully combining rare and exemplary whiskies we discover from all over the world, this series pushes the boundaries of innovation by creating completely unique flavor profiles and styles. Each release gives you something new to discover”
Although I don’t expect every release in the Discovery Series to meet this statement entirely, I do expect them to meet most of it. At least in spirit (pun intended). Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for Disco #10. What’s true is it’s a very enjoyable bottle and the blending is very well done. As great as Discovery #10 tastes, it’s not pushing any boundaries and the flavor profile isn’t all that unique or innovative. I’d sum up Disco #10 as having a very delicious Beam-like Kentucky profile that includes a lot of fruity flavors. But the “newest thing to discover” about Discovery #10 is that it’s not worth the asking price.
Other recent batches more in line with what the Discovery Series claims to be is #7 and #8. I haven’t tried Disco #9. There are a lot of things to love about Discovery #10 but if I’m in the mood for a similar kind of profile, I could reach for a Baker’s or even Booker’s for less money that I would enjoy just as much or even more.
Rating: 7.3/10.
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.
