Bardstown Bourbon Company Phifer Pavitt Reserve Collaborative Series #1 Review

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Bardstown Bourbon Company Bardstown, KY
• MASH BILL: 84% Corn  |  8% Rye  |  8% Barley
• AGE: No age statement on the bottle, but according to the distillery it is 9-year Tennessee Bourbon finished 19-months in Phifer Pavitt Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon barrels from Napa Valley
• YEAR: 2019
• PROOF: 98.9 Proof (49.45% ABV)
• MSRP: $124.99
• BUY ONLINE: Not Available to Buy Online. Now available in: Kentucky, Florida, Northern California. Coming soon to: Indiana, Tennessee, Illinois

ERIN'S NOTES

NOSE: Plums | Cacao Nibs | Sawdust

TASTE: Orange Liqueur | Berry Jam | Chocolate Syrup

FINISH: This was oddd because the finish was completely in the mid palate. I felt nothing at the back and it had barely any burn (I felt it at the top of my throat, and it stopped there).

SHARE WITH: Finished bourbon junkies

WORTH THE PRICE: This doesn’t have enough of a “wow” factor for the hefty price tag. Finished bourbons are everywhere now and you don’t get enough of the great cab qualities imparted into this bourbon to make it worth the cost.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: If you’re really curious, give it a go at the bar. I would try this at the BBC tasting room, but wouldn’t pay what it would likely cost at a regular bar.

OVERALL: I really wanted to like this because Cab Sav is one of my favorite wine varietals. I was expecting more of a jammy punch but the Cab notes were more muted, though still present, just hanging out further into the background. The plum nose was very apparent, which I love, but it faded away after that point.

This is a great first try from BBC and I’m looking forward to seeing what else they have in the rickhouses in terms of finished bourbons. I think they were a bit hasty in pulling this out of the wine barrels, or perhaps they chose the wrong wine for the whiskey (which, by the way, is actually important, ya know). I would LOVE to see a bourbon aged in Syrah or Petit Verdot barrels. I would also like to see a less corn-heavy mashbill, which certainly contributes to the thinner mouthfeel and finish.

Finished bourbons can be either very good or very gimmicky (aka: lackluster). This one falls in the latter category for me (a finished bourbon because, why not?) but I think they are running in the right direction. I am going to keep my eye out for future releases for sure. This one, however, for the high ticket price is just not worth it for me.

LEE'S NOTES

NOSE: Dark Fruit | Chocolate | Prune Juice

TASTE: Chocolate | Red Fruit | Pepper

FINISH: An interesting finish across the tongue of chocolate, red fruit and a burst of pepper followed by a lingering coating of chocolate. A nice warming as it goes down.

SHARE WITH: I would share this with anyone who likes finished “bourbons”

WORTH THE PRICE: If this was in the $50 to $75 range I might be tempted. For this bourbon however, $125 is too pricey for me. See my overall notes.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: I suggest you try this at a bar or the tasting room prior to spending the money on the bottle. Presently this bourbon is available in Kentucky, Florida and Northern California.

OVERALL: Overall, I am big fan of finished “bourbons.” I will admit that before tasting this, I have paid $125 for a 10-year MGP bourbon finished in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels for 6 months finished and bottled from a place in California. It is very, very good.

The Bardstown Bourbon Company bills themselves as the first Napa Valley style destination on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The Bardstown Bourbon Collaborative Series #1 is a sourced Tennessee Bourbon finished in Phifer Pavitt Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon barrels from Napa Valley for 19 months. Certainly makes sense for a Napa style destination.

I will have to say I enjoyed this whiskey more on the first pour right out of the bottle, with a little time to breathe. It had an enjoyable chocolate taste with a bit of pepper. At the time I was thinking maybe having a bottle of this would be nice. Coming back after a week and having another pour, I wasn’t as thrilled. My environment was the same, maybe my mood wasn’t. The chocolate taste seemed somewhat diminished, there was a little more prune juice taste across the tongue and the pepper was somewhat more pronounced. I would say now that if this bottle was less expensive, I would consider it but not at $125. But you know, everyone’s taste and price point are different. I would certainly like to see this show up in bars around here in Virginia. It is a solid offering.

BRAND NOTES

The Bardstown Bourbon Company is a New Blend of Bourbon Makers, pushing the boundaries through innovation, while honoring the traditional art of making whiskey. Set on 100 acres of active farmland in the heart of the Bourbon Capital of the World®, we produce the highest-quality Kentucky bourbon, whiskey, and rye brands as well as offer custom whiskey production through our one-of-a-kind Collaborative Distilling Program. We are the first Napa Valley style destination on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® to combine distilling, culinary, and beverage expertise to create a modern, authentic bourbon experience.

DESCRIPTION: Exceptional 9-year-old Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey polished in decadent Phifer Pavitt Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon barrels from Napa Valley.

TASTING NOTES: Voluptuous, succulent, bold notes of plums, milk chocolate and blackberries.

“We are a new blend of bourbon makers pushing the boundaries through innovation, while honoring the traditional art of making whiskey. Bardstown Bourbon Fusion Series #1 is a celebration of our distillery, beverage and culinary teams working together to create spectacular bourbon.”

-David Mandell, Bardstown Bourbon Company President and CEO

Disclaimer: The Bardstown Bourbon Company provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.