Blood Oath Pact 2 Review

A little over a year ago, St. Louis-based Luxco debuted their first foray into the fast-growing premium bourbon category – Blood Oath Pact 1. Bourbon & Banter broke the news of the release with an exclusive interview with its creator, John Rempe, and ever since we’ve enjoyed watching Luxco continue to raise the level of their investment in the category. First with their investment in Limestone Branch Distillery, their subsequent limited releases of Yellowstone and most recently, breaking ground on their Kentucky-based distillery. While many speculated that Luxco was only in it for a quick buck with special releases, it’s now clear that Luxco has every intention of becoming a major player in the bourbon distilling market and beyond.

As further evidence of their whiskey-fueled momentum, Luxco is releasing Blood Oath Pact 2, the sequel to last year’s Blood Oath Pact 1. While this year’s release is once again a blend of whiskeys distilled by Luxco partners (vs. distilling themselves), the bourbons used are different and with the addition of some port barrel finishing on the 7-year high-rye bourbon, reflects John Rempe’s desire to create something unique for the market.

BLOOD OATH BOURBON BLEND COMPARISON

PACT 1 WHISKEY BLEND

6 yr wheated bourbon + 7 yr high-rye bourbon + 12 year high-rye bourbon

PACT 2 WHISKEY BLEND

7 yr high-rye bourbon finished in port barrels + 11 yr wheated bourbon + 11 yr high-rye bourbon

Let’s take a look at the official press release for more details on Blood Oath Pact 2:

(St. Louis) March 28, 2016 – St. Louis-based Luxco has launched Blood Oath Pact No. 2 – the second expression in the limited release, ultra-premium bourbon series, Blood Oath. Blood Oath combines rare, top-notch bourbons, blended and bottled by hand for a distinctively exclusive and unimagined Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. Pact No. 2 is a masterful union of three well-bred bourbons ranging in age from seven to 11 years. The first, a seven year rye bourbon finished in port barrels, is artfully joined by an 11 year wheated bourbon and an 11 year rye bourbon. Pact No. 2, bottled at 98.6 proof, is available in limited quantities nationally in 750ml bottles, with a suggested price of $99.99.

“Pact No. 2 is a rich marriage of three carefully selected bourbons, hand blended and bottled for a unique combination and exceptional taste,” says John Rempe, creator of Blood Oath and Director of Corporate Research and Development at Luxco. “The rye mash bill of the 11 year offers an oaky and spicy flavor, which is smoothed out by the extra-aged wheated bourbon – while the port-barrel finished rye brings it all together with a velvety sweet finish.”

Blood Oath Pact No. 2, just like its predecessor, is topped with a custom, eco-friendly natural cork, sealed and labeled with certificate-style paper stock signed by John Rempe. New for this year, each bottle of Blood Oath Pact No. 2 will be sold in a commemorative fire-branded wooden box. The Blood Oath series launched in 2015 with Pact No. 1, and will highlight a different variant, or Pact, each year.

“Pact No. 2 has a slightly fuller mouthfeel than Pact No. 1 with an oaky, caramel and cocoa aroma and a smooth flavor. The port-barrel finish really brings out the spice and fruit finish flavors,” says Rempe. “The freedom to choose the bourbons with the most complementary flavor profiles for Blood Oath allows us to create something truly special.”

Pact No. 2 is limited release, with only 7,500 3-packs created – this bourbon will never be made again.

Based on the official press release and bottle design alone (kudos to David Cole for once for his excellent bottle/brand design work), it’s hard not to be eager to sample this year’s release. However, my eagerness doesn’t mean I’ve given up on my concerns about the bottle’s suggested retail price of $99.99. In my opinion, it’s a high price for a bourbon blend despite the fact that overall market prices have risen in the past 12 months. But hey, nothing against Luxco and their pricing strategy. It’s simply an unavoidable situation based on market conditions. At least Luxco’s bringing their product to market with transparency and avoiding misleading marketing efforts thus far. And for that, I applaud them and look forward to watching them help drive the future of the business.

Now with all that out of the way, why don’t we get down to business and find out how this one compares to last year’s release.

BOTTLE DETAILS

Name: Blood Oath Pact 2 Bourbon Whiskey

Proof: 98.6 proof / 49.3% ABV

Age:  Blend of a three different bourbons: 7 year old high-rye bourbon finished in port barrels + 11 year wheated bourbon + 11 yearhigh-rye bourbon.

Year: 2016

POP'S NOTES

How I Drank It: Neat, in a Glencairn Whisky Glass. I generally sample everything from a Glencairn glass the first time I have them or if I am doing comparisons.

Nose: Toasted Oak | Banana Cream | Light Flowery Vanilla | Dried Fruit

Taste: Peach/Apple | Rye Spice | Black Tea

Neat, Splash or Rocks: It was a chilly day so I drank this one neat. The body and mouthfeel are light so I’d avoid adding water. I doubt it will do much to enhance your drinking experience.

Share With: Share this one with those that had a chance to try last year’s release. They’ll love the opportunity to compare and contrast. It’s also a nice pour to offer those that enjoy spice and toasted oak forward bourbons. Those that prefer bourbons with heavier notes of vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar may not be a fan.

Worth The Price: I like this year’s release (Pact 2) more than the original. While the body and flavors are a bit light for my tastes, it’s a solid pour that high-rye spice fans will enjoy. $99 remains a steep price for a bourbon blend but it’s also a reality of today’s market. For those looking to explore limited releases, the price is very fair compared to others coming to the market. But as an everyday drinker, it’s too expensive for me.

Bottle, Bar or Bust: If you’re into collecting limited releases or already have Blood Oath Pact 1 you should grab a bottle if you can. All others should enjoy this at a bar and save their money for a bottle they’ve already fallen in love with.

Disclaimer: Special thanks to Luxco for providing Bourbon & Banter with a sample of Blood Oath Pact 2. We always appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their product with no strings attached.