Fern Creek Single Barrel Proof Bourbon Review

Patrick "Pops" Garrett -

BOTTLE DETAILS

  • DISTILLER: Fern Creek (original source not disclosed)
  • MASH BILL: 78% Corn | 10% Rye | 12% Malted Barley
  • AGE: 5 Years and 10 Months
  • Barrel : 4
  • YEAR: 2019
  • PROOF: 116 Proof (50% ABV)
  • MSRP: $89
  • BUY ONLINE: On-premise and retail in Kentucky only.

POP'S REVIEW OF FERN CREEK SINGLE BARREL BOURBON

NOSE: Caramel | Cocoa | Red Hots | Anise

TASTE: Vanilla | Pepper | Cinnamon | Barrel Tannins

FINISH: Long finish with spicy Red Hots candy on the tip of the tongue followed by light barrel tannins. There was also a very nice chest burn surge that I always enjoy.

SHARE WITH: Single barrel fans and folks that enjoy higher proof whiskey.

WORTH THE PRICE: Just as with the Small Batch release, the price is too much when compared to other single barrel release available in the market.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Single barrel and high-proof folks may want to consider a bottle if they're okay with the price.

OVERALL: One of the things I love about bourbon is how something as little as the proof or the barrel selected for a bottle can change the flavor of a whiskey and therefore your opinion of it. This Single Barrel release from Fern Creek is a perfect example.

Fern Creek's first release - Small Batch - uses the same bourbon (mash bill and age) that are used for this Single Barrel release. The only differences are the barrels used, single vs. small batch, and the final proof in the bottle. But what a significant difference it creates in the finished product.

This Single Barrel release is bolder in flavor and has more complexity. As a result, the flavor profile is more in line with what I look for in a bourbon. That said, it's still very spice forward and a bit hot when taking your first few sips. I actually tasted Red Hots cinnamon candy when sipping this release. While those flavors caught me a bit off guard, they did an excellent job of offsetting some of the barrel tannins that were a bit overpowering in the Small Batch release.

If you like a big, bold and spicy bourbon, this one will be in your wheelhouse. A respectable proof point and excellent mouthfeel make this one fun to drink. If the price was $60 or under I wouldn't mind adding a few more bottles to my home collection given a chance.

BRAND NOTES

Fern Creek sources the finest of bourbons available from the biggest named distilleries in Kentucky. Transparency on whom produces our bourbon will always be stated, whenever our lawyers allow us to divulge that info.

SINGLE BARREL PROOF

All single barrels are bottled straight from the barrel without chill filtering. No barrel will taste exactly the same. This bourbon is good to savor on the weekend due to its high proof; avoid making important plans when drinking this bourbon. Shelf price at the store will be around $79.

Disclaimer: Fern Creek 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.