Rare Hare Lucky Bastard Whiskey Review

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Undisclosed but bottled and released by RareHareSpirits.com
MASH BILL: Undisclosed
AGE: 30 Years Old
YEAR: 2023
PROOF: 89 Proof (44.5% ABV)
MSRP: $599.00
BUY ONLINE: RareHareSpirits.com

POPS' NOTES

SHARE WITH: The marketing, presentation, limited availability and price point were all created to make this a bottle you share with those you're trying hard to impress. Fortunately, it's also a bottle that will impress your whiskey friends who appreciate an elegant and refined whiskey.

WORTH THE PRICE: With an SRP of $599, I can tell you without pause that this whisky is not worth the price if you drink it. But if you're looking to add this to your collection as an investment, I'm fairly confident that the value will continue to go up due to the whiskey's age and limited bottle produced - only 2,500.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: I would recommend trying this at a bar, but I doubt you'll see this available in any bar open to the public. This is a bottle for a members club. Instead, I think one needs to work their network of whiskey friends to see who splurged for a bottle and then beg them for a sample.

OVERALL: Going into this review, I knew this bottle's $599 price point would mean that any positive experience with this release would be bittersweet. And sure enough, as soon as I smelled the aromas of my first pour, I got giddy with excitement basking in a combination of smells that reminded me of legendary dusty bourbon bottles like National Distributor Old Grand Dad or Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve. But my joy was short-lived as I recalled the price point and acknowledged that I would soon run out of my small sample. I seriously pondered just saving the whiskey to smell on future occasions, but instead, I moved forward, trying to make the most of this short-lived whiskey affair.

The first sip pulled me out of my dusty bourbon haze and back to reality. My first impression was that the whiskey was too thin (despite some amazing legs on the side of my Glencairn) and overly sweet. But as I continued tasting the whiskey, a wonderful world of flavors emerged. Caramel, butterscotch, coconut, raisins, and figs were all present and in proper balance. I would have easily believed this was a rum barrel-finished whiskey. And since I had never tried Pineau des Charentes, before, I didn't quite know what to expect.

While I loved the complex combination of flavors, the flavor was ultimately too light and fleeting. I prefer flavors that stick around longer and give you time to dig in and unpack everything going on. That's clearly the high-proof bourbon drinker in me. This one, though, is lighter and more refined, requiring you to drink and think differently to enjoy it fully.

With my sample long gone, I can admit that I miss it.

Lucky Bastard could have easily been an over-priced and over-aged 30-year whiskey finished in used barrels to hide unsavory whiskey. Fortunately, that's not the case. Lucky Bastard is an elegant whiskey that shows that barrel-finishing can elevate a whiskey to another level when done well.

BRAND NOTES

An exceptional Canadian Whiskey imported and aged for 30 years creating a complex, dynamic whisky with worldly characteristics.

Finished in Pineau Des Charentes casks, a delicate regional aperitif of western France, which has recently exploded on the high-end cocktail scene. The complex whiskey with layers of flavors and history is perfectly rounded with the delicate finish of fresh grapes and eau-de-vie from Maritime France.

NOSE
Delicate and sweet, vanilla bean, golden raisin, dandelion, honeycomb, and bee pollen.

PALATE
Browned butter and sugar, serrano chile, beachwood, young coconut, anise, Colombian walnut, and gentian root.

FINISH
A gorgeous transformation with notes of banana peel, mellow Martinique rhum, and plantains.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.