Bulleit Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Spicy, oaky notes with a dusty maple richness and smoky dark cherry backing
Review by Steve Kirwan

PRODUCT DETAILS:

Product Name: Bulleit Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Description: Kentucky Straight Whiskey
Price: $21
Producer: Bulleit Distilling Co., Louisville, KY.
Parent Company: Diageo
Additional Information: Around 1830, Augustus Bulleit created a uniquely quality bourbon with high rye content. Legend holds that just before the civil war, Augustus vanished with a flatbed wagon loaded with whiskey. The Bulleit brand disappeared with him until resurrected in 1987 by his great-great-grandson, attorney Thomas E. Bulleit, Jr. Like the original recipe, Bulleit Bourbon’s high rye content enhances its spice profile while reducing the “cherry-cough-syrup” background noticeable in many modern bourbons. It’s been a consistent award winner.

Review:
The whiskey is a deep mid-amber color with great clarity. Its aroma opens with spice and oak overtones, followed by warm vanilla, maple, and notes of candied orange peel. There is a distant sense of dustiness that fades over time. The bright and light-bodied mouthfeel gives way to an initial wash of heat, followed by winter and savory spices with notes of tobacco and black pepper. Hints of ginger and red-hots lead to some fresh orange and black cherry notes, and then, more vanilla. A long, warm finish with more winter spices and hints of candied pecan rolls into a final wash of sweet vanilla as the heat trails off. Adding a dash of water softens the initial sense of fire, releasing more sweetness and vanilla overtones. The savory spices are more prominent mid-swallow, followed by a shorter finish with noticeably less alcohol bite. Overall impression: A rye-heavy sweet vanilla spice bomb.
My Rating*: 4

*RATING KEY:
The ratings are my personal opinions. Your tastes/preferences may vary.
Prices reflect an approximate market price (USD) in Phoenix, AZ