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 high-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.