Company: Willett
Distillery: Willett Distillery
Region: Bardstown, Kentucky
Aging: 4 Years in new charred oak barrels
ABV: 50% ABV
Proof: 100 Proof
Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Malted Barley
Non-Chill Filtered: No
MSRP Price: $20
Old Bardstown Bourbon Tasting Notes
Appearance: Dark Golden Honey
Nose: Buttery toffee, vanilla, toasted oak, candied fruits, light fruit, apricot, citrus, almond
Palate: Rich caramel and toffee, peanut notes, toasted oak, vanilla, citrus, candied fruits, mint, anise seed, clove, cinnamon spice, pepper, rye spice
Finish: Medium finish with a nice, full flavor and mouthfeel full of nutty notes, toffee, toasted oak, and fruit flavors with lingering pepper spice on the tail end
Is Old Bardstown Bourbon an Approachable Whiskey?
Old Bardstown Bourbon is one of the most approachable whiskeys you can find in the $20 price range.
It does have a bit of spice and heat to it, but it is also full of flavor.
Is Old Bardstown Bourbon Complex?
Old Bardstown Bourbon is surprisingly complex and full of flavor at its price point.
It has a lot of your traditional bourbon flavors but also has layers of nutty flavors, light fruits, spices, pepper, and notes of cinnamon and mint.
The finish is rather full as well and packs a nice level of flavor.
What are Old Bardstown Bourbon’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Old Bardstown Bourbon is probably the best budget bourbon you can find.
Aside from Evan Williams Bottled In Bond, I can’t think of any other bourbons at the $20 price point that can compete with this bottle.
I think the finish is the real treat on this one since you get a nice full finish with a nice mouthfeel and full flavor far above most bottles that cost $10-15 more.
Is Old Bardstown Bourbon a go-to whiskey?
Old Bardstown Bourbon is an excellent go-to whiskey.
Whether you’re drinking it neat or using it as a nice cocktail bourbon, this bottle is one that is perfect for every occasion if you’re looking for a bourbon on a budget.
Is Old Bardstown Bourbon priced accurately to its quality?
Old Bardstown Bourbon delivers above its price tag.
It offers many more layers of flavor than most bourbons at this price point and even though it’s not the very best bourbon you’re ever going to taste, it’s absolutely one of the top bourbons you are going to taste for $20.
Conclusion for Old Bardstown Bourbon
Old Bardstown Bourbon is a bottle my friend Chuck suggested we purchase on our first trip to Kentucky.
We don’t have this bottle in Pennsylvania, so when he suggested it, it cost $17 and he said he had heard it was the best budget bourbon you could find.
I did not purchase a bottle, but he did.
Half a year later during the pandemic and quarantine, we did a blind taste test with 16 different bourbons and Old Bardstown was one of them.
Without us even knowing which bottles were included, Old Bardstown made it to the final 4 bourbons against other bottles costing up to $50-70.
When he told me it was this bottle and it only cost $17, we were both pretty surprised it had made it that far.
If you can find Old Bardstown on the shelf and are looking for a nice and affordable bourbon, this is a great buy.
Let Us Know What You Think
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
If you decide to give this bottle a shot, please let me know on social media via Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Thanks for reading and cheers!
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