When new distilleries are getting up and running they have a couple of avenues available to get money in the door while their stock is aging. They can source whiskey; they can release new make (“moonshine”) or other non-aged products like gin or vodka; they can also blend their young whiskey with mature sourced stock to make a unique release. This Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series is the later.
Bardstown has mixed their own 2-year-old whiskey with some sourced 11-year-old whiskey to make something unique and different on the market. I commend them for the effort and taking a road that’s a bit tougher than just bottling some MGP and calling it a day. It’s also commendable that 60% of the whiskey in this blend is theirs. Full breakdown below before we hit the bourbon review.
- 40% Unknown Kentucky Source (74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley) – 11 Years 7 Months
- 18% Bardstown Wheated Bourbon (68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley) – 2 Years 3 Months
- 48% Bardstown High Rye Bourbon (60% Corn, 36% Rye ,4% Malted Barley) – 2 Years 1 Month
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series Review: Details and Tasting Notes
In Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Words:
Fusion Series #1 is a blend of 60% of Bardstown Bourbon Company’s two-year-old wheated and high-rye Kentucky bourbons along with 40% of 11 year 7 month bourbon from Kentucky to create a smooth, complex pour.
Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Multiple (Bardstown Bourbon Co and anonymous KY distillery)
Mash Bill: At least 51% Corn + Rye + Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 2 Years 1 Month
ABV: 49.45%
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Batch: 1
Price: $60*
Tasting Notes
EYE
Toffee
NOSE
Candy sweet with notes of raspberries, marshmallow fluff, peanut brittle, nutmeg, baking spice and a light bit of cocoa powder.
PALATE
Peanut brittle meets oak with notes of vanilla frosting, hazelnut, nutmeg, cocoa powder, oak and spice.
FINISH
Med-short -> Peanut brittle and vanilla.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Ok balance, medium-thin body and a warm easy feel.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series Review: Overall and Score
It needs to open to get it open to get the full effect, but it’s pleasant once it does. The Aroma is light and sweet with minimal oak notes; Palate brings the oak which helps reign in the heavy peanut brittle note a bit; Finish kicks the oak to the curb and barrels through with peanut brittle.
I don’t know what they put in the Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series, but I’m getting some heavy notes that remind me of younger Jim Beam mixed with some younger Heaven Hill. If you can imagine that, you can imagine this whiskey. By no means is it bad or unpleasant, just kind of… average.
SCORE: 82/100 (B-)
*Disclosure: This Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series sample was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series Review 60
- Nose - 83
- Palate - 82
- Finish - 82
- Balance, Body & Feel - 83
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series Review Summary
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series is an interesting whiskey that shows some off some of what this young distillery is doing and they’re off to a good start.
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