Bardstown Bourbon Company Phifer Pavitt Reserve Review

If you took a distinct Tennessee Bourbon (George Dickel), aged it for 9 years and then finish it in Phifer Pavitt Cab Sauv barrels for 19 months you’d have this: the Bardstown Bourbon Company Phifer Pavitt Reserve. I like George Dickel, I like cab sauv wine, so I should like this… right?

Bardstown Bourbon Company Phifer Pavitt Reserve

I’ve had a lot of cab sauv in my time, but I’ve never had Phifer Pavitt specifically (that I can recall) so I can’t speak about the wine. But the George Dickel, I mean “Tennessee Bourbon”, I can speak about… it’s typically good stuff.

But combined? Will it work? Will it be delicious? Only the bourbon review below will tell.

Bardstown Bourbon Company Phifer Pavitt Reserve Review: Details and Tasting Notes

In Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Words:

Exceptional 9-year-old Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey, polished in decadent Phifer Pavitt Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon barrels from Napa Valley.

Phifer Pavitt Reserve Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Region: Tennessee, USA

Distiller: “Unknown” (smells and tastes like Dickel)
Mash Bill: 84% Corn, 8% Rye, 8% Malted Barley (Dickel’s)
Cask: New Charred Oak, ex-Cab Sauv
Age: 9 Years
ABV: 53.5

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Batch: 1

Price: $125*

Tasting Notes

EYE
Dark ruby

NOSE
Woody and corny/grainy with notes of vanilla, dried spices, dried dark fruit, cocoa and bits of olde candy.

PALATE
Dried corn, vanilla, dried dark fruit and oak with notes of olde candy, cherry syrup, cocoa and touches of citrus and spice.

FINISH
Medium -> Dried corn, wine sweetness, wood and vanilla.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Ok balance, medium body and a soft dry feel.

An interesting experiment in finishing George Dickel in wine barrels.

Bardstown Bourbon Company Phifer Pavitt Reserve Review: Overall and Score

It’s a decent whiskey, but in a nutshell it smells and tastes like a wine finished George Dickel. The Aroma is like an odd fruity candy made with George Dickel; Palate is essentially the same, but take that candy and give it a quick dip in cocoa; Finish screams Dickel and wine.

The Bardstown Bourbon Company Phifer Pavitt Reserve is a decent whiskey, but the sweetness kicks it a bit out of balance and while it’s a really neat experiment, I’m glad someone did it, I’m not convinced the world needs a wine finished Dickel. It adds some fruitiness, but the super sweet style of dark fruit that comes through doesn’t fully mesh with the dried corn essence that shines through.

SCORE: 83/100 (B)