Review: Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Bourbon

Kentucky Owl started life in 2014 as a small batch, boutique whiskey model whose ultra-limited bourbon releases rapidly attained close to Pappy-like ranges of adoration, full with ridiculous secondary valuations on high of already beneficiant SRPs. In 2017, the model broke into the broader market with a sequence of small batch, well-aged rye releases (see Batch 1 and Batch 2) and bought to spirits behemoth Stoli Group, whose purpose was naturally to make Kentucky Owl a family title. The launch of Confiscated, a bourbon we now have by no means had the prospect to evaluation, didn’t precisely put it on the map, however the model seems to be present process a little bit of a redesign with a brand new providing that features their very own contract-distilled bourbon and a brand new Grasp Blender as well. Per the press launch:

Stoli Group Kentucky Owl is saying the discharge of The Wiseman Bourbon, its first Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced and distilled by Kentucky Owl in collaboration with the Bardstown Bourbon Firm, each situated in The Bourbon Capital of the World — Bardstown, Kentucky. The product is a mix of Kentucky Owl 4-year-old wheat and high-rye bourbons, together with 5 ½-year and eight ½-year-old Kentucky-sourced bourbons.

The Wiseman Bourbon is an clever stability of soppy wheat and spicy high-rye that gives a clean however complicated bourbon designed to drink neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail,” stated John Rhea, Kentucky Owl Grasp Blender. That is the primary Kentucky Owl launch below Rhea, who started in June. Rhea beforehand served as 4 Roses Distillery’s chief working officer, the place his tasks included high quality management, maturation, analysis and product mixing. He was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Corridor of Fame in 2016 and served as chair of the Kentucky Distillers’ Affiliation board of administrators.

Let’s test it out.

The nostril exhibits a few of that youthful inventory with candy cornbread notes, a little bit of butterscotch, char, and heat apple turnover. Buried deep within the glass is a stone fruit notice I’d like to see (err, odor) extra of. It’s relatively light, even with beneficiant time to open up. The palate is equally gentle with notes of spun sugar, citrus peel, caramel candies, and a little bit of that ripe peach sweetness I detected on the aroma. The fruit notes are interrupted by some domineering oak and a little bit of ethanol that arrive mid-palate whereas the medium-length end showcases a mixture of drying wooden, apple chips, and toasted sugar. It’s an approachable, if considerably underwhelming, bourbon with a profile that feels nearly like an try to recreate a number of the gentler “dusty” bourbons of yesteryear. In a world filled with daring American whiskeys, this one positively stands out for its comparative subtleties.

90.8 proof.

B+ / $60 / kentuckyowlbourbon.com

Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Bourbon

$60

Score

8.5/10

About Publish Writer

Drew Beard

Drew Beard is Assistant Editor and Social Media Supervisor for Drinkhacker. He has studied and written about beer, whisk(e)y, and different spirits since he first began ingesting them, incomes a number of booze-related advantage badges alongside the way in which, together with Licensed Specialist in Spirits and Govt Bourbon Steward. Along with his work with Drinkhacker, Drew can also be Spirits Editor for Santé Journal. A recovering Federal authorities worker, he’s pleased to have lastly discovered a profession the place it’s acceptable to drink on the job.