Distillery: B.R. Distilling Company
Proof: 93
Age: 3-4 years
Mashbill: 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley
Price: $30
Company
B.R. Distilling Company is the oldest licensed distillery in Memphis, TN. Its brands include Blue Note bourbon and Riverset Rye.
Production
According to their site, Blue Note Juke Joint is aged in barrels along the winding bluffs of the Mississippi River in Memphis. The humidity provided by the long, hot summers cook their barrels low and slow like proper Memphis BBQ.
Nose – 95/100
This smells like warm cinnamon bread with notes of caramel, cinnamon, and maple.
Palate – 97/100
The palate is similarly inviting with similar notes of caramel, cinnamon, and some oak. It’s a bold and rich flavor that strikes a great balance.
Finish – 91/100
Dry with slight spice and notes of vanilla and oak.
Value – 97/100
For $30, you honestly can’t do much better. Blue Note is balanced, rich, and easy to sip. It’s also becoming more widely available, so you don’t have to pray to get one like some people have to do for Buffalo Trace or Weller Special Reserve these days. The liquor store I bought this from said that most people who buy one bottle of Blue Note come back soon to buy several more.
Verdict – 95/100
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 95+
- Gold – 90 – 94
- Silver – 80 – 89
- Bronze – <80
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.