Distillery: Bluegrass Distillers, Lexington, KY and Midway, KY
Proof: 120
Age: 9 years
Mashbill: 78% Corn, 13% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
MSRP: $159
Company
A Lexington attorney, Sam Rock started Bluegrass Distillers in 2012. Rock started about as small as you can get. Rock started with a pressure cooker and a crock pot in his garage. Eventually leasing space inside the Lexington Brewing & Distilling Company. In 2016, Bluegrass Distillers released their first barrels of bourbon into the commercial marketplace.
Production
The primary distilling facility remains inside the Lexington Brewing & Distilling Company in downtown Lexington, KY. In February 2023, BD broke ground on their own distillery. Expected opening is August 2024. As of this writing, BD has four flagship labels and six limited release labels.
Bluegrass Distillers considers Elkwood Reserve to be their top shelf expression, and is bottled at cask strength from a blend of three barrels. Elkwood Reserve is the only offering that is a change from their standard mashbill. For Elkwood Reserve, the mashbill moves to 78% corn; 13% rye; 8% malted barley.
Elkwood Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes
Nose 3/5
Oddly, there is a significant presence of grape jelly with a strong hint of brown sugar. Cherries and a hit of cinnamon.
Palate 3.5/5
This expression is a smooth goodness with a wonderful mouth feel. Cinnamon and baking spices. Smokey balanced oak.
Finish 3.75/5
With a 120 proof and moderate rye content, you might expect this to bring a finish of heat that enhances the spice to the point of offensiveness. It does not. This is a smooth sipper that produces a delightfully long warm finish. No doubt, the nine-year barreling has paid dividends.
Value 3.25/5
No matter the label, single barrels give us a unique opportunity to partake in what a Distiller thinks is their finest expression. It is an unique opportunity to experience the convergence of a Distillers application of science, art and the luck of mother nature. That said, I sometimes wonder if Distillers release single barrels just because they can. With this expression, Bluegrass Distillers released a truly extraordinary barrel. At a $95 price point, it is well worth the investment. I’m doubtful it will sit on your shelf for any extended period.
Elkwood Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review: The Verdict
3.5/5
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 4.25 – 5
- Gold – 3.25 – 4.24
- Silver – 2.75 – 3.24
- Bronze – <2.75
Mike Long is a staff writer at Bourbon Inspector and has an Executive Bourbon Steward designation from the Stave and Thief Society. He’s a former “wine guy” who discovered his love for bourbon years back at a spur-of-the-moment bourbon tasting he attended. He also loves traveling throughout America with his wife of over 37 years, Debby.