Trackside Distilling Company Founder Release 2025 Bourbon Review

Distillery: Trackside Distilling Company – Louiseville, Kentucky

Proof: 107.0 (53.5% ABV)

Age: Minimum of Four Years

Mashbill: Undisclosed Four Grain Ratio

MSRP: $573

Familiar at first.  Distinctive as it develops.  Let’s off early at the Finish.

Trackside Distilling Company Founder Release 2025 Bourbon brings together a wide range of barrels, mashbills and ages, all under the direction of Master Distiller Jade Peterson.  

Distilled through Kentucky Artisan Distillery and positioned as a first release under the Trackside brand, this bourbon leans heavily on blending as its primary tool rather than age or proof.  Bottled at 107 proof and built on a four-grain concept that includes chocolate malted barley.  The goal appears to be creating a whiskey that feels familiar at first but gradually reveals something more distinctive as it develops in the glass.  

With a minimum age of four years and some barrels extending beyond five, this release sits in a range where its structure comes from its composition rather than an extended age.  At $73, the expectation shifts toward whether that the results in the bottle is an engaging experience from Nose to Finish.

Trackside Distilling Company Founder Release 2025 Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 3.9/5

Sweet Grain.  Chocolate.  Dry Oak.  Caramel Corn.
Strengths:  Presents with a clear and approachable entry .  Opens sweet grain before moving into chocolate and dry oak.  With time, caramel corn emerges and adds more specific and recognizable sweetness.  Notes are well defined and easy to identify.  Moderate intensity keeps it inviting rather than overwhelming. There is enough across multiple passes to hold your attention and encourage continued exploration.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Leans more toward clarity than depth, and while it invites revisiting, it doesn’t expand into more.
Rating Justification:  Well-structured.  Builds in a controlled way.  Offers enough variation to remain engaging even though it doesn’t reach further into complexity.

Palate – 4.2/5

Chocolate.  Caramel.  Cherry.
Strengths:  Immediately establishes its identity around chocolate notes.  Deepens into caramel and cherry as it progresses.  Smooth and gradual movement from entry to mid-Palate.  No abrupt transitions. Texture plays a key role here, with a silky mouthfeel that carries the flavors without becoming heavy.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Develops by increasing intensity in the same direction rather than expanding into new notes.  The experience is more about reinforcement than discovery.
Rating Justification:  Commits to its direction and follows it through.  Delivers a satisfying build without adding new layers of notes.

Finish – 3.8/5

Sour Cherry.  Light Oak.  Toasted Sugar.
Strengths:  Carries forward the cherry note from the Palate, shifting slightly toward a more tart expression that adds contrast to the earlier sweetness.  It maintains its composure across the front and sides of the tongue.  Avoids harshness.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Does not carry the same depth or intensity established on the Palate.  It fades in place rather than continuing to develop.  Feels like it lets off too early.
Rating Justification:  Clean and pleasant.  Remains consistent with the profile but falls short of delivering the same impact and persistence as the Palate.

Value – 4.2/5

At $73, Founder Release 2025 positions itself as a bottle for drinkers looking to explore something slightly outside the traditional four-grain profile without venturing into extremes.

The use of chocolate malt creates a distinct identity that remains approachable at 107 proof.  For casual drinkers, this offers a flavorful and easy return pour.  Enthusiasts may find it a more situational pour, meaning a bottle to revisit from time-to-time rather than reach for regularly.

As a sipper for someone curious about how blending and grain selection can shape a whiskey’s profile, it delivers a worthwhile experience at its price point.

Trackside Distilling Company Founder Release 2025 Bourbon Review: The Verdict

Trackside Founder Release 2025 succeeds in creating a whiskey that feels both familiar and slightly off-center in a deliberate way.

The chocolate-driven profile establishes a clear identity early, and the Palate builds with intention, reinforcing the direction.  Where it falls just short is in the Finish, which doesn’t carry the same depth or presence needed to fully resolve the sipping experience.  Even so, the whiskey maintains a strong sense of identity and avoids feeling disjointed.  

This is a bottle that will appeal most to curious drinkers looking for something a bit different that still feels familiar.  It may not command constant attention from enthusiasts, but it delivers enough to justify a place on the shelf, and a revisit from time to time.

A Note on Proof

After the first few sips, the Palate showed a clear chocolate-driven profile, but the Finish felt like it was letting off early. It also raised the question of whether the proof was holding back some of the flavor development, so I wanted to see what would happen if I brought it down.

Was 107 the right proof? That depends on what the Distiller was aiming for. If the goal was balance from Nose to Finish, then it likely needs the 107. The Finish falls off much faster at 94 proof, and that extra structure helps carry it through.

If the goal was to lean into a more decadent profile, then proofing it down allows the chocolate and fruit notes to open up more fully. At 94, the whiskey becomes more expressive, even if it gives up some of that finishing power.

Verdict – 4.0/5

We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.

Scoring System:

• Platinum – 4.5 – 5
• Gold – 4 – 4.5
• Silver – 3 – 4
• Bronze – <3