Kentucky Bourbon Distillers recommendations

[Enoch]

My local liquor store is going to start carrying all of the Kentucky Bourbon Distillers bourbons (Willett, Noah's Mill, etc.). I'm interested in what you think about their bourbons, any information, and recommendations. They are getting in 11 different bourbons and I can't get them all at once. Thanks,

[jburlowski]

Keep in mind that KBD is a bottler... not a distiller. They buy their whiskey in bulk and bottle it under their various brands. As a result, the taste profile of any particular brand may vary significantly over time.

The single-barrel, barrel-strength, unfiltered Willett offerings can be very good to great. They are often done as an exclusive for a particular retailer and are typically at the higher end of the price scale. I'd recommend that you select these particularly if you can pre-taste at the store or if you have confidence in the store's ability to select good barrels.

Of the rest, Ive had the best experience with some of the Vintage (not Kentucky Vintage) expressions. But again, keep in mind thta the juice you get may be different from what I've had.

[M14Shooter]

Last Month I picked up a bottle of Noah Mills and Rowans Creek.I liked them both.I thought the Noah Mills had a lot of flavor 114 Proof.It has a little heat.I thought it was worth the $40 .Rowans Creek was a nice bottle as well.Not was big as Noah Mills but still very enjoyable.I paid $32 for the Rowans Creek.

Still learning about KBD brands.

Mike

[Josh]

Drew Kulsveen (son of Even, head of KBD) has communicated with us enthusiasts on a few occasions, Enoch. Check out this thread, for example:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13585

[OscarV]

Of the rest, Ive had the best experience with some of the Vintage (not Kentucky Vintage) expressions.

Have you ever had the 23yo Vintage?

[DeanSheen]

Drew Kulsveen (son of Even, head of KBD) has communicated with us enthusiasts on a few occasions, Enoch. Check out this thread, for example:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13585

Or you could ff to page 5 for the fun part:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13585&page=5

[jburlowski]

Have you ever had the 23yo Vintage?

[Josh]

Or you could ff to page 5 for the fun part:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13585&page=5

[CorvallisCracker]

One thing I've always wondered about: is Noah's Mill located on Rowan's Creek?

[Josh]

One thing I've always wondered about: is Noah's Mill located on Rowan's Creek?

[White Dog]

I'm the last one on this board that should chime in on KBD products, but I can't help myself.

Although it's all gone at this point, except as a dusty, KBD's Vintage 21yr Rye was amazing.(It came from that old Medley batch that resulted in Hirsch's 22yr Rye, Red Hook, Black Maple Hill 23yr...) Probably the best Rye I've ever had.

I also love KBD's Pure Kentucky. It's bottled at 107, and it's a great value. Old Bardstown Black Label 100proof is a great bottom shelf bottle. Rowans is tasty, but a bit sweet for my tastes. Also, Willet Pot Still is buttery smooth and goes down quick. Noah's is very complex, IMHO, and for that proof a good buy.

After saying all that, I better shut the hell up because KBD is none of my f--kin' business! :cool: :cool:

[wadewood]

All the Spec's (large liquor store chain) in Texas still sale the 15 year old Noah's Mill and 12 year version of Rowan Creek....or at least that what's the shelf tags say. Spec's don't seem to care that these products are now no age statement.

In my opinion, I would avoid KBD products with no age statements. That leaves you the Vintage series as a standard product. I have had a few of these and they are pretty good.

Of course there is the Willet's series, but that is all custom.

[White Dog]

Pardon me. Old Bardstown Black Label is 90, not 100proof.

[nor02lei]

.

KBD's Vintage 21yr Rye was amazing.(It came from that old Medley batch that resulted in Hirsch's 22yr Rye, Red Hook, Black Maple Hill 23yr...) Probably the best Rye I've ever had.

quote]

It’s still available here. Are you sure its Medley I have always figured it to be old Bernheim.

Leif

[White Dog]

I could be very wrong on this, and if I am wrong I'm sure that Drew will tell me to shut the hell up, but I've been told that it was Medley.

In fact, I've been told that both Julian Van Winkle and the Kulsveens both purchased portions of that old Medley run. Julian tanked his at 19yrs, and still uses it as part of the VWFRR 13yr. The other portion of the VWFRR is a younger batch distilled at Bernheim, and maybe that is where the confusion comes from ?

Who knows, maybe the Kulsveens also bought some Rye from Bernheim. I don't expect to ever know the full story, given the nature of the Kentucky Whiskey business.

[kickert]

I could be very wrong on this, and if I am wrong I'm sure that Drew will tell me to shut the hell up, but I've been told that it was Medley.

I am glad you are still posting.

[HRay]

I have to chime in on this thread because I also love the KBD Pure Kentucky. I first purchased this in Bardstown while at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival because I had never seen it here in Atlanta. I really liked the label and at 107 proof it seemed like a pretty good buy. At the time I had never heard of KBD. Since then Pure Kentucky is now available here and Kentucky Vintage as well as "Pot Still" Willett (I was fooled by the name as well). While I like them all, I still would like to know the provenance. Pure Kentucky is still one of my favorite bourbons.

I purchased a bottle of Rowan's Creek and Noah's Mill a while back to compare without knowing they are both from KBD. I expect to like them now that I know they are both from KBD. I plan to open them and do a tasting this week.

[cigarnv]

The current Vintage 17 is a wheater that drinks quite well. The current shelf offering of Johnny Drum, which is not age stated, was also quite good (for the $$) for an easy pour to enjoy with a cigar. I was a fan of the 15YO but it has pretty much disappeared.

As mentioned by prior posters the Willett bottlings can be exceptional if you find the right ones but there are also some that IMO should have never been treated as a single barrel.

Lastly, the Willett Rye, 3YO cask strength, is one of the better young ryes I have had as of late. At just over 115 proof it drinks decently neat and works well as a mixer.

[RyanL]

I'm the last one on this board that should chime in on KBD products, but I can't help myself.

Although it's all gone at this point, except as a dusty, KBD's Vintage 21yr Rye was amazing.(It came from that old Medley batch that resulted in Hirsch's 22yr Rye, Red Hook, Black Maple Hill 23yr...) Probably the best Rye I've ever had.

I found 4 bottles of it this week so I am pretty excited to actually get my hands on it next week and give it a try. And bunker 3 bottles with a nice big smile.

[sailor22]

If you like wheaters you should definitly try the new batch of Vintage 17 from KBD. While the label is the same (almost) the Bourbon in the bottle is different than it has been for the last couple of years. I liked the previous batch but really love the current one and have bunkered several. I find it sweeter, balanced and with a little less wood.

Unfortunatly the only way to tell the two apart is that the label on the new version is just a little lighter shade of green. Very hard to tell which is which unless they are side by side but when they are it's obvious. Also I think the price is higher on the new batch.

I'll second Reid's take on Johnny Drum as a good value tasty pour.

I have long been a fan of both the 21 and 23yr Ryes. If you want some you better get them now because there won't be any more.

If you have decided you don't like anything KDB markets because they are bottlers and not producers you are missing some good whiskey.

[Gillman]

I second Pure XO simply because it has a unique palate: this would be a great one to use for the BTOTY since it just jumps out at you (although the proof is in the pudding to be sure). It tastes both young and old at the same time, oily from corn yet well-cured from long barrel age. I suppose it could be a mingling, but I'd like to think it comes from one place in one warehouse somewhere in or around Bardstown where the taste comes out this way.

Memo to self: pick up a Pure XO the next time I see it and that Vintage 17 Steve mentioned.

Gary

[mosugoji64]

Picked up a bottle of Pure XO yesterday and enjoyed it quite a bit. It's a little hot up front, but has a nice, sweet finish. I didn't know anything about this one when I bought it. Seeing Bardstown on the label, I assumed it was one of the HH brands. If I had seen the KBD posts on this board beforehand, I probably wouldn't have picked it up but I'm not disappointed in the product.

[Pieface]

If you can find an age stated Rowan's creek I'd be all over it.

I am enjoying mine very much after it had a little air on it.

Cocoa out the wazoo!

[RyanL]

I bought a bottle of the Willett 17yr and 8yr private bottling for TPS and so far have still been fairly unimpressed with the 17yr. Some people have said give it time to breath and I have though I havent had a pour of it in maybe 3-4 weeks. Maybe I will have a small one in a few minutes and amend this post, I don't know but from the 3 pours I've had that seems unlikely

But...on to the 8 year. That is an amazing pour of bourbon. It's really spicy with some fairly sweetish vanilla and fruit flavors in there. I'm not good enough to pick out all the flavors exactly but this is just a great great boubon. I was really impressed with it from the first pour but I just had another tonight and I think I will be getting another bottle or 2 when TPS gets in their Abraham Bowman rye which I hope will be soon.

If anyone has tried some of the other TPS Willett bottles I would love to hear opinions.

[RyanL]

I bought a bottle of the Willett 17yr and 8yr private bottling for TPS and so far have still been fairly unimpressed with the 17yr. Some people have said give it time to breath and I have though I havent had a pour of it in maybe 3-4 weeks. Maybe I will have a small one in a few minutes and amend this post, I don't know but from the 3 pours I've had that seems unlikely

Alright alright....time for the amendment.

Now granted for me at least it took the bottle of 17yr approx 1-1.5 months to open up to a bourbon I really enjoyed. Or maybe my taste buds just came around, IDK. It is your classic wheater only with a bit more spice to it. It reminds me a decent bit of the PHC10 only I think it is a bit more balanced with regards to the sweet and the spice with a little more sweet carmel flavor than the PHC10. IDK if I would tell anyone to rush out and buy it for $99 when compared to PHC10 for $75 but if you have $99 and the $24 doesnt mean that much to you then I think once you let it open up its a really good pour. but I still would take a Pappy 15 or 20 over it on most days. None the less I want to say that its is a much better pour than my first few encounters with it and I feel like it went from somewhat bland to quite good in about 1.5 months. So if you buy it give it some air before you even bother trying it.