Rowan's Creek

[smknjoe]

I received a bottle of this as gift and have yet to try it. I figured I would at least empty out a couple of other bottles before I opened it. After a little searching around on the net I see that other reviewers give it good marks, but I don't see any reviews here. What do you guys (and gals) think about it?

Edit: After a little more searching I see a few good comments on SB, but the newest thread is from 2006. Has anybody tried it recently?

Edited January 1, 2013 by smknjoe

[wadewood]

In 2006 it was a 12 year old bourbon. These days it and Noah's Mill are NAS (no age statement). FYI the shelf tags at Specs say otherwise and they are wrong.

A gift? Free bourbon is always good, but I would not spend my money on it.

[squire]

Wade said what I was thinking.

[smknjoe]

Then I will definitely have to put in on the list to open next instead of saving. Thanks. What do the tags at Specs say - that it's still 12yr?

[Ejmharris]

I was at a BBQ last summer and someone brought a bottle. To be honest I quite enjoyed it. It actually tasted a lot like ER10 to me but I am not sure of the real source of the whiskey. I didn't think BT was doing much sourcing but who really knows. My opinions as far as purchasing more, is that I probably won't. I happy to drink it when available but not worth the premium placed on it in the stores.

Mike

[shoshani]

I was at a BBQ last summer and someone brought a bottle. To be honest I quite enjoyed it. It actually tasted a lot like ER10 to me but I am not sure of the real source of the whiskey.

So far as I know, all of KBD's own-label products are sourced from Heaven Hill. They do have their own distilling operation running now I think, but none of that has aged long enough to be salable yet. If they actually started.

[squire]

The stills are now functional, are they being used regularly?

[wadewood]

So far as I know, all of KBD's own-label products are sourced from Heaven Hill. They do have their own distilling operation running now I think, but none of that has aged long enough to be salable yet. If they actually started.

[squire]

Good for them, I understand they plan to use the old Willet Distillery formula developed by the Master Distiller, a Mr. Thomason I believe. I may have misspelled his name, my notes are not within reach. That would be a whisky I might purchase in six years or so.

[White Dog]

Well now you know; I will tell you KBD has bought form every major distillery in KY except for 1. So everything is not sourced from HH.

And yes they are distilling and using stills regularly. They are aging in full size barrels, so it will be a while before product is ready.

[p_elliott]

I assume it's MM, but why be coy? If you know, please share.

[Richnimrod]

Hey Joe,

I've had two bottles of Rowan's Creek. One from about three years ago and one from around two years ago. They're both gone now. I wasn't impressed with either for the money. The newer one, especially, tasted to me rather young and a bit 'fruity' (like a scotch whisky rather than a bourbon). I won't buy it again. The Noah's Mill of more recent vintage (last fall) isn't quite the same as older ones either; but close. It also seemed a bit younger than the ones I had from two or three years ago. To me Rowan's Creek just isn't what a Bourbon should taste or smell like. N.M. is much more in my wheelhouse.

[scubadoo97]

I recently picked up a couple of bottles.

Reminds me a little of a Willett FR. I get some of those sweet nutty flavors. I picked it up for just over $30. Much more than that and I'd pass on it

[black mamba]

I find Noah's Mill to be quite a good buy @ $45 or less. Complex, chewy, woody . . . what's not to like?

[Josh]

So far as I know, all of KBD's own-label products are sourced from Heaven Hill. They do have their own distilling operation running now I think, but none of that has aged long enough to be salable yet. If they actually started.

Well now you know; I will tell you KBD has bought form every major distillery in KY except for 1. So everything is not sourced from HH.

Nobody on this forum has a right to speculate on the origins of KBD's whiskeys. How dare you sirs!

Anyway, yeah, I'd accept it as a gift, but probably not buy a bottle again. Elijah Craig is a better value, likely mostly from the same distillery (or at least a large % of it is) and still has its age statement.

[amftx]

I've enjoyed Rowan's Creek but I have a sweet tooth. I just finished a bottle with some friends at a party over the weekend. Syrup, chocolate, toffee, all sweet flavors are what I get from it. I've used it in my marinade for some bbq chicken and it added a nice touch. In my experience, it's unique in the sense that you get the richer, sweeter flavors that seem harder to find at it's price point. It's not complex, or balanced, or subtle, but very interesting in my overall journey and learning experience. I will open a bottle of Noah's Mill next.

[squire]

What's not to like is the price. For $45.00 you can buy at least three different Heaven Hill expressions one of which may well match the flavor profile you seek.

[brettckeen]

Ill pick it up when it is on sale for around 32 at Binnys, I find it a nice sipper but a bit hot at 100.5, I prefer to bring this one down a bit. I definitely recommend it though. I prefer its mouth feel over a EC12.

[amftx]

What's not to like is the price. For $45.00 you can buy at least three different Heaven Hill expressions one of which may well match the flavor profile you seek.

I haven't seen it cost that much. $30-$35 has been my mark locally. I have to wonder what HH expressions would be similar? I've tried EC12, EWSB '03, FC, and Larceny. All were tasty, none had the level of rich sweet notes that I experienced with Rowan's.

[squire]

No one can tell us what to like, that's for sure.

[JVande]

I bought a bottle back in 2007 when it was still the 12 year age stated bottling. For $30, it was a great pour. Don't remember a lot of the tasting notes, but it was memorable. The next thing I know, the age statement was removed and many commented that it tasted younger so I never purchased another bottle. A buddy of mine purchased a bottle within the past year and had maybe 1 pour left in his bottle when I was at his house. I finished it off and the nose was actually more along the lines of a wheated bourbon!?! I am not sure if the recipe stays the same or if KBD throws in whatever is available at the time. That being said, I thought it was a decent pour or maybe that was the 12 high alcohol bomber beers we sampled that evening talking...

[sutton]

I like the Rollin's Creek better ...

[squire]

Yeah, I've read good things about that one.

[sutton]

Yeah, I've read good things about that one.

I was getting definite pain grille on the mid-palate and a note of '82 Ch. Lafite-Rothschild on the finish ... oh wait, wrong glass ...

[PaulO]

Isn't Noah's Mill somewhere on Rowan's Creek, hidden deep in the Black Maple Hills?