Cherry | Caramel | Maple sugar | Charred oak | Blackberries | Wonderfully rich

Toffee | Cinnamon spice | Nutmeg | Vanilla | Raisin

French oak | Bourbon-soaked cherries | White pepper | Leather

Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Discovery Series never feels like it gets the attention from bourbon drinkers like their other brands do. Maybe it only seems that way as their Collaborative Series has been incredibly creative in their partnerships over the last year and tends to overshadow their other releases. But maybe the Discovery Series is doing just as expected, as the series is now in its eleventh iteration. Tastewise, it’s one of their best batches yet.

Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #11 definitely simplifies things this time out, by blending only three base bourbon components for the distillery’s latest release. The most immediately eye-catching aspect of this batch is its 73% 13 year old Kentucky bourbon base. I assume the 10 year old Kentucky bourbon is helping round out some of its (slightly) older base. I was surprised to see only 6% of the blend is from the company’s own distillate, until I learned the 6 year old bourbon spent its entire time aging in French oak barrels. That’s a long time to age a bourbon in French oak so I can only imagine how potent it is on its own.

It probably isn’t mentioned enough, but the team at Bardstown Bourbon Company is becoming something of very effective blenders, as exemplified by the greatness of Discovery #11 blend. Sure the 13 year old bourbon is doing a lot of the heavy lifting, but it's how Bardstown is able to inject the 10 year old bourbon and the 6 year old French oak bourbon to successful results. Discovery #11 flavors are rich, layered, and well balanced. Its asking price may be high, but you’re getting a much more available and better bourbon than many of the limited releases that are on shelves this fall.