Cherry | Apricot | Peach | Vanilla custard | Brown sugar | Oak

Sweet aged oak | Toasted hazelnut | Cola | Light maple syrup

Baked cherry | Barrel char | Dark brown sugar | Gentle ramp up of spice | Medium length

After the great showing of last year’s Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s Discovery Series #11, it seems the series is finally getting the attention it deserves. The latest edition’s blend is nearly one-half a single 14 year old Kentucky bourbon. Notably, 8% of the blend includes a 6 year old 4 grain bourbon distilled by Bardstown themselves.

The bourbon opens with a fruit-forward aroma with big cherry notes on the onset, and apricot and peach following. Vanilla cream, brown sugar, and light oak round out the nose with considerable flair. The palate lays the course for the rest of the sip that is much more grounded and straightforward. It begins with sweet oak, which carries through well into the bourbon’s finish. Its sweetness is a fresh change of pace compared to the recent tannic oak notes found in a recent release. Combined with the age the sweet oak gives off, its oak component is by far this release’s best quality. Following this are toasted hazelnut, cola, and light maple syrup, which are effective but don’t try to make a statement on their own merits. The finish reintroduces cherry, but this time in a baked cherry pie note that works quite well. Barrel char follows, bleeding into its dark brown sugar before ending on a ramp up of spice.

At first sip (and even a few after) Discovery Series #12 isn’t a showstopper. Drinking it in a series of other bourbons, it gets overshadowed. But on its own, and with some attention given to it, its best qualities begin to shine. It has an excellent nose. The sweet aged oak on the palate is wonderful. The baked cherry note on the finish is decadent. The rest of the bourbon’s flavors are merely playing supporting roles, and that might be why the bourbon tastes so straightforward at times. But for those willing to explore, Discovery Series #12 has more to offer than you may initially think, and you’ll be delighted by the results.