Dark berries | Dark chocolate | Toasted caramel | Leather | Aged oak | Rich delightful opening

Ripe summer berries | Toasted sugar | Cinnamon spice | Charred dry oak | Black peppercorn | Rye spice | Rich flavors are nicely balanced

Burst of rye spice | Sweet dark berries | Brown sugar | Light oak | Touch of leather & tobacco leaf | Long lingering spice

Bardstown’s Discovery Series has always been a way for the brand to showcase their blending prowess. The eighth edition of this series is no different and seems to elevate the series to the next level. In their press release, the company stated that this is their most complex blend to date, and that “Discovery #8 features a unique blend of Kentucky Bourbons, two Indiana ryes, and aged Canadian whiskey. It represents the most Rye forward expression of any Discovery release to date and then takes innovation a step further by maturing the final batch with a custom selection of oak staves. Each oak stave was selected for its unique flavor profile ranging from French toast to Rioja barrels.”

A four whiskey blend with distinct ages and mashbills along with a five oak stave finishing process sounds like it would be too much, but as the old saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. It starts with a delightful opening that highlights rich notes mingling with subdued oak. Transitioning into the palate, these rich flavors come to life in the form of berries, spice, and dry oak. Finishing on a long lingering spice note highlights the incredibly manageable 114.1 proof this whiskey delivers. In this case, the high amount of corn and rye in the mashbill balance each other out and are enhanced by the staves used. The price is certainly high, however, those seeking out a richer sip that nicely balances spice and sweetness with just the right amount of oak influence will certainly appreciate Bardstown Bourbon Discovery Series #8.