Raisin | Dark cherry | Hint of cinnamon

Sandalwood | Caramel | Vanilla | Pastry | Rich, earthy undertone

Apricot | Caramel | Brown sugar | Milk chocolate | Warming aftertaste

Bluegrass Distillers is releasing two limited edition batches of their Blue Corn Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon this year, one in the spring and the other slated for the fall. According to the press release, the Spring release features a blend of four 6.5 year old barrels, resulting in a total of 825 bottles for this release.

I reviewed an earlier batch of this product back in 2021, and found it interesting but lacking cohesion, likely a result of being a younger release at only 4 years old. This newest batch takes a noticeable step forward, with a more developed and cohesive sip overall. Like the earlier batch, there’s a pastry/bakery note and apricot on the finish. But the remainder of flavors are replaced with more traditional ones, most notably raisin, cherry, cinnamon, caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, and chocolate. However, the palate has a rich, earthy undertone to it that borders, but doesn’t quite touch, grainy territory, most likely due to the use of blue corn in the mashbill, which is known for its rich, floury, and often sweet characteristics. This undertone ultimately defines the bourbon, highlighting what Bluegrass Distillers is seeking to showcase with this release.

The bourbon in review is from Batch 5, bottle 0253.