Brown sugar | Molasses | Caramel | Vanilla | Hazelnut | Seasoned charred oak | Very good

Cinnamon roll | Vanilla | Raspberry | Burnt sugar | Oily mouthfeel

Walnut | Brown sugar | Rye spice | Mild tannins | Slight dry charred oak | Gentle ramp up of heat that lingers

Bulleit Bottled in Bond Bourbon just might be the most important release from the company since their initial release in its now iconic bottle design. Bulleit Bottled in Bond Bourbon marks the first bourbon distilled by Bulleit themselves. Diageo broke ground on the $115 million distillery in 2014, which feels like a lifetime ago in bourbon terms. With the launch of Bulleit Bottled in Bond Bourbon, one could expect the age to be at the legal minimum requirement of 4 years old. Yet, Diageo waited and surprised everyone, debuting their new in-house distilled bourbon at 7 years old. The wait was well worth it.

‍The high-rye bourbon opens with a rich and weighted aroma of brown sugar, molasses, caramel, vanilla, and hazelnut, all scents that work exceedingly well in tandem. It’s capped off with a deep, seasoned oak note that nicely wraps the aroma in a warm embrace. From there, the palate takes from a similar page but alters it slightly, providing sweet cinnamon roll, vanilla, and burnt sugar flavors before adding mild fruit notes in the form of orange and raspberry. At this point, its oily mouthfeel is noticed, further adding to the texture of this bourbon. The finish presents walnut, brown sugar, and a rye spice pop, which rides out the rest of the sip. As the long finish concludes, you’ll notice mild tannins and a slightly dry, charred oak note on your tongue.

‍Bulleit is well known for sourcing their whiskey from Four Roses during their early years and continued to rely on sourcing until this release of Bulleit Bottled in Bond Bourbon. Though their bourbon typically offers a solid sip, it lacks a certain amount of flair, and the increase in competition has made their standard bourbon harder to stand out. That looks to change with Bulleit Bottled in Bond Bourbon. It manages to target a good amount of sweetness, which will likely make this a very enjoyable pour for a wide range of bourbon drinkers - many of which are likely fans of Bulleit’s standard release. For enthusiasts, the bourbon is surprisingly full-flavored for its 100 proof, features the aforementioned oily mouthfeel, and a balanced flavor profile. Its layers of baking-related notes offset by rye spice showcase its unexpected complexity. But when it comes down to it, this bourbon stands out simply because of how well all of its parts come together. Maybe it is beginner’s luck, but this is a case where everything fell into place exactly as it should.

‍Props to Diageo for taking the time necessary for this release and getting the bourbon in an impressive state instead of rushing it out. First impressions can often matter a great deal in bourbon, and as this is a new beginning for Bulleit-distilled bourbon, it was well worth the wait.