Faint oak | Vanilla almond cake | Burnt orange rind | Touch of caramel | Light overall

White peppercorn spice | Orange peel | Light rye spice | Oak | Watery

Flash of vanilla | Faint oak | Pinch of rye spice | Incredibly short

Green River 1885 is a new extension of the Green River brand, which is “Blended And Proofed For The Bar.” The sole focus of this new bottle is to provide a large quantity of bourbon at a low price. According to Caryn Wells, National Brand Ambassador for Green River Distilling Co., “Green River 1885 was blended with classic cocktails in mind and is the ideal combination of flavor and value.” Bardstown Bourbon Company will initially be releasing Green River 1885 in nine markets, including Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan, Texas, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.

Opening with light overall scents, the bourbon delivers a decent aroma, though one that is limited by the proof it’s working with. The rest of the sip, however, can’t overcome this limitation, as the palate comes across as watery, and the finish is incredibly short. Traditional bourbon flavors are present throughout, with an orange peel influence adding a bit of intrigue. The bourbon is ultimately aimed at bartenders, and this is clearly meant to be mixed, as it’s crafted to allow supporting cocktail ingredients to shine through while providing a good bourbon base.

Green River 1885 Bourbon struggles on its own as a sipper, though. However, the value is tremendous, considering it only comes in 1 liter bottles. Ultimately, Green River 1885 Bourbon is a good, lower cost substitute for those who enjoy a lighter bourbon like Basil Hayden’s.