Aged leather | Smoked oak chips | Butterbeer | Touch of caramel | Light brown sugar | White peppercorn | Pleasing opening

Rye spice | Dry aged oak | Peppercorn spice mix | Caramel sweetness | Light brown sugar | Good mix of spicy & sweet | Classic bourbon notes

Bold spice | Light leather | Touch of brown sugar | Light whipped cream | Lingering light heat

In 2014, Kentucky Owl started releasing their bourbon batch blends which were originally brought to market by Dixon Dedman. The brand was acquired by the Stoli Group in 2017, and Kentucky Owl Bourbon Batch #12 is the latest batch by Master Blender John Rhea. According to the press release, Rhea blended 7- to 14-year-old bourbons with two different 4-year-old bourbons to create Batch #12.

Kentucky Owl Bourbon Batch #12 is a quintessential bourbon through and through. The sip kicks off with a great combination of scents that balances sweetness with more grounded aromas that draw you in. The midpoint contains classic well-defined flavors that are nicely enhanced by the bourbon’s higher proof, but never feel overpowering. While the finish doesn’t quite live up to the nose and palate, it still delivers a satisfying ending to the sip. Past batches of Kentucky Owl bourbon have carried high price tags, and Batch #12 continues that trend. There’s no denying that $400 is incredibly high for a blended bourbon that doesn’t disclose the mashbill or blend percentages of the bourbons being used, which is even more noteworthy as there is an undisclosed amount of 4-year-old bourbon in the blend. However, looking past the exorbitant asking price. Kentucky Owl Batch #12 delivers where it counts: its taste, and will please most who try it.

‍The bottle being reviewed was bottled on 08/22.