Burnt caramel | Pancakes | Maple syrup | Brown sugar | Hazelnut | Charred oak

Leather | Seasoned oak | Vanilla extract | Molasses | Citrus

Cinnamon | Vanilla | Black pepper | Heat quickly ramps up | Lingering spice

Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co., as the name suggests, is a brewery and distillery operation based in Lexington, Kentucky. The company was founded in 1999 by Pearse Lyons, the president and founder of animal nutrition company Alltech. They made a splash in the beer scene thanks to their Kentucky Ale, and later opened up Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. in 2012 and launched Town Branch Bourbon. The bourbon brand has been chugging along ever since but has never quite reached the public mindshare of other brands that started around this time. This is possibly due to lack of proper marketing or exciting new releases. Town Branch True Cask Bourbon could change this. Now in its sixth batch, it is a blend of two Kentucky bourbon mashbills and bottled at cask strength.

The bourbon opens gently with breakfast-related scents of burnt caramel, pancakes, maple syrup, brown sugar, and hazelnut. It lacks some intensity, though the overall aroma works well. The palate and finish are decidedly straightforward, lacking much overall depth and complexity. But don’t let that deter you, as the bourbon is surprisingly robust tasting. Big notes of leather, seasoned oak, vanilla extract, molasses, and a hint of citrus make up the whole of the palate. The finish goes spice-forward, with notes of cinnamon, black pepper, and a ramp-up of heat, creating a lingering spicy aftertaste. For as unexciting as the Town Branch brand has been viewed over the years, Town Branch True Cask Bourbon Batch 006 bucks that running assumption wholeheartedly. With an excellent price point to match, Batch 006 is a bold pour in both value and flavor, resulting in a solid drinker overall.