Bluegrass Distillers was established in Lexington, Kentucky, in 2012 by Ben Franzini and Sam Rock. The next 12 months, the distillery started manufacturing on a 250-gallon Hoga copper pot nonetheless fired by open flame, steadily working with heirloom corn varieties and inserting a selected emphasis on blue corn.
In 2020, Bluegrass Distillers acquired the historic Elkwood Farm in Halfway, Kentucky, relocating operations to the 62-acre property. The property’s mansion, listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations, now serves because the distillery’s customer middle. With the transfer, Bluegrass strengthened its dedication to a farm-to-glass method, producing whiskey solely on website. The distillery marked ten years of energetic distilling in 2023.
To honor that milestone, Bluegrass Distillers launched the Elkwood Reserve collection, a group of single barrel bourbons sourced from choose Kentucky distilleries somewhat than distilled in-house. Every launch highlights a traditional bourbon mashbill, providing a distinct perspective on well-aged Kentucky whiskey.
The fourth installment within the Elkwood Reserve Cask Energy collection includes a mashbill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley. The bourbon was aged for no less than 9 years and distilled by an undisclosed Kentucky distillery.
Bluegrass Distillers generously supplied Drinkhacker with a pattern for evaluate. With the background set, it’s time to dive into Launch No. 4 of Elkwood Reserve Cask Energy Bourbon and see whether or not it lives as much as its celebratory intent.
Elkwood Reserve Cask Energy Kentucky Straight Bourbon 9 Years Previous
The barrel chosen for Launch No. 4 was crammed on October 24, 2016 and bottled on December 10, 2025, leading to a last age of 9 years, 1 month, and 16 days. The bourbon was matured in a Kelvin Cooperage barrel with a No. 4 char, entered into the barrel at 120 proof.
Whereas the distillery of origin has not been formally disclosed, the manufacturing particulars supplied by Bluegrass Distillers strongly recommend Green River Distilling in Owensboro, Kentucky. Inexperienced River started energetic distillation in late August 2016, which locations 9-year aged Owensboro bourbon inside attain as of late August 2025. Notably, barrels from this early interval have appeared in clear bottlings by non-distilling producers, although Inexperienced River has but to launch bourbon of this age below its personal label.
The mashbill, barrel char stage, and entry proof all align with Inexperienced River’s documented manufacturing practices. As well as, throughout its early distillation years, Inexperienced River sourced barrels from Kelvin Cooperage earlier than transitioning to different suppliers. If this bourbon did originate at Inexperienced River, it might rank among the many oldest examples of that distillery’s whiskey presently bottled.
The barrel aged solely in Kentucky, spending most of its life at its authentic distillation website earlier than a quick switch to a different undisclosed Kentucky distillery. It was later moved to Halfway for added maturation in Bluegrass Distillers’ black metal-clad warehouse with loads of home windows for air flow, a construction able to housing roughly 20,000 barrels.
Bluegrass Distillers holds a number of extra barrels of this mashbill slated for future releases. This specific barrel stood out as a result of its notably low fill stage upon arrival in Halfway. To restrict additional quantity loss and forestall extreme wooden affect, the barrel was positioned close to the middle of the warehouse at a low elevation, the place temperature and airflow stay extra steady.
At harvest, the barrel yielded lower than 10 gallons of bourbon, making Launch No. 4 a genuinely scarce providing drawn from a barrel that demanded cautious stewardship to the very finish.
The aroma opens with pipe tobacco and allspice. Shortly after, a smoky sweetness seems, much like a closely charred marshmallow, adopted by a light-weight notice of lemon-scented wooden furnishings polish. With extra time within the glass, stewed black cherries rise to prominence and progressively take the lead over the tobacco. Each part of the nostril delivers one thing partaking.
The palate begins with cherry cordial, pushed by milk chocolate, brandied cherry, and candy vanilla. Because it progresses, the cherry shifts towards a softer tobacco notice, paired with a medium-thick mouthfeel. The end brings cherry cola together with a light-weight hue of eucalyptus.
This is without doubt one of the most fulfilling bourbons I’ve tasted previously 12 months. Bottled at 134 proof, it presents itself far under that quantity, providing energy with out harshness. If this bourbon is certainly distilled in Owensboro, it stands as one of the best instance I’ve encountered from Owensboro, and I’ve tasted an excellent deal from my city of residence.
The Elkwood Reserve collection was created to mark 10 years of energetic distilling for Bluegrass Distillers, and this single barrel launch totally earns its place in that milestone.
134 proof.
A / $89
Elkwood Reserve Cask Energy Bourbon 9 Years Previous
USD89
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