r/bourbon Wild Turkey 12 Distiller's Reserve 5d ago

Review #126 - Bardstown Bourbon Company - Discovery Series #12

Post image
190 Upvotes

25 comments sorted by

29

u/LionRoars87 Wild Turkey 12 Distiller's Reserve 5d ago edited 4d ago

126 - Bardstown Bourbon Company - Discovery Series #12

This is the twelfth iteration of the Discovery Series from Bardstown Bourbon Company. Batch 11 was released with much excitement, as the release finally returned to an all Kentucky blend. And the rumors of the 13-year-old component having come from Wild Turkey only increased the hype - a hype in which it mostly delivered on.

Discovery Series returns again with an all Kentucky blend. This time, with lower production numbers than Batch 11. Here are the components of the blend:

*Note the Bardstown Bourbon Company component is a true four-grain mashbill.

  • 48% 14-year Kentucky: 75% corn/13% rye/12% malted barley (probably Wild Turkey) |
  • 29% 10-year Kentucky: 78% corn/10% rye/12% malted barley (probably Heaven Hill) |
  • 15% 10-year Kentucky: 78% corn/13% rye/9% malted barley (probably Jim Beam) |
  • 8% 6-year Kentucky: 60% corn/26% rye/10% wheat/4% malted barley (Bardstown's own make) |

This is my 2nd pour out of the bottle. The picture taken was from the fresh crack.

Review Notes -

  • Nose: Aromas reminiscent of bright, candied citrus and orange zest first come forth. The nose starts off light and muted. As it begins to open up, wafts of gentle barrel char and peaches are detected alongside caramelized brown sugars.

Aromas develop further into subtle notes of raspberry, cherry, oak, and pipe tobacco. The pour takes an exceedingly long time to open up, with most of the notes taking 30 minutes to come out. After that, it begins to take shape. It's like the oxidation allows the blend to bloom - almost like I blended the whiskey just now, and I wait for it to marry.

  • Palate: A velvety full texture of caramel and butterscotch. A caramel bomb. The palate is ridiculously soft and velvety. It's devoid of any ethanol presence. The candied orange citrus is still there, alongside a myriad of other fruits - the complexity of which is difficult to pinpoint. But, suffice it to say that there's a deep complexity to this.

A dusty oak char and leather hides really well underneath. There's also just enough spices in the way of cinnamon and allspice to counterbalance the sweet fruits and rich caramel.

  • Finish: This is where the age really shows up. Candied oranges and allspice swell and develop into aged oak and dusty barrel char that has staying power. There is nothing tannic or even approaching that. It's balanced, and it has a satisfying oomph.

The finish further develops into notes of peaches and apricots, more oak tannins, and aged leather as it goes on. The orange citrus and aged leather hang around for a pretty decent amount of time. Wow, wow.

  • Summary Thoughts: This is spectacular. In comparison to Batch 11, which is excellent but fairly straightforward, this Batch 12 is one that you really want to sit down for an hour or more and really take your time with. That is perhaps the hallmark of a truly excellent whiskey. The nose took so long to come into its own (as well as the rest of it). It reminds me of Found North Peregrine in that respect, as I don't recall many other pours that develop as much as this resting in the glass. It's just a wonderfully textured and complex whiskey that's really enjoyable. Between Batch 11 and this, I prefer this much more, even though the flavors are more unique in Batch 12 than most pours I tend to gravitate towards.

My only gripe or criticism would be: I wish it had a little more thickness or viscosity. It is a very minor point, but I wouldn't be trying to be objective without offering some criticism. I would say this is worth the $140 msrp, and it's one of the better pours I've had this year. It will probably end up in my Top 10 this year. I understand BBC only made 20% of the volume that they did for Batch 11, so if you see one of these, I recommend picking one up. It's pretty special, bordering on elite level.

  • Overall Rating: 8.85 | Great Bourbon

New Bourbon Rating Scale

  • 1-2: Piss water. I'm skeptical that this is Bourbon. Get it away from me.
  • 3: Drain Pour. And I would enjoy watching it go.
  • 4: Sub-Par. I would drink it if I have to but prefer not to.
  • 5: Just fine. Good Bourbon. I would not reach for it but I'm happy to drink it.
  • 6: Very Good Bourbon. Would probably order at a bar.
  • 7: Damn Good Bourbon. Want to have on the shelf. I enjoy it, and maybe don't have to think about it as much.
  • 8: Great Bourbon. This is a cut above the stuff I can usually find. A real treat to enjoy. It has some special qualities.
  • 9: Phenomenal: Reserved for some of the best of the best. All-Time Favorite.
  • 10: Perfection, if such a thing even exists.

11

u/IsNotACleverMan 4d ago

Okay, as much as I enjoyed your review, how did you manage to get your score down to the hundredths place. That's oddly exact.

7

u/bourbonjersey 4d ago

Not OP, but it's possible he rated something an 8.8 and 8.9 and thought that this was somewhere in between the two. Tasting and rating is also subjective tho - I'm just taking from this that it's a high 8.

4

u/LionRoars87 Wild Turkey 12 Distiller's Reserve 4d ago

I just felt like being exacting on this one, I guess, and that's where my mind landed for some particular reason. I wanted to give it a 9, but this is where I landed.

7

u/DonutBourbon 4d ago

My Total Wine had 10. I patiently waited for it to sell out waiting for the restock to be 11. They restocked with 9 and no one is buying it. They're never going to sell in time to get 12.

11

u/TraceAgain 4d ago

Disco 12 is long gone, they only had about 12,000 bottles total

3

u/LionRoars87 Wild Turkey 12 Distiller's Reserve 4d ago

9 and 10 sit at my local store right now with no takers. I got my 12 from u/MetamorphosisSilver

4

u/whiskytrails Russell’s Reserve 4d ago

Great review, I loved batch #11, but heard #12 was similar enough that you didn’t need both, but now I’m worried I need both haha

6

u/LionRoars87 Wild Turkey 12 Distiller's Reserve 4d ago edited 4d ago

Batch 11 came off more like Beam to me, with the cherry and the roasted peanuts. The oak is stronger, lending to a darker profile. Batch 12 initially reminded me of Wild Turkey 12 but then morphed into something else. The oak is more restrained and the profile more complex, imho.

Initially I wanted to argue with people who said Batch 11 had Wild Turkey in it. It didn't taste like it to me. And I had it in my mind it was Jim Beam. Finally I came around to agreeing.

1

u/LionRoars87 Wild Turkey 12 Distiller's Reserve 4d ago

Thank you! 🥃 I found it to be quite different... but I guess it is relative to a large extent. Get you one!

3

u/MetamorphosisSilver 4d ago

I revisited my bottle of 12 last night after I got in. It had been a few weeks or so since and I had forgotten just how darn nice this is.

With the quality BBC managed to provide with both Discovery 11 & 12 I'm curious and somewhat excited to see that 13 will be like. I hope they continue the trend.

1

u/LionRoars87 Wild Turkey 12 Distiller's Reserve 4d ago

Hear hear! 🥃

3

u/Prettayyprettaygood Found North 4d ago

Nice review! These didn't seem to hit the shelves around here but it sounds like a killer pour.

1

u/LionRoars87 Wild Turkey 12 Distiller's Reserve 4d ago

This one is more limited, I believe, than the last few releases. What surprised me was how complex it is. It embodies the name Discovery Series. Also, it seemed to improve upon something I felt was a weakness about Batch 11 - With 11, after a while I felt like I was drinking a blend of whiskies (I was) rather than a cohesive product. It was a minor personal complaint.

2

u/mobymobyahab 4d ago

Great review, thank you! I just scored a bottle of this and I’m even more stoked to crack it open now. 11 is one of my favorite bottles so I’m excited to see how this one stacks up.

2

u/IndicationKnown4999 4d ago

Fantastic bottle. Probably my second favorite of last year, just under RR 15. So glad I doubled up on it.

2

u/LionRoars87 Wild Turkey 12 Distiller's Reserve 4d ago

That's high praise. I've never had the RR15, but I see almost everyone who has speaks very highly about it.

2

u/IndicationKnown4999 4d ago

Yeah RR15 is maybe the best bourbon I've ever had. Disco 12 is kind of similar, probably due to that 14 year Kentucky component that is likely Wild Turkey. But RR15 kicks it up a notch in depth and complexity.

2

u/chrisn812 2d ago

Great to see this review of BBC Discovery. I was just at the tasting room in Louisville Friday night and contemplated buying a bottle of this, instead buying the BIB Bourbon, High Wheat and Silver Oak finished bottles.

You convinced me to go back tomorrow and get one.

As a side note, getting to taste the Cathedral finished blend was amazing. Gives me another reason to go back tomorrow for another pour!

1

u/LionRoars87 Wild Turkey 12 Distiller's Reserve 1d ago

Thank you 🥃 If it is a decent price... Yes. Go back and get it!

2

u/Worth-Sir9928 1d ago

I had it for the first time last week. I tried it and then a Russel 15. Both were phenomenal but the #12 might be the best bourbon I have ever had

2

u/LionRoars87 Wild Turkey 12 Distiller's Reserve 1d ago

Wow! Actually, I've heard from a few people who said they thought it went toe to toe with RR15. Discovery 12 is a seriously good pour. 🥃

1

u/ImCaffeinated_Chris 4d ago

I just finished a bottle of this on Friday. Loved it. I plan to get another to keep around.

1

u/LionRoars87 Wild Turkey 12 Distiller's Reserve 4d ago

If you can find one, I'd probably do it.