Budget Bourbons: Old Bardstown Bottled In Bond

The bourbon world can seem very confusing on the surface. There’s lots of little codes or phrases such as “small batch”, “sour mash”, and “full proof” that can leave you with more questions than answers about the bourbon you’re buying. There’s one phrase however that will almost always point you towards good bourbon…“Bottled In Bond”.

For a bourbon to be labeled as bottled-in-bond or bonded, the liquor must be the product of one distillation season, by one distiller at one distillery. It must have been aged in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least four years and bottled at 100-proof. Also, the bourbon's label must identify the distillery where it was distilled. Today we’re checking out Old Bardstown Bottled In Bond by Willet Distillery.

On the nose… cherry hard candy, brown sugar, mint, and tea leaves.

On the palate… oak forward, with a little caramel, and cinnamon. Short finish on the tongue, but lasts a little longer in the throat/chest.

This is a good, not great bourbon. It seems like it’s always on the shelf wherever you go, and always under $20. I think it’s always good to have a bottle like this around to see how it compares against other Bottled in Bond bourbons.

Grab a bottle and try for yourself.

Cheers.