Glenns Creek Bourbon

Why You MUST Visit Glenns Creek Distilling in Frankfort, KY

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Is Glenns Creek the Most Authentic Stop on the Bourbon Trail?

In this episode of Bourbon Trail Tales and Tastes, we’re heading deep into the heart of Frankfort, Kentucky, to visit our 57th distillery: Glenns Creek Distilling. Located on the historic, rugged grounds of the abandoned Old Crow Distillery, this is anything but a corporate tour.

Join us as we sit down for an unforgettable 2.5-hour tasting with the legendary and “eccentric” owner and master distiller, David Meier. From sticking our fingers in the mash to hearing the wild stories of how David propagated yeast from the original Old Crow Fermenter #5, this visit was a birthday highlight we won’t soon forget!

🥃 Bottles on the Table

We’re tasting two unique expressions that prove “lazy” isn’t in the Glenns Creek vocabulary:

  • OCD #5 Bourbon: The flagship. Crafted with a high-corn mash bill and that historic Old Crow yeast, this 103.2 proof beauty is packed with notes of toffee, butterscotch, and deep barrel char.
  • Café Olé Bourbon: Imagine OCD #5 with a dark side. By adding chocolate malted barley, David has created a mocha-forward masterpiece. Think dark chocolate, espresso, and rich butterscotch.

Have you ever braved the backroads to find Glenns Creek? David Meier is a legend in the making—tell us your favorite “Cranky Dave” story or which of these bottles you’re hunting next in the comments below! 👇

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🥃 Bottle Details: 

OCD #5 Bourbon

  • Classification: Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Glenns Creek Distilling
  • Distillery: Glenns Creek Distilling
  • Mash Bill: 87% Corn, 8% Rye, 5% Barley
  • Yeast: Old Crow Yeast Fermenter #5
  • Age: 44 months
  • Proof: 103.2
  • MSRP: $66.04
  • Released: 2024
  • Other: Barrel 123, Bottle 3
  • Purchased: 02/23/24 for $66.04 at Glenns Creek Distilling

Café Olé Bourbon

  • Classification: Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Glenns Creek Distilling
  • Distillery: Glenns Creek Distilling
  • Mash Bill: 87% Corn, 8% Rye, 5% Chocolate Malted Barley
  • Yeast: Old Crow Yeast Fermenter #5
  • Age: 56 months
  • Proof: 105.8
  • MSRP: $64.15
  • Released: 2024
  • Other: Barrel 26, Bottle 200
  • Purchased: 02/23/24 for $64.15 at Glenns Creek Distilling

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

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NOTE: The spirit in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

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March 2024 Glenns Creek Tasting

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03/19/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

David Meier with Wayne & Rebecca




Wayne and I visited Glenns Creek Distilling 02/23/24 and had a very informative and enjoyable visit with the owner and Master Distiller, David Meier. We selected three of their expressions to take home and they are the subject of our tasting notes for today.



Selected for this Tasting

Glenns Creek OCD #5, SWHEAT, and Cafe Ole. Each is a Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already. 

Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

What is Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey? Bourbon whiskey must be made in the USA from at least 51% corn. It must be distilled at 160 proof or less.  It then must be placed into a new, charred oak container at a proof of 125 or below. In addition, it must be free from added substances (except water) and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof. To add “Kentucky” to the label, it must be aged for at least one year in the state of Kentucky. For additional information, read Bourbon Whiskey, part of the Sunday Spirit Notes.

Glenns Creek OCD #5 Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

Mashbill – Corn 85%, Rye 10%, Barley Malt 5%

Age – 44 months

Proof – 103.2

Price Paid – $70.00

Color – Medium Amber

Aroma – Cherry and corn are dominate with vanilla and baking spices as well.

Taste –  Corn, cherry, vanilla, with light baking spices. It has a lot of viscosity and that which is demonstrated about the legs on the glass as well. The finish is a pleasant warm hug.

Tasted with dried cranberry – A bit less corn but the cherry, vanilla, and baking spices remained.

Tasted with a pecan – Many of the earlier flavors seem to have been muted and replaced with a woodiness, light fruit, cinnamon and a white pepper finish.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Turned up the volume on the baking spices and it has a longer finish that lingers with chocolate.

Notes – Very nice, a lot of complexity. 

Glenns Creek SWEAT Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey


Mashbill – Corn 85%, Wheat 10%, Barley Malt 5%

Age – 42 months

Proof – 100

Price Paid – $68.00

Color – Light Amber

Aroma – Many sweet notes including corn, caramel, and cherry.

Taste –  Corn, the nuttiness of marzipan, and cinnamon on the finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Removed the corn and other flavor nuances and replaced it with stronger baking spices and light pepper.

Tasted with a pecan – Corn, woodiness, and caramel. Similar to a tub of buttered popcorn that has caramel and chocolate drizzled over it.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Baking spices, a hint of corn at the beginning.

Notes: Enjoyable. Corn forward so it somewhat loses the common wheat flavors. 

Glenns Creek Cafe Ole Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey


Mashbill – Corn 85%, Rye 10%, Roasted Barley Malt 5%

Age – 56 months

Proof – 105.8

Price Paid – $68.00

Color – Darker Amber

Aroma – Coffee, chocolate, rich caramel, butterscotch … like you walked into an amazing coffee shop.

Taste –  Coffee, chocolate, a fantastic mocha.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Not appealing as it removes the terrific mocha notes and brings out more of a cherry cough syrup.

Tasted with a pecan – Back to chocolate and coffee with a bit of woodiness.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Chocolate but lost the coffee. Instead, there is cherry, baking spices, and a white pepper finish.  

Notes: This would be an awesome after dinner drink. You could add it to a nice cup of coffee and top it off with whipped cream.

Final Notes and Discussion

While they are all very good and recommended, our personal preference order would be: Cafe Ole, OCD #5, and SWEAT. The first two are somewhat of a toss up but the Cafe Ole edged to the front due to its uniqueness.

The SWEAT is a very nice bourbon. Since it is so corn forward, the wheat takes a bit of a back seat. Love it as a bourbon but it wouldn’t rank high for us in the specific wheated bourbon category.

OCD #5 is terrific. Good level of complexity, excellent flavor profile, very enjoyable.

The Cafe Ole is phenomenal. It is complex with the coffee mocha nuances. It would make a great alternative for an after dinner drink if you didn’t want to have coffee, brandy, or even dessert after dinner. A neat pour of this would be fantastic.

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

NOTE: The bourbons in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.