KBF2023FlaskForce

Sept 2024 Bardstown Bourbon Co 2023 KBF SB Tasting

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09/06/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

Last night Wayne and I decided to explore the bourbon room to see what we might have unopened that was just begging to be tasted. We were surprised to find a signed Bardstown Bourbon Co Single Barrel on the shelf that was untouched. Upon further inspection, we realized it was part of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2023 Flask Force VIP Package; thus, we have a back up bottle in the closet. Our decision was made! With the 2024 Kentucky Bourbon Festival just a week away, it was high time to open this little treasure from last year. Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.

Bardstown Bourbon Company: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Distillers’ Row Series 2023 Single Barrel

Mashbill – 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Age – 6 years old
Other – Rickhouse B, Floor 6
Proof – 129.6
Price Paid – $200 (as part of Flask Force VIP Ticket)

Color – A beautiful medium copper with terrific legs on the glass. 

Aroma – Great nose! There is caramel, creamy french vanilla, butterscotch, oak, and a hint of sweet smokiness such as with a roasted marshmallow.

Tasted Neat – Wow – there is a major cherry taste happening. It is a luscious dark cherry that has been soaked in brandy. There is also a light cinnamon and brown sugar that compliments the cherry.

Finish – The finish lingers in a delightful way. The cherry notes are still present and surrounded by cinnamon, brown sugar, and oak.

Tasted with dried cranberry – This turned the dark cherry into a sour cherry with orange zest. The other flavors are muted and the finish is incredibly short.

Tasted with a pecan – This brought forward a lot of baking spices with brown sugar. The cherry isn’t as pronounced as when drinking this neat and it now is more along the lines of a chocolate covered cherry. The finish is spicier than before and it lingers with a hint of leather.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Creamy chocolate with lemon zest and spicy caramel. The finish is medium not nothing interesting. This isn’t bad but it doesn’t enhance the flavor profile in any manner.

Discussion and Final Notes

This pour is absolutely remarkable, and our only regret is not savoring it sooner! The single barrel showcases incredible notes on the nose, palate, and finish. Despite its nearly 130 proof, it goes down amazingly smoothly. Full disclosure, we are huge fans of Bardstown Bourbon Co, and we have purchased MANY of their bottles. This might just be one of our favorites. Reflecting on its release date and age, it could very well be the initial original spirit from their distillery. It wasn’t until 2024 that they unveiled their Origin Series. Steve Nally, you are extraordinary, and we deeply admire your work! Every sip of this will be a true pleasure!

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Spirit Requirements

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Such whiskeys have all the requirements of bourbon: Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, bottled at >= 80 proof. Straight bourbon means it is aged at least 2 years (and must have an age statement if less than 4). In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky. For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.

NOTE: The bourbon 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.

Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2023 – VIP Experience

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10/05/23
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Before closing the books on the 2023 Kentucky Bourbon Festival, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the VIP experience. There were three VIP options to select from: Bourbon Enthusiast ($495), The Flask Force ($595), and The Decanter Club ($1195). After reviewing the benefits versus costs of each, we determined that The Flask Force was the best fit for us.

At a minimum, I highly recommend getting a ticket that includes a one-hour early entry.  While there are still many people in line to get in and then at the distiller tents who are selling special offerings, it is still a much lighter feeling than when the main gates open.  For us, it also meant we left the festival at 5PM each day versus 6PM because six hours is about our limit.

The next fantastic benefit is the access to the the VIP Penthouse Tent. When it was warm and air-conditioning sounded good, we would he’d to the tent.  There were tables, chairs, and sofas for relaxing and visiting with other bourbon fans.  There were also quite a few tables and chairs outdoors to eat, drink, and visit.

We expected “small bites” to be offered throughout the day. In all honesty, the bites might have been small but they were plentiful and there was a large variety each day. Each bite was an amazing quality – fantastic work by the catering company. We never had to eat elsewhere and most days we were so full from our meal in the VIP tent that we opted not to go out for dinner in the evening. 

For beverages, the ice cold bottled water was incredibly welcomed! If you are at a bourbon festival and it is warm, you must stay hydrated. If cocktails are more your style, the VIP tent also had a daily cocktail awaiting you upon arrival – or anytime you wanted it. There were three stations for bourbon.  They each had neat pours and one had cocktails.  One of them had a wheel that you could spin to determine your pour, which could have been a Pappy. Another had rare pours scheduled throughout the day.  This provided an opportunity to not only taste something not readily available but also to have a meet-and-greet with the master distiller and/or brand ambassador. 

The VIP tent included complimentary bottle lockers, which are essential if you plan to buy any bourbon on site.  The VIP area also had upgraded portable restrooms.

The VIP Pass also included a ticket for the Opening Night Bourbon in the Air event. We absolutely loved that event and more details are in the “Day 1” post. 

Finally, there is the “swag” that was part of The Flask Force VIP Pass. 

2023 Bardstown Bourbon Company single barrel KBF bottle – signed by hall of fame master distiller, Steve Nally.

Glencairn “Skye” cut crystal whiskey tumbler.

Limited edition 2023 Flask Force tee shirt.

Collectable 2023 Flask Force credential and lanyard.

A Jacob Bromwell pewter flask – unfortunately, there was a snag in the delivery and it is supposed to be mailed to us at some point.

Also included in the swag bag was a collectible coin set and some special KBF coffee.

All in all, we loved The Flask Force experience.  It was the perfect fit for us. In a sea of 40,000 people, it is very nice to feel a wee bit special. We hope that the Kentucky Bourbon Festival continues to add levels of VIP options and that we have the opportunity to acquire the coveted tickets for 2024.

Cheers,
Rebecca