Bourbon Review #9:
Category: Grey Zone
Price: $45
Availability: Year Round, Everywhere
Proof: 94, 47% abv
Mashbill: No statement- Standard
Age: 8-10 Years
Distillery: K.B.D. (Kentucky Bourbon Distillers LTD.) Bardstown, KY
The KBD (Kentucky Bourbon Distillers) Company is currently producing
bourbons such as Pure Kentucky XO, Willett, Noah’s Mill, Rowan’s Creek, Old
Bardstown, Johnny Drum and Kentucky Vintage. While many of these bourbons are
getting great reviews, I get the impression that casual bourbon customers are
not taking the KBD Company very seriously.
There are several misconceptions regarding KBD. These include: 1. KBD is
a new Company. 2. KBD is a large, decentralized, corporate company. 3. KBD
won’t release the sourcing locations for their bourbon; therefore, they must be
hiding something. I will try to shed some light on these misconceptions in the previous
listed order.
1. Folks think KBD is a new company due to the facelift that it is undergoing.
KBD also recently placed some new brands on the market. What most folks don’t
realize, is that KBD’s is a small, family owned operation. It’s roots are rich
regarding Kentucky Straight Bourbon with a heritage dating back to the late
1800’s. If you have the time and the interest, I would recommend reading the
history of the Willet Company at the following link.
http://www.kentuckybourbonwhiskey.com/willett-story.html
2. KBD has and will continue to source bourbon from other distilleries
until their own juice is aged and market ready. This does not label them as a
decentralized company. Though they source from several KY Distilleries, they
are centrally located in Bardstown, KY. This has always been the location of
the old Willett Distillery.
3. Serious bourbon consumers want to know everything about the bourbon
that they purchase. Most Distilleries make great efforts to inform their
customers about every aspect of the distillation and aging process. KBD’s (Old
Willett) distillery has been out of commission for decades. The current
generation of the Willett family has been working very hard to restore the old
Willett Distillery to its full operating potential.
By legal contract, KBD cannot release the distilleries that they source
their bourbon from. They have nothing to hide. It’s just a legal stipulation
for situations regarding any company sourcing bourbon from other non-related
companies. Does this mean that the current lineups of KBD brands are sub par?
Not in the least! Because KBD is a small, family owned business, they can be
very selective of the bourbon that they source. Heaven Hill is located just a
mile down the road from KBD. Logically, this would make for a convenient
sourcing location. Although this is likely true, other distilleries remain
anonymous.
On January 18th 2012, members of the Willett family and
company employees fired up the stills in an effort to once again produce KBD
juice for the world. Bourbon takes a minimum of four years of aging before its
fully matured and ready to be bottled. This means that we won’t likely see KBD
juice on the market until 2016 at the earliest. In the mean time, don’t be
afraid to pick up their brands. Jim Murray gave Willett Pot Still Family
Reserve Single Barrel a 95 out of 100 rating. Jason Pile has also given their
products consistently high ratings.
The newly renovated Willett Distillery in Bardstown, KY.
Overall: Willett Single Barrel is another great example of single barrel
bourbon. I’m starting to notice a pattern with these nicer expressions of single
barrels. I think they make for some of the most balanced bourbons on the
market. This may be due to the fact that more control is applied when dealing
with the juice of a single barrel.
The flavors in this expression are warm, soft, round, rich and buttery.
There is a hearty presence of sweet dry corn that serves to round out the mix.
I would say that the corn dominates the rye, while remaining very balanced.
This is a beautiful expression of bourbon. Perhaps it’s a little more than I
would like to spend for a ”go-to” bourbon. That’s why I have marked it in my
“gray zone” category. Nonetheless, it’s a very nice expression, and it’s got me
curious to try some of the other KBD offerings! The Colonel gives it a solid 8
out of 10.
