Tater Review: Bardstown Discovery Series 4 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Bardstown Discovery Series 4 - photo by Matt Hakey

The Discovery Series is Bardstown Bourbon Company’s top shelf offering. Each entry into the series consists of a blend of well-aged whiskies sourced from established distilleries. This brand has been getting some serious recognition as their 3rd release landed near or at the top of many ‘Top Bourbons of 2020’ lists. Today, we dive into their latest release, Series #4. As with all entries in the Discovery Series, the contents of the blend are spelled out on the side of the bottle. Based on the mash bills of the whiskies listed, you can usually guess the distillery from which they were sourced.

Discovery 4 consists of:

55%: 13 year Kentucky bourbon, 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% barley (Barton)

37%: 15 year Kentucky bourbon 78.5% corn, 13% rye, 8.5% barley (Mystery whiskey that showed up in a ton of NDPs in 2020. It’s believed to be Jim Beam, but Bardstown is under an NDA)

8%: 10 year Kentucky bourbon 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% barley, (Wild Turkey or Jim Beam)

Let’s see what Bardstown Bourbon Company has to say about Discovery 4:

AROMA

Waves of caramel and baking spice meets depths of oak and smoke. Figs and dates round out this complex, aged Kentucky bourbon.

TASTE

Lively bursts of fruit and spice.

FINISH

Enduring and balanced.

PROOF

115 Proof

AGE

A blend – 55% 13 Year, 37% 15 Year, 8% 10 Year

This one’s a hitter. Its proof and age lend complexity while remaining balanced. Their description of the nose is accurate as I keep picking more and more out. I could nose the glass all day. At an MSRP of $130, this bottle lands in a sea of similarly priced double digit age stated bourbons all vying for those hard earned Tater dollars. Discovery Series #4 stands head and shoulders above nearly all in that group. Dare we say it- we think this bottle could easily compete with some recent BTAC offerings? We are all in. Tater away.

VERDICT: 5 Taters

SCALE:

5 Taters: Load that bunker. The kids can pay for their own college.

4 Taters: You’d better have a bottle to keep around.

3 Taters: I’ve been wanting to try it, I guess I’ll snag a bottle.

2 Taters: What’s better than drinking your own whiskey? Drinking your friend’s.

1 Tater: Maybe today is just a beer run.