A Little Background
After successfully releasing a 15-year old Kentucky Bourbon named after Alben Barkley (a senator/vice-president from the Bluegrass State) and a 6-year Kentucky Bourbon named after William J. Deboe (U.S. Senate for six years right at the turn of the century), the folks at Kentucky Senator Spirits are back at it with a third release. This latest release is a 7-year Kentucky Bourbon named after John Griffin Carlisle (1834–1910), a leader of the Bourbon Democrats who fought for the passage of the very first piece of legislation to protect Americans from tainted whiskey. The successful Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2022, is part of John G. Carlisle’s legacy today.
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Location: Undisclosed Kentucky Distillery
Age: 7 Years
Proof / ABV: 107 / 53.5%
Retail Price: $120
(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)
Color
Golden
Nose
Sweet orange citrus, butterscotch, dried apricots, and vanilla.
Palate
Oak, baking spice, vanilla, walnuts, and rye spice.
Finish
Rye spice, vanilla, oak, toasted caramel, and red fruit, and alcohol heat linger.
In closing
With the same mash bill as Release 2, Kentucky Senator Release 3 in many ways reminds me of that previous batch. This Bourbon opens up on the palate with a surprising amount of heat and noticeable amounts of oak and rye spice. The mouthfeel is pleasant and coats the mouth through to an enjoyable medium-long finish. Kentucky Senator Release 3 has many classic bourbon notes that I feel most would enjoy. The only thing that might be off-putting to some is the $120 price tag for a 7-year Bourbon.
NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Kentucky Senator Spirits LLC. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.