Earlier this month, reader Mitch reached out to request a rundown of various Bourbon Cream liqueurs. I thought that with it being the holiday season, that was a great idea. So I set out to see what I could find. I was hoping to find products that are readily available across a wide swath of the country. So that meant no boutique brands unless they are hosted my a major retailer. And after stopping at a dozen liquor stores across two states, I realized that also leaves out the OG from Buffalo Trace. If you have Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream available near you and you want to report back how it stacks up with these, please do so! I’d love the feedback and I’m sure Mitch would too.
Ok, so let’s dig right in:
Nooku Bourbon Cream
Purchase Info: $2.99 for a 100 mL bottle at Ace Spirits, Hopkins, MN
Price per Drink (50 mL): $1.50
Details: 17% ABV. Lightest color of the four
Nose: Almond extract notes.
Mouth: Nutty and a little sharp.
Finish: Not much of a finish.
Thoughts: By far, the Nooku is our least favorite. It seems to have a boozy flavor that isn't well integrated and causes a sharpness to the flavor as the ethanol makes its presence known.
Ezra Brooks Bourbon Cream
Purchase Info: $8.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Viking Liquor Barrel, Prior Lake, MN
Price per Drink (50 mL): $0.60
Details: 12.5% ABV. Darkest color of the four.
Nose: Not much of a nose. Slightly boozy and a little cheesy.
Mouth: Very creamy in the mouth. Slight hint of cherry and mint.
Finish: None to speak of.
Thoughts: A big step up from the Nooku, but still in third place (for me, my wife ranked this in second), is Ezra Brooks. It's got a hint of an aged Parmesan cheese note to it that I don't really find enjoyable in this context. I wouldn't mind it so much if it weren't being tasted next to examples that more closely match our palates.
Paddleford Creek Bourbon Cream
Purchase Info: $18.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Total Wine, Bloomington, MN
Price per Drink (50 mL): $1.27
Details: 15% ABV. Spirits Direct (Total Wine)
Nose: A touch of cherry on the nose.
Mouth: Very thick and rich. Cinnamon and vanilla join the cream flavors.
Finish: Coats the throat. Cinnamon and vanilla flavors hang around.
Thoughts: In second place (for me) is Paddleford Creek. This has, by far, the creamiest mouthfeel. It's just luscious in the mouth. The slight cinnamon and vanilla notes could be a little more prominent, though. But if tasted without comparison, this would be a very enjoyable pour.
Jim Beam Bourbon Cream
Purchase Info: $17.99 for a 750 mL bottle at South Lyndale Liquor, Minneapolis, MN
Price per Drink (50 mL): $1.20
Details: 15% ABV.
Nose: Nutmeg and cream.
Mouth: Not much to this on the mouth.
Finish: Much of the flavor comes after you swallow and there is a lot of flavor. Stong Nutmeg and vanilla notes.
Thoughts: Our very favorite one is the Jim Beam. That strong nutmeg note just feels like a glass of holiday cheer to me.
Overall Thoughts: I’d happily accept a glass of any of the non-Nooku Bourbon Creams. I love how flavorful the Jim Beam Bourbon Cream is. That strong hit of nutmeg is delicious. I can’t say enough about the mouthfeel of the Paddelford Creek Bourbon Cream. I could wish that the flavors were a bit more prominent, but that mostly came about after I tried the Jim Beam. Before that, I was very happy with the amount of flavor. The Ezra Brooks is also a very solid offering. Nothing bad in that pour at all. But on the flip side, there is also nothing that stands out. It’s just tasty. Nooku, I’d just avoid it personally. It was both of our least favorite and it was also the most expensive of the offerings. Even if you bought a bigger bottle. I saw one store I was at selling it for over $30 per 750 mL bottle.
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