Well folks, I’m in a bit of a mental health crisis right now, so I won’t have any witty anecdotes or observations on this one (some might say they’re never witty). Let’s jump right into the review.
Last week I asked that you stay tuned if you wanted to find out more about the bourbon version of Old Pepper Bottled in Bond. Well, today’s the day. Like the rye, I picked up this bottle of Old Pepper Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon at The Party Source in Bellevue, KY back in May. Only a couple more times that you’ll need to read that, as I finally reach the end of what I had stashed in my overflow closet.
Does that mean another road trip? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We still need to make it out of winter first.
Old Pepper is made by the James E. Pepper Distilling Company in Lexington, KY. I am a big fan of their Bonded Rye, but before we jump into whether I liked the bourbon, let’s look at what the distillery has to say about it.
Unique blends of distinct mash bills, consisting of Corn, Rye, Malted Barley & Malted Rye; Aged in new toasted & charred barrels made from Kentucky Oak, air seasoned a minimum of 18-24 months; Water source from the historic distillery well. Distilled and bottled at the historic James E. Pepper Distillery (DSP-KY-5) in Lexington, Kentucky. Aged a minimum of 4 years and bottled at 100 proof. Distilling season listed on signature strip label.
Let’s dig in.
Old Pepper Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
Purchase Info: $54.99 for a 750 mL bottle at The Party Source, Bellevue, KY
Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.67
Details: 50% ABV. DSP-KY-5. Batch S2020
Nose: Oak, brown sugar, vanilla, and mint.
Mouth: Brown sugar, oak, vanilla, cinnamon, and a touch of mint.
Finish: Warm and on the longer end of medium length. Lingering notes of cinnamon, mint, and oak.
Thoughts: Very solid bourbon. I’ve had no qualms pouring this whenever I’m reaching for a bourbon. I do prefer the rye, though. And honestly, if I were in the store choosing between this and other bottles in the same price range, I’d probably end up with a Knob Creek Single Barrel or Four Roses Single Barrel instead. But since those are two of my favorite $50–$60 pours, that probably isn’t surprising. If those were out of stock, however, this would make a perfectly decent backup. All in all, I like it. It has nice spice and oak with enough sweetness to back them up. It’s a good bourbon.
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