Trader Joe's Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Review

This review originally appeared on Bourbon & Banter on January 4, 2017.

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I am Mr. #RespectTheBottomShelf. I’m not afraid of “cheap” whiskey, and, in fact, when I see something super-affordable, it piques my curiosity. Normally, I make a mental note to keep the bottle in mind for my next bar tasting. There are times, however, when I come across something that I know won’t be at any bar, such as a store pick or something similar. There are just times when I’m willing to take a chance – if the price is right.

While shopping at Trader Joe’s, I stumbled upon an attractive bottle of Kentucky Bourbon. A closer look showed it was Trader Joe’s private label. The next thing I noticed was the $14.99 price tag. The wheels in my head started spinning. Trader Joe’s Two Buck Chuck is a $2.00 wine that gets some decent accolades. If you don’t mind how it is made, it can be a very attractive buy. This being a Straight Bourbon, I know it has to meet some pretty rigorous guidelines to be labeled as such.

 

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Undisclosed, but evidence points to Buffalo Trace's Barton 1792 Distillery as the source
• MASH BILL: Undisclosed
• AGE: No formal age statement, but as a "straight whiskey," it is at least two years old.
• YEAR: 2016
• PROOF: 90 (45% ABV)
• MSRP: $14.99

NOSE: Sweet Candied Corn | Marshmallow | Oak | Astringent

 

TASTE: Young Oak | Spice | Cinnamon | Caramel

 

FINISH: It becomes obvious this is a younger Bourbon. Despite the candied nose, there’s a burn, but it is a short burn. What follows is a cough syrup taste that sticks around and makes me do the bitter beer face thing.

 

SHARE WITH: Friends who have been drinking a lot, and you want to see if their taste buds are still working. You know, for a good laugh.

 

WORTH THE PRICE: I’ve had much better for less.

 

BOTTLE, BAR, OR BUST: If you’re looking for something as a mixer where Bourbon isn’t the dominant ingredient, like a cola, this might be worth having. For the most part, I’d rate this a bust. I took one for the team for my fellow Bourbon & Banter writers.

 

OVERALL: While Trader Joe’s Kentucky Bourbon Straight Whiskey offers highly desirable appearance qualities, in the end, what counts is how whiskey engages with my palate. Adding a splash of water improved the experience. Still, even so, I found this Bourbon to be an overall disappointment and earns its position on the bottom shelf and my Bust rating.

 

 

 

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.