Fortuna Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes

I don’t know if it is nostalgia or my love of history in general, but I am fascinated when old brands make a comeback. It doesn’t have to be whiskey that piques my interest; it can be anything. But, of course, whiskey makes it just a smidge more special.

 

Today I’m exploring Fortuna Bourbon, a brand introduced in the 1870s and resurrected by Rare Character Whiskey Company.

 

“At the height of America’s original whiskey boom of the late nineteenth century, a German immigrant named Phil Hollenbach crafted a brand called Fortuna that helped define the early days of the modern bourbon industry.  Hollenbach left a lasting mark on the whiskey trade, having found great success in Louisville, Kentucky.  He strived to delight customers far and wide by sharing some of the ‘Taste of Good Fortune’ provided to his family.” – Rare Character Whiskey Co.

 

Fortuna wasn’t the only brand Hollenbach created; there was also Glencoe, which the Stitzel Bros. Distillery produced. Hollenbach purchased and renamed the distillery after his brand while also making Fortuna. Unfortunately, Prohibition shuttered the distillery in 1920, and in 1935, it was dismantled. However, Phil’s son, Louis, rebuilt it nearby, only to sell it to National Distillers in 1942. The Glencoe Distillery was used to make alcohol for the military. And in 1945, the distillery was shut down. National Distillers then moved Glencoe’s production to its Bardstown Distillery. They renamed it The Glencoe Distillery, only to have the second new Glencoe Distillery shuttered and its assets sold off shortly after that.

 

Rare Character set up The Heritage Series to restore now-defunct brands. Rare Character also produces The Single Barrel Series and The Exceptional Cask Series, meant to showcase rare American whiskeys. 

 

Six barrels of six-year-old Kentucky Bourbon from a single, undisclosed “legacy” distillery were selected for Fortuna’s first release. The mashbill is also unknown, but we know the second major ingredient is rye (versus wheat). Bottled at 51% ABV (102°), it has a suggested price of $85.00 for a 750ml package.

 

I’ve never tasted the original Fortuna, but I’m excited to #DrinkCurious and discover what this reincarnation is all about. I’m grateful to Rare Character for providing me with a sample in exchange for a no-strings-attached, honest review.  

 

Appearance: A neat pour into my Glencairn glass revealed a Bourbon with a welcoming copper amber. A thinner rim yielded thicker-than-expected tears that fought gravity by slowly falling back into the pool.

 

Nose: The aroma offered vanilla and a kiss of mint accompanied by tropical fruits, such as banana and pineapple, with rye spice and molasses. When I pulled that air into my mouth, I tasted cream-covered Danish pastry.

 

Palate: The mouthfeel was syrupy. Ginger, vanilla, and mint greeted my tongue, while mid-palate consisted of caramel, banana, and cinnamon sugar. The back featured rye spice, tobacco leaf, and freshly-cracked black pepper.

 

Finish: Ginger, leather, rye spice, black pepper, and a hint of sweet plums formed a long-lasting, well-formed finish.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Part of the challenge is to try and figure out which distillery is responsible for Fortuna. I have no idea. The mouthfeel was one of the thickest syrup-like ones I’ve ever experienced, and that kept throwing me off. No matter how often I sipped, the texture never thinned.

 

My nosing experience was also challenging. Those pineapple and banana notes were less than obvious. Once I identified them, it was an “Oh, yeah” moment. But they kept playing with one another. The palate was pretty straightforward; I like how it started spicily, went sweet, and spicy again.

 

Fortuna gives me nothing to complain about as far as its performance. The value statement is more difficult to nail down. Fortuna is a six-year Kentucky Bourbon packaged at 102°; several out there at similar age and proof are more affordable. Yet, that mouthfeel was in a league of its own and caused me to continue to sip and savor what was in my glass. Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? I have to say, “Also, yes.” I’m going to crown Fortuna with my coveted Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

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 do so responsibly.