Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Medium Toasted American Oak Barrels Review & Tasting Notes

 

One of the things I find entertaining about Bourbon is its history. I'm not necessarily speaking of tall tales and marketing backstories, although those can be fun, too. Instead, I'm talking about actual history. When I come across a new whiskey, I try to learn what I can about it - whether that is the history of a distillery or the reason behind the name of a whiskey.

 

Joseph Hamilton Daveiss had an interesting background. He became a lawyer in 1795 and appeared in court as someone you'd think of from the movie Deliverance. He got involved in a duel in 1799 and became a fugitive. And, yet, he was also the first lawyer west of the Appalachian Mountains to litigate a case before the US Supreme Court.

 

Daveiss then became a US District Attorney based in Kentucky. He wound up getting a burr (pun intended) under his saddle regarding Aaron Burr. He tried many times to prosecute Burr for treason but was never successful.

 

In 1811, Daveiss volunteered to serve in the Indiana militia, where he was in charge of the entire Indiana cavalry as well as two companies of dragoons. He led them into battle at Tippecanoe, where he died from his injuries.

 

You're probably wondering if I've got a spelling error regarding his name. For whatever reason, anything named after Daveiss has been spelled Daviess, including a county in Kentucky. In that county was a distillery called Daviess County Distilling Co., one of the original Kentucky distilleries.

 

The distillery just released its newest incarnation: Daviess County Bourbon Finished in Medium Toasted American Oak Barrels. This Bourbon is a blend of traditional and wheated mashbills that slept for at least four years in new, charred oak barrels. Once matured, it was then transferred to a new, medium-toasted barrel for an undisclosed time.

 

“We continue to honor the rich history and tradition stated in 1874 by the Daviess County Distilling Co. with this latest expression of our Daviess County Straight Bourbon. Finishing our traditional Daviess County Bourbon in medium-toasted American oak barrels imparts aromas of roasted nuts, cocoa, and hints of oak on the nose, while delivering flavors of caramel with notes of honey, roasted coffee, and strong coconut on the palate. This unique flavor profile gives fans of the Daviess County Bourbon brand family more options to choose from and enjoy.” – John Rempe, Master Distiller, Lux Row Distillers

 

Lux Row indicates an allocation of 3,000 six-pack cases of 96° bottles, with a suggested retail price of $49.99. Distribution is nationwide. This is the same as the Lightly-Toasted release that I reviewed last year. For the record, it took a Bottle rating from me.

 

How does this year’s Medium-Toasted compare? The only way to know for sure is to #DrinkCurious. But, before I get there, I must thank Lux Row for providing me this sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

Appearance: I poured this Bourbon into my Glencairn glass and sipped it neat. The liquid inside created a medium rim that released pencil-thin, slow tears. They, in turn, left behind sticky droplets that hung to the former ring.  

 

Nose: I immediately smelled maraschino cherries and caramel. Beneath those were oak, vanilla, and plum. When I drew the air through my lips, I encountered bold butterscotch.

 

Palate: The Bourbon’s texture was weighty but slick. There was no mistaking this is a toasted barrel finished whiskey because that was the first thing I tasted. The front also included shredded coconut and old leather. Midway through, I found caramel, tobacco leaf, and cocoa powder, while the back tasted of nutmeg, clove, and roasted coffee.

 

Finish: The best way to describe the finish is like a train pulling into the depot. It starts heavy, and as time elapses, it eases up as it gets closer to the station, eventually falling flat after a minute or so. There were coffee, nutmeg, tobacco leaf, and cocoa powder. Just before it fell off, there was a caramel kiss.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Daviess County Medium Toasted Finish was spicy and savory with muted sweetness. It was very oak-forward, which didn’t surprise me. The roasted coffee and toasted oak almost made this whiskey run full circle.

 

While I enjoy bold oak notes, this isn’t a whiskey I’d select as a daily drinker. I prefer more dark fruit flavors to compliment the wood. Between the medium-toast and the light-toast, I would choose the latter. This Bourbon is fairly priced, but I believe it is one you should try first at a Bar before committing to a purchase. 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 to do so responsibly.