Review of Bulleit's Portfolio: Bourbons, Rye, Single Malt, and RTD Cocktails

 

 

Bulleit Distilling Company was founded in 1987 by Tom Bulleit and opened its distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky, in 2017. In 1997, the brand was acquired by Seagram, which Diageo then acquired. Originally, Bulleit was distilled by Buffalo Trace.

 

“Bulleit Bourbon is inspired by the whiskey pioneered by an old family recipe over 150 years ago. Only ingredients of the very highest quality are used. The subtlety and complexity of Bulleit Bourbon come from its unique blend of rye, corn, and barley malt, along with special strains of yeast and pure Kentucky limestone filtered water. Due to its especially high rye content, Bulleit Bourbon has a bold, spicy character with a finish that's distinctively clean and smooth.” – Bulleit Distilling Company

 

Bulleit is not big on transparency. I appreciate the need to keep certain things private. There are often non-disclosure agreements in place, and some brands are just plain squirrely about disclosing any more than legally required. In February 2021, I asked Bulleit’s marketing team face-to-face if the distiller was Four Roses and was given a long-winded semi-denial. As such, that piqued my interest even further, and I put on my detective hat.

 

In 1997, Seagram was producing Bulleit at its Lawrenceburg, Kentucky distillery. If you know anything about Seagram’s history, its Lawrenceburg facility was called Kirin Brewing Company. That city has only two distilleries:  Four Roses and Wild Turkey. And we know it isn’t Wild Turkey.

 

However, with Bulleit’s tremendous growth (one of the best-selling Bourbon brands) combined with Four Roses’ assumed limited capacity, Four Roses isn’t likely the sole supplier. As such, the distillate could be from several sources, including a blend from various distilleries. So, the long-winded semi-denial makes sense, no matter how frustrating.

 

Moreover, Bulleit has increased its whiskey portfolio to include Bulleit Rye, Bulleit Cask Strength Bourbon, Bulleit 10-Year Bourbon, and Bulleit Single Malt. It even offers two RTDs (ready-to-drink cocktails): an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan.

 

We’ll explore all of those, as Bulleit was kind enough to send me samples of each in exchange for my no-strings-attached honest reviews.

 

Before I #DrinkCurious, I want to say something important: I am a 100% advocate for drinking responsibly. There is a lot of whiskey to drink here, and the tastings didn’t occur in a single sitting. Aside from my desire to avoid getting schnockered, there is a thing called palate fatigue, which is very real. My duty to you is to provide accurate tasting notes.

 

Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey

• Distiller: Undisclosed
• Mashbill: 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley
• Age: NAS
• Alcohol Content: 45% ABV (90°)
• $24.99 for a 750ml

 

Appearance: I drank this Bourbon neat in my Glencairn glass. It presented as a blonde straw and created a thinner rim with fast, thick legs that raced back into the pool of whiskey.

 

Nose: A hint of butterscotch escaped the glass as I picked it up. Further exploration provided pineapple, honey, toasted oak, and cinnamon aromas. When I drew the air through my lips, honey stood out.

 

Palate: I found a buttery texture that coated every crevice of my mouth. Vanilla, cinnamon, and apple were on the front of my palate, while flavors of cinnamon, hazelnut, and orange rind were next. I tasted black licorice, toasted oak, and black pepper on the back.

 

Finish: There was an interesting mix of black pepper, clove, hazelnut, and black licorice that stuck around for several minutes. A moderate tingling of my tongue was notable.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: This Bourbon is a bit rough, and I guess that’s part of the Frontier Whiskey charm. I think Bulleit’s flagship Bourbon would make a good cocktail base, but it isn’t something I’d consider as a daily sipper. I buy and rate whiskeys to be enjoyed neat. The price is undoubtedly attractive, and it isn’t a bad Bourbon. As such, it earns a Bar rating from me.

 

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Bulleit 10-Year Bourbon

 

• Distiller: Undisclosed
• Mashbill: 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley
• Age: 10 Years
• Alcohol Content: 45.6% ABV (91.2°)
• $41.99 for a 750ml

 

Appearance: The bright orange amber liquid produced a medium rim with wide, slow, syrupy tears.

 

Nose: This ten-year Bourbon was very fragrant. I could identify cherries, citrus, cinnamon, vanilla, and oak. Breathing it through my lips gave off vanilla.

 

Palate: The mouthfeel was oily, giving me a taste of vanilla, caramel, and leather on the front. Midway through were cherries, apricots, and apples. The back featured rye spice, oak, and black pepper.

 

Finish: Medium in duration, it started sweet with butterscotch, apricots, apples, and cherries. The conclusion was spicy with rye, wood, and black pepper.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: It was challenging finding something that would stand out in the nosing, taste, or finish, yet it was superior to the flagship Bourbon. It won’t knock your socks off; however, the 10-Year could be someone’s daily drinker, and at only $42.00, it is pretty affordable considering the age. Because of those two statements, it seizes my Bottle rating.   

 

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Bulleit Barrel Strength Bourbon Batch 06

 

• Distiller: Undisclosed
• Mashbill: 68% Corn, 28% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
• Age: NAS
• Alcohol Content: 58.3% ABV (116.6°)
• $49.99 for a 750ml

 

Appearance: Interestingly, the Barrel Strength version was only a smidge darker in color than the 10-Year. The medium-thick rim allowed lightning-quick legs to fall.

 

Nose: My nosing experience included smells of plum, rye spice, brown sugar, vanilla, and citrus. The air left a butterscotch sensation in my mouth.

 

Palate: The thick but oily texture coated the entirety of my mouth. At the front were cherries, plums, and cinnamon flavors, while the middle had vanilla, brown sugar, and nutmeg. The back consisted of oak, black pepper, and another round of cherries.  

 

Finish:  Cinnamon spice, cherries, plums, brown sugar, oak, and black pepper stood out for a medium-long finish.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: The Barrel Strength Bourbon stood out compared to the flagship and 10-Year. While the proof is lower than that of many cask-strength competitors, it was well-balanced and tasty. When you factor in the fact it is only $50.00, this becomes one of those no-brainer Bottle ratings.   

 

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Bulleit American Single Malt Whiskey

 

• Distiller: Undisclosed
• Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
• Age: NAS, matured in new oak
• Alcohol Content: 45% ABV (90°)
• $54.99 for a 750ml

 

Appearance: A neat pour into my Glencairn glass revealed a golden-colored whiskey. A thick rim shed very slow, thick tears.

 

Nose: This single malt had an oak-forward aroma, with apples, pears, vanilla, and apricot. Pulling the vapor into my mouth produced a citrusy sensation.

 

Palate: A creamy texture led to an unexpected blast of lemon curd on the front of my palate. It was joined by raw honey and caramel. At mid-palate, I found cereal, ginger, and malt. The back included citrus, roasted almonds, and oak.

 

Finish: Cinnamon, oak, lemon, ginger, and cereal remained in my mouth and throat. It required several sips to nail everything down because the finish was very short.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: For the most part, I enjoyed this single malt. I’m a sucker for the category right now, and the one thing I was saddened by was how brief that finish was. It was almost as if it suffered from stage fright and rushed off before anyone noticed, making it all that more noticeable. Bulleit Single Malt tastes good. I wish I could savor the flavors longer. Still, it earned my Bottle rating.

 

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Bulleit 95 Rye Frontier Whiskey

 

• Distiller: MGP (Ross & Squibb)
• Mashbill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
• Age: NAS, matured in new, charred oak
• Alcohol Content: 45% ABV (90°)
• $24.99 for a 750ml

 

Appearance: Poured neat into my Glencairn glass, this American Rye presented as an orange amber. The massive rim created wide, crooked tears.

 

Nose: I smelled such a bold wintergreen that it almost cleared my sinuses! Once I got past it, I came across dill, oak, caramel, and vanilla. Drawing the air into my mouth allowed caramel to cross my tongue.

 

Palate: The very thin mouthfeel introduced mint and caramel to the front of my palate. The middle featured green tea and pine, whereas the back tasted of rye spice and oak.  

 

Finish: My tongue was left sizzling despite the lowish proof. It combined rye spice, dry oak, mint, and black pepper. Overall, it was a longer finish.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Bulleit 95 Rye possessed one of the thinnest mouthfeels I’ve experienced. It surprised me because I felt I might have been missing something. Like the flagship Bourbon, I can’t picture selecting it as a daily sipper, and it likely makes a satisfactory cocktail base. At only $25, it is highly affordable and has enough panache to not get lost. It deserves my Bar rating.

 

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Old Fashioned Cocktail

 

• Distiller: Undisclosed
• Mashbill: Bourbon (assumed 68% Corn, 28% Rye, 4% Malted Barley), Orange Bitters, Caramel Coloring
• Age: NAS
• Alcohol Content: 37.5% ABV (75°)
• $23.99 for a 750ml

 

Appearance: I used a rocks glass to pour this cocktail. It had a reddish-brown color. I sipped it neat.

 

Nose: The aroma included everything you’d expect from an Old Fashioned. I smelled the sugar, the cherries, the bitters, and, yes, the Bourbon. Drawing the air through my lips was a blend of cherries and oranges.

 

Palate: The mouthfeel was silky. As it is a cocktail, I wasn’t going for a front, middle, and back. I tasted nutmeg, dates, orange citrus, toffee, honey, and sugar. The Bourbon aspect, with wood, caramel, and cinnamon, was still identifiable.

 

Finish: It was longer than expected, with cinnamon, caramel, orange citrus, honey, and dates.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: A Bourbon Old Fashioned Sweet is my go-to cocktail when I’m at a bar and not in love with the whiskey selection. If you like it Sweet or even Press, you’ll find Bulleit Old Fashioned hits all the right notes. It is precisely like what a good bartender might make. At $24.00, it will give you plenty of pours to enjoy. If you went to a bar, that might get you four to six. Bulleit gives you far more. I’m happy to provide it with my Bottle rating.  

 

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Bulleit Manhattan Cocktail

 

• Distiller: MGP (Ross & Squibb)
• Mashbill: Rye (assumed 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley), Sweet Vermouth, Bitters, Caramel Coloring
• Age: NAS
• Alcohol Content: 37.5% ABV (75°)
• $23.99 for a 750ml

 

Appearance: Like the Old Fashioned, I used a rocks glass to sip this cocktail. It was a brownish amber. I drank it neat.

 

Nose: The vermouth was easy to pluck. I smelled the bitters. The Rye was more challenging to find. There were cherries and brown sugar. Inhaling the air through my lips brought out the rye’s spiciness.

 

Palate: Again, I wasn’t looking for a front, middle, or back with this cocktail. The texture was oily. I tasted the sweet vermouth's slight bitterness along with vanilla. Rye spice and clove rounded things out.

 

Finish: The vermouth carried through the entirety of the experience. The other flavors fell off a cliff, but that vermouth continued. Overall, it was a medium duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Bulleit’s Manhattan was an average Manhattan you’d find at a bartender. It would be nice if it carried more punch, but the flavors are right. This is a good substitute if you can’t or don’t want to make one at home. For $24.00, you’d be hard-pressed to turn it down, which makes this a Bottle rating.

 

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Final Thoughts: My favorite whiskey was the Single Malt, followed closely by the Barrel Strength Bourbon. Then came the 10-year flagship Bourbon, and finally, the 95 Rye. The RTD cocktails are skewed, as usually I’d order an Old Fashioned over a Manhattan.

 

This was a fun experience. Again, I thank Bulleit for the opportunity. 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.