Bardstown Single Barrel 8 Year Old Bourbon Review

While we may not focus solely on bourbon whiskey here at GreatDrams, it’s still a tipple that holds a very special place in our hearts.

As you may probably know, because of a glut of readily available ex-bourbon casks for discount prices, a great deal of Scotch begins its journey to bottle in these very casks. Some are aged and finished exclusively in bourbon casks, whereas others may be combined with different casks such as sherry, port, red wine, rum, and plenty more besides. Not only that, but when you’re in the mood, you can’t beat a fine bourbon. Trust me, I speak from experience.

As you’ve probably guessed, for today’s blog we’re venturing across the Atlantic to Kentucky, USA to learn about a single barrel 8 year old bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Company. This isn’t just your average run-of-the-mill bourbon, it’s one of their oldest single barrel expressions. It’s also one which has been getting a lot of attention lately, for all the right reasons.

So, bourbon fans, this one’s for you. Here’s a look at Bardstown Single Barrel 8 Year Old Bourbon.

Where Innovation Meets Tradition

Kentucky is a state that has a rich and storied history with bourbon. With an abundance of whiskey distilleries and experiences, not to mention the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, if you’re even slightly fond of bourbon whiskey, it’s a part of America that needs to be on your bucket list.

Home to names such as Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey, Four Roses, Kentucky is currently home to more than 100 distilleries and experiences. Some of which can be traced back centuries. Buffalo Trace for example, dates back more than 200 years. Others, however, are still in their infancy. The Bardstown Bourbon Company are a prime example of this.

Founded back in 2014, the distillery’s primary objective was to create a unique bourbon ‘destination experience’ like nothing else found in bourbon country. In fact, 2026 is a special year for Bardstown whiskey, because it will mark 10 years since the distillery first began producing bourbon.

Offering a custom distillery program, they have more than 50 unique mash bills, along with a 37,000 square foot, state-of-the-art distillery and bottling line, complete with glass rickhouses and a one-of-a-kind collaborative distillery program like nothing else in the industry. They even have their own dining experience in the heart of the Bourbon Trail, offering Southern comfort food, and of course, plenty of bourbon to wash it all down.

Bardstown Single Barrel 8 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

Ever since the distillery filled their first bourbon barrels back in 2016, Bardstown Bourbon has gradually been getting quite the reputation in the whiskey world.

Unlike Scotch here in the UK, which legally must age for at least three years before it hits the shelves, there is no legal aging time for bourbon in the USA. Straight bourbon, however, must age for at least two years. If aged for less than four years, this age statement should also be included on the label.

When aging their bourbons, Bardstown like to take their time with their drams. They pledged to not release anything less than six years old. For this particular dram, though, they went with an additional two years, to produce a truly exceptional drop.

Chosen exclusively by The Whiskey Exchange, this dram featured a 78/10/12 mash bill of corn, rye, and malted barley respectively. The bourbon fermented for three days in open top fermenters and at 64.6% ABV, there’s more than a slight kick to it. Despite this, there’s a distinct brown sugary sweetness that we’ve come to expect from a fine bourbon. I also happen to love the colour of this release, as it looks almost like burnt caramel syrup in the bottle.

On the nose, you immediately get strong honey, brown sugar, and toffee aromas, combined with charred oak. There’s also more than a suggestion of cinnamon and vanilla sugar on the nose, combined with a slight spicy, herbiness.

On the palate, maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, and charred oak blast your tastebuds right away. These flavours are quickly joined by stewed summer berries, toffee apple, vanilla fudge, oak, and pecan and maple syrup cereal.

Despite the strong ABV, the finish is velvet smooth and has an amazingly rich mouthfeel. There’s yet more brown sugar, coupled with spearmint, honey, balsamic glazed strawberries, and golden caramel.

This dram makes for very easy sipping, which could be quite dangerous considering its ABV. Regardless, when they’re producing drams of this calibre, you can definitely understand why Bardstown are making such waves in the bourbon industry.

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at the diverse selection of unique whiskies we currently have in stock.

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.

Tags: 8 Year OldBardstownBourbonSingle Barrel

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.