Tasted: Bardstown Bourbon Company - Fusion & Discovery Series #3

The Story

We’re no strangers to Bardstown Bourbon Company. In the before-time, when travel was a thing, all the way back in late 2017 we paid them a visit. This was relatively early in their journey yet their stage was set with an already impressive operation led by John Hargrove (COO) and Steve Nally (Master Distiller). Two men who had already made lasting marks on the industry. John was Master Distiller at Barton 1792; and Steve who began his career sweeping floors at Maker’s Mark in 1968 and rose to take the top job there as Master Distiller which he held until his departure in 2003.

Read about our visit to the distillery: Bardstown Bourbon Co: The Coolest Distillery You’ve Never Heard Of?

Bardstown Bourbon Company is currently the #3 largest distiller of bourbon whiskey in the USA. I’m told that they are on track to be #1 within the next year. But while other large distillers, such as Sazerac’s Buffalo Trace Distillery, produce a dozen or so in-house labels, Bardstown has made their name as the premier contract distiller. They produce over 140 different mashbills for their customers who range from tiny craft brands to some of the most well-known bourbon labels. This breadth gives them access to so much raw data that in addition to helping their clients they also bottle their own blends of sourced bourbon, the ‘Discovery Series’, and a blend of sourced and their own distillate, the ‘Fusion Series’.

The Details

Name: Bardstown Bourbon Company – Fusion Series #3 and Discovery Series #3
Distiller: Depends on the release. These releases are a combination of sourced bourbons distilled in Indiana and Kentucky. Blended with 3-year-old bourbon distilled by Bardstown Bourbon Company.
Bottler: Bardstown Bourbon Company
Type of Producer: Distiller and Blender
Year Established: 2016

Fusion Series #3

Bottling Proof: 98.9
Age: Blend of 13-year & 3-year
Mashbill:
40% Kentucky bourbon – 13-years-old – 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley
18% Bardstown Bourbon Co. – 3-year-old – 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley
42% Bardstown Bourbon Co. – 3-year-old – 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley
Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Release Date: Late 2020
Release Type: Limited
Availability: Midwest retailers and on-line here
MSRP: $59.99 (750ml)

Discovery Series #3

Bottling Proof: 110
Age: Blend of 13-year & 10-year
Mashbill:
45% Indiana bourbon – 13-years-old – 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
32% Kentucky bourbon – 13-year-old – 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley
23% Kentucky bourbon – 10-year-old – 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
Style: Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskies
Release Date: Late 2020
Release Type: Limited
Availability: Midwest retailers and on-line here
MSRP: $129 (750ml)