Bear Fight Kentucky Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

For this episode, we’re diving into Bear Fight Kentucky Reserve—a straight bourbon finished in Reposado tequila barrels and bottled by Next Century Spirits. While the company is based in North Carolina, this is labeled as a Kentucky straight bourbon, indicating it’s sourced from within the state. It clocks in at 90 proof, though no age statement was provided. What caught our attention? That tequila cask finish—one of the most unpredictable barrel types when it comes to whiskey.

Let’s see how this one stacks up.

Nose

Brad: Honestly, dude, maybe it’s because I’m primed for it, but I do smell agave. It’s not overwhelming—it’s a nice presence. There’s a little bit of an herbaceous note going on that I think is a mix of that agave. But besides that, it’s got just a really nice vanilla caramel experience that feels like a really traditional bourbon with a little bit of something-something going on.
Score: 7/10

Bob: The thing for me with finishing bourbons is that if you go too far outside the wheelhouse of whiskey, even when you pick up those finishing notes, it can make the whiskey smell youthful. Tequila notes make this whiskey smell younger than it probably is. I do like this, though—super dark brown sugar and maple notes all over it help balance out the tequila.
Score: 7/10

Taste

Brad: I’m at a 7.5/10 on the taste. This is a really nice bourbon—it’s got some caramel, the agave is still there, and it gets a little peachy for me. Vanilla provides this nice foundation. It’s like a bourbon-plus. The tequila finish added just enough flavor without taking anything away.

Bob: I’m at a 7/10 on the taste. This is really nice. Are we giving scores? I don’t even know—sure, why not!

Finish

Bob: I think I’m just going to go with sevens across the board. On the finish is where you actually get the tequila influence the most, for me. Full disclosure—I’m not a huge tequila guy. It’s way outside my wheelhouse, and maybe that’s because I haven’t had tequila with conejo juices. [laughs]
Score: 7/10

Brad: I’m at a 7/10 on the finish. There’s pepper, oak, vanilla, agave—it’s a really pleasant finish. Doesn’t last super long, doesn’t leave me wanting more or less—it’s just kind of there.

Balance

Bob: You know what? I’ll come up a half-point. I’ll give it a 7.5/10 on balance. I think it’s fairly well balanced.

Brad: I’m at a 7.5/10 as well. This is a really nice experience—the flavors work together well without anything dominating. That little tequila twist is just enough.

Value

Brad: So, this is a $38 whiskey. For that price, if you want a twist on the bourbon experience and you’re spending under forty bucks, I think it’s a 7.5/10 on value.

Bob: I’ll give it a 7/10 here. This isn’t exactly my thing, but I think a lot of times we’re finishing these 15-year bourbons in tequila barrels and it’s just too much. This is the kind of bourbon we should be finishing in tequila—it’s experimental and fun, and at this price point, that makes a lot of sense.

Final Scores

Bob: That brings me to a total score of 35.5/50. I’d drink this neat, for sure—it’s definitely a step above a mixer.

Brad: I’m landing at 36.5/50. This is just a really pleasant, fun bourbon experience with just enough of that tequila influence to keep things interesting.

Conclusion

Bear Fight Kentucky Reserve may not be for everyone, but for $38, it's a unique pour with solid balance and enough complexity to hold your attention. We usually say 35/50 is the mark where we’d recommend trying a pour at a bar or considering a bottle—and this one clears that bar comfortably. A 40 is great, 45 is excellent—so at 36, this is a definite thumbs-up from both of us.