Whiskey Review: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Double-Barreled in American and Hungarian Oak

Introduction

We’re back with Bardstown Bourbon Company, and this time, we're tasting their Discovery Series #13. This release is a double-barreled Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, finished first in American oak and then in Hungarian oak. It blends four Kentucky bourbons, aged 8, 9, 9, and 15 years, and comes in at 110.8 proof. As longtime fans of Bardstown's Discovery Series, we were excited to dig into this one. So let’s break down what we found.

Nose

Brad: The nose on this is stunning. It's like decadent maple syrup, with notes of candied almonds and a bit of nuttiness. It really reminded me of a Nutter Butter. There are a lot of raisins on it. It's just a decadent, beautiful nose. 8.5/10

Bob: Yeah, I get a surprising amount of wine character on the nose, like dark red grape, maybe a Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon vibe. There's definitely almond in there, too. My one knock on the Discovery Series has always been the nose: it's thinner and more alcohol-forward than I want it to be. Still, I think this is a solid showing. 7.5/10

Taste

Brad: Once I got to the palate, the experience totally changed. I got toasted marshmallow—like one that caught fire a little, with some carbon-y edges. Lots of baking spices and definitely some prune and cinnamon. I really liked the flavor, but it wasn’t quite as decadent as the nose suggested. Still a great pour. 8/10

Bob: Prune is such a great call. It’s got more of the tart aspect of prune than the sweet part. I also got those high, tart notes. Even Bardstown’s own tasting notes list campfire ash, so that marshmallow call is dead on. This is a solid whiskey, just not my favorite Bardstown profile. 7.5/10

Finish

Brad: The finish is wild. I've never had a whiskey remind me more of tobacco, and not in a bad way. There's tobacco ash, some oak, and a good hit of black pepper. It moves from candied almonds to prune, to ashy marshmallow, to tobacco and pepper. It's a journey, and I really liked it. 8/10

Bob: I get a black tea with lemon note here: slightly bitter, slightly tart, but not drying. If you like tannic whiskeys or ones with wine-like characteristics, this is right up your alley. Again, not my favorite profile, but it’s good. 7.5/10

Balance

Brad: I gave it 7.5/10 for balance. For me, the whiskey is complex, but there's not really a clear through line. I liked each stage: the decadence, the prune, the tobacco, but they don’t connect seamlessly. That said, the complexity alone keeps the score high.

Bob: I’m right there with you. Is it complex or incoherent? I think it’s a little disjointed, but I like each of the components enough to still land at 7.5/10.

Value

Bob: This bottle is $139. It’s not a bad value for what it is, especially considering the age range and proof. Bardstown prices most of their Discovery releases in this ballpark. If you're already a fan of the Discovery Series, this won’t disappoint. 7/10

Brad: Same here. I think if there were a little more richness carried over from the nose, it could've been an 8 or higher. But as is, you know what you're getting with Bardstown. It’s a bold pour, kind of like a Christopher Nolan movie. Shoots for the stars. Sometimes hits, sometimes doesn’t. 7/10

Final Scores

• Bob: 37/50

• Brad: 39/50

• Average: 38/50

Conclusion

At 38/50, Bardstown Discovery #13 lands in the "soft recommend" territory. We generally consider a score of 35 or higher worth trying at a bar, while 40+ is bottle-worthy. This pour is beautifully complex, with layers ranging from candied almonds to tobacco, but it may not be for everyone. If you like wine-finished or tannic whiskeys, this is definitely worth exploring. As for us, we’re already dreaming up a custom blend: 60% Discovery #13, 40% Woodford Double Oaked. Quadruple-oaked greatness, anyone?