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Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #5 Review - Honest First Impression
Jul 13, 2025
Trying the 2021 release from the Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series. Is it better than last year's Discovery #4? Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #5 - Straight Bourbon Whiskey Four aged straight bourbon whiskies blended to create a smooth and unique expression. Support the Channel on Patreon for Exclusive Hangouts and Early Video Access: http://www.Patreon.com/BourbonBytes Join the 'Byte Club' to get access to Live Chat & Gaming Perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXTTc9CfXlCnni816ZPdqOQ/join Get this shirt and other Bourbon Bytes Merch: http://Threadless.BourbonBytes.com Join the Whiskey & Gaming Lounge Discord Server: http://BourbonBytes.com #WhiskeyTube #Bourbon #WhiskeyTube #Bourbon #WhiskeyTube #Bourbon #RyeWhiskey
View Video Transcript
0:00
Hey everyone, welcome to Bourbon Bites. I'm Clifton and today we're reviewing Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series 5
0:09
Now if you missed it, I reviewed the Fusion Series 5 in my last video, so I'll put a link to it up here if you want to go watch that
0:16
Super impressed with this year's release, so I'm excited to try Discovery Series 5
0:21
Series 4 from last year was probably one of my favorite whiskeys I tried all year
0:25
I went out and got a bottle as soon as I tried it, so I have high hopes for this year's release
0:30
So this year they blended four different bourbons for this release. I'll put a chart up here of all the different ones that went into this whiskey
0:37
You will notice there is a pretty big difference compared to last year. And that's the inclusion of that Tennessee whiskey in there as well
0:44
Last year it was all Kentucky bourbon. And I think that may have been why I loved it so much
0:48
So we'll see. Y'all know I'm a little bit averse to some Tennessee notes, particularly from George Dickel
0:55
It is only 25% and it's a 12 year old. So there's a chance that those notes that I don't particularly like about it won't show up
1:02
and they'll be, you know, hidden by the amazing other Kentucky bourbons that are in here
1:05
because I'm seeing some very familiar mash bills, some that were there last year
1:09
but also one from probably one of my favorite distilleries. Not 100% confirmed, but I think there might be some Heaven Hill in this
1:15
We'll see. This year release comes in at cast strength which is 52 ABV and retails for about Let go ahead and give it a nose Oh nice there a lot of fruit on this I think it got some banana notes which is one of these
1:31
mash fills is likely Barton, which is you know typical of their releases, but it does have some
1:36
like other fruits going on there as well. Maybe like a banana sundae with like strawberries and
1:41
cherries on top and some whipped cream of course because it smells very creamy. Definitely some
1:44
citrus there as well. Maybe even like an orange. I'm getting a lot of fruit on this one, which is
1:49
which is a really good sign. I'm excited to see, you know, if that carries over to the palate as well. Now, this is very contrasting to the Fusion Series 5, which I reviewed, like I said, in a
1:56
previous video. That one was super oak forward, which is typically what I look for in a bourbon
2:01
but sometimes I do appreciate the brighter, fruitier notes. And I think on the nose, this one's actually impressed me a lot. So let's go and see how it tastes. Cheers, guys
2:07
very very different from last year i think that the tennessee whiskey does show up i was reserving
2:18
judgment on this until i tried it because i know there's like some mixed feelings about this year's release i do think it has a lot of that tennessee whiskey note i consider it like a minerality that
2:26
has like a almost like a chalky kind of texture to it um it's something that some people like
2:31
myself are very sensitive to so if we find it on a whiskey it's we're pretty obvious like yeah
2:35
Yeah, we know where that whiskey came from. It's a distillery in Tennessee. But I don think like I said I pretty sensitive to that note I don think it completely negates the other whiskeys that are in here Like I said that only 25 of that but that means there 75 of other Kentucky bourbons as well Now one of these is a 13 year and there a six year and
2:55
a seven year. So pretty young again, in contrast to the Kentucky bourbon that's in the fusion
3:00
series five, which is an older, I think that's what, like an 11 year, um, Kentucky bourbon
3:05
So this one, it's, yeah, seven years, six years, and 13 years. So, yeah, I think the oak expresses itself in a different way than like a, you know, like a well-aged bourbon
3:13
To me, it's more of like the toasty, the char, maybe a little bit of like a toasted marshmallow kind of note
3:18
Less of like the barrel influence and more of the toasty char influence on it
3:23
I'm getting a lot less of the strawberry or like the red fruits
3:26
I'm definitely getting still a little bit of the banana, not nearly as much as I've had on other whiskeys
3:31
I would say that there is more orange presenting itself than on the nose
3:36
I got a little of the orange on the nose, but I think on the taste, it's definitely like an orange zest
3:40
Now, it is cast strength, although, like I said, this is 52.35. Last year's release was 57.5, I believe
3:47
So it definitely was a higher proof on that one. I don't think I would think that this is a cast strength whiskey just based on, you know, first impression
3:55
It's so close to like a 100 proof whiskey that I would just assume that it's 100 proof. The more I drink it the more I appreciate it It still not quite what I typically look for in a bourbon which makes you know rating this one difficult At that up there in price Y know I very hesitant to spend over on a whiskey
4:15
unless it blows me away. If you are someone that is 100% okay with a Tennessee whiskey kind of note
4:21
and those of you that have tried, you know, Tennessee whiskey, you probably know what I'm talking about, that minerality. If you are okay with it, it doesn't bother you, you enjoy it
4:29
then I do recommend going out and giving this a try. I think it blends that well with the Kentucky bourbons
4:35
It's very balanced. However, if you're someone like me that doesn't particularly love a Tennessee whiskey
4:40
from a place that rhymes with pickle, I would say give this a pass or give it a try at a bar
4:46
I don't recommend spending the $130 if you know you're not gonna like that note
4:50
However, like I said, if you are a fan of that or it doesn't bother you, this is a super balanced, super interesting whiskey
4:56
I just don't think it's the whiskey for my palate. So let me know if you guys have tried this
5:00
Like I said, I reviewed the Fusion Series 5. Like I said, link's up there. I'll put it at the end of the video as well
5:05
Definitely check out that review. Even if you think the Fusion Series is like, oh, it's young, I'll pass it up
5:09
This year's release really impressed me. So check that out for all of my tasting notes on that one
5:13
But until next time, this has been Bourbon Bites, Whiskey Reviews with the Gaming Twist
5:17
I'm Clifton. Cheers, and I'll see you guys next video
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