Blood Oath Pact 7 Bourbon Archives – Whiskey for the Ages

Brian’s Blood Oath Pact 7 Bourbon Review:

reviewed 16-November-2021

BLOOD OATH PACT 7 BOURBON REVIEW:

Blood Oath Pact 7 Bourbon (BOP7) is a blend of three high rye bourbons, one of which was finished in Sauternes wine casks. While it is hard to believe sweet white wine casks would have much of an effect on whiskey, it works and with amazing results. This is without a doubt the best blended/Infused/Special finish Whiskey I have enjoyed to date.

BLOOD OATH PACT 7 BOURBON VITAL STATS:

Category: Blend of Straight Bourbons Finished in Sauternes Casks
Region: Sourced from undisclosed distilleries in Kentucky
Master Blender: John E. Rempe
Producer: Lux Row Distillers
Mash Bill: unpublished
Barrels: New Charred Oak, ex-Sauternes
Barrel Char: unpublished
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: nas (Includes one 14 and two 8 year old bourbons)
Released: April 2021
ABV: 49.3% (98.6 Proof)
NABCA CSC#: 87078
Price: $99.95 (Fall 2021, Idaho, USA)

_{A masterful union of three well-bred bourbons. One, a 14-year extra-aged ryed bourbon. Two, an 8-year ryed bourbon. And three, another 8-year ryed bourbon, finished in sauternes wine casks from the Bordeaux region of France for a balance of sweetness with additional spice.}
^{— Blood Oath Bourbon}

SAUTERNES BACK STORY

With a maritime climate, Sauternes [sōˈtərn] is a region in the Graves section of southwest France, southeast of Bordeaux. The area is known for the sweet wine of the same name it produces. Sauternes wine is a blend of sémillon, sauvignon blanc and muscadelle grapes which have been affected by Botrytis cinerea, known by wine aficionados as noble rot. Noble rot is a condition where the grapes begin to shrivel while still on the vine which concentrates their flavors.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

BLOOD OATH PACT 7 BOURBON NOSE:

As BOP7 sits in the glass, I’m smelling sweet desert wine. I sense a touch of alcohol, maybe light sherry, and blossoming fruit trees and with each waft I get new aromas. There is a little grain, but fruits dominant; ripe berries mix with soft apple cores, red and green grapes and rich plump gourmet raisins. Continued nosing brings allspice, ginger, white pepper and rye balanced with yellow cake frosted with a concoction of vanilla custard, butterscotch, simple syrup, and honeycomb. There is not much wood here, but I do get a hint of pinenuts, some light and sweet oak and the scent of barrel wood seasoning in the sun. Best of all I get the freshness of new leather. This bourbon smells good and I look forward to the first sip.

BLOOD OATH PACT 7 BOURBON PALATE:

My taste buds sense green apples as soon as the liquid passes my lips. While there is a slight dryness, I do get a warm bite at first, but BOP7 is easy to hold owing to its low proof. There is a faint sweet wine flavor, likely due to the sauternes casks but the sensation is subtle. Fresh grapes are in the background of each sip but, juicy gourmet raisins shine. Allspice and rye blend as ginger provides warmth. This bourbon like a light vanilla apple pastry treat drizzled with simple syrup and honey. And as detected on the nose, wood is not in the forefront; there’s just a bit of toast and a few notes of char all wrapped in new leather.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
BOP7 is a sold pour. Each sip is creamy, yet can give the tongue and throat an occasional and unexpected tickle. After each taste, the wash falls back to the carrot colored pool in broken and unevenly spaced legs leaving behind only a few drops.

BLOOD OATH PACT 7 BOURBON FINISH:

Blood Oath Pact 7 Bourbon has a warm medium long, off dry and juicy light sherry flavored finish. Apples, red and green grapes and gourmet raisins dusted with allspice, ginger and rye mingle with sweet light vanilla. This is a dangerous bourbon as it is so easy to drink and enjoy. And as I finish the last dram, fruity oak wafts from the empty Glencairn.

MY RATING: 88/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Blood Oath Bourbon is now on my radar and I will be on the lookout for more.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 88/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Blood Oath.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

Back to …

Brian’s Whiskey Reviews
Individual Whiskey Reviews

Hannah’s Blood Oath Pact 7 Review

Original review written November 16, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Innovative, original, new, this is a dry, sweet, pour with character unique to others, and I am happy we have a bottle. I’m looking forward to my next pour, and am already lamenting when this bottle is inevitably emptied without a replacement waiting. 93/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Lux Row Distillers
– Classification: Special Finish Bourbon
– Age: nas (includes two 8 year rye bourbons and one 14 year old rye bourbon)
– Mash Bill: unpublished
– Casks: One of the 8 year old’s finished in Sauternes casks; undisclosed char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 49.3% (98.6 proof)
– Price: $99.95 USD in Idaho (2021)

Visit luxco.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

Lay on your back in the middle of a grassy field with the sun shining down on you with all of its brightness. Not too hot, and not too cold, this bourbon is just a good friend to relax with and not have to think about anything with. It’s a simple indulgence and quintessentially a great day. The world seems to spin slowly so you can appreciate every moment properly and to the fullest.

Photo by Joseph Young on Unsplash

NOSE:

I can certainly smell the wine influence, providing warmth and an immediate richness. A hint of currants, and even dried cranberries lift the back end of the inhale to add some additional character. There’s light vanilla, pastry, toffee, and some almonds to ease the balance of the fruit. I get a bit of white pepper and rye, but otherwise, the spices are happy to sit behind the fruits and sweetness. They contribute to the blend on this nose quite well, nonetheless. I also still do find the corn of the bourbon mash bill – roasted and with much of the corn sweetness present.

I admit I am struggling to find the actual wine casks or any other strong wood element, but this does not bother me so much. What is there, is incredibly mild, as is the alcohol. It smells warm, great, and inviting.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: I was slightly disappointed at this mouth feel. With Pact 7 being finished in wine casks, (white wine casks or not), I expected this to have a bit more body than what I’m finding. Nevertheless, this is smooth, if not slightly dry, like some wines can be.
– Balance: Unexpected. I did not anticipate any kind of fruit acidity, but it is here, backed by dry sweet in a way that just works really well.
– Visual: Tawny in color, this has fat legs that drop quickly, leaving behind an inverted crown with some clinging droplets.

– Taste: I find the acidity of the grapes with a distinct brightness I wasn’t anticipating. I find a very light vanilla paired with the almonds of the nose, which create the slightest touch of bitterness. There’s still some raisins, but they don’t add much to the depth of this spirit, rather just contribute further to the overall acidity. In fact, there really is not a strong dark fruit presence in this glass, aside from a fleeting dark stone fruit – maybe plum or plucot – that only appears occasionally on sips.

The oak is also stronger on the palate, I am finding. Whether it is the oak of the wine casks or the oak of the bourbon, I am not sure. It is a new oak; that much is certain. The spice is still subtle, but it does make its presence a bit more known on the palate than it had on the nose. There’s some light ginger, white pepper, and the lasting rye.

All the while, the alcohol is incredibly mild. There’s a nip that comes in and out on the sips, but for the most part, it’s smooth and gentle all the way through. This could become dangerous quickly if you’re not careful, because it certainly does not taste like it’s 90+ proof. In fact, I’d say this is very reminiscent of what I could find in a Riesling, but with just a bit more proof. When I partake in a Kentucky chew, green grapes explode in juicy bursts with a fair amount of alcohol burn… but not enough of a burn to dissuade me from taking another chew.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. I don’t find a particular high amount of warmth, but there is some aftertaste.
– Between Sips: Acidity and sweet grapes linger between sips, and I am not at all upset about it. It all works quite well.

– No More: This stays consistent the further into the glass I get, but with its dangerous level only increasing. This whole bottle would be so easy to finish with a few good (appreciating) friends, and you’d barely realize it was happening.

The empty Glencairn is a fruity oak with even some of the fruit juice still present.

WORTH THE PRICE?

$100 is a big ask. If you’re considering buying Blood Oath – any pact – realize that you are not purchasing tradition, or tried-and-true methods. You’re not buying history or a name that has been in the game since the beginning. Instead, recognize you’re purchasing innovation, creativity, and originality. This brand is fresh and willing to try new things, and for me, that kind of envelope-pushing is worth a look. If you’ve got $100 to burn and acknowledge what you’re buying, give this a try, because it is most certainly a treat.

BLOOD OATH PACT 7 REVIEW RATING: 93/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 93/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.

Back to…

Hannah’s Whiskey Reviews
Whiskey Reviews