Hannah’s Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Review
Original review written January 18, 2022
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
This is a fun pour with a lot to dissect and find, both on the nose and on the palate. It’s warm and soft, and accessible to any level of bourbon sipper. 92/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Bardstown, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Kentucky Owl, Bardstown Bourbon Co./other Kentucky distilleries
– Classification: Blend of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys
– Age: nas (blend of a 4 yr., 5.5 yr., and 8.5 yr.)
– Mash Bill: unpublished
– Casks: unknown char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 45.4% (90.8 proof)
– Price: $49.95 USD in Idaho 2021
Visit kentuckyowlbourbon.com for more information
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
The savory quality of The Wiseman makes this bourbon want to be enjoyed in a steakhouse, right alongside your favorite cut, cooked your favorite way. It’s rich, and the mouth feel will pair nicely with the intensity of the steak. Everything is warm, rustic, and cozy, and wonderfully stunning.
Photo by Emerson Vieira on Unsplash
NOSE:
Dusty and savory grain meets dark fruits for a sweet component even on the first inhale. The savory-ness seems almost salty, much like the kind you’d find on some sweet maple wood bacon, complete with smokiness. The dark fruit is reminiscent of plums – not too strong in flavor, but there is just enough concentration to be noticed. There is also some toffee, with peanuts standing out amidst the sweet and salty bite. I cannot identify a strong alcohol essence in this at all – even large inhales do little to sting.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: This is most certainly soft, but there is a weight to it also. It sits heavy and initially dry, becoming more viscous the longer my salivary glands have at it.
– Balance: Solid. Salt blends with sweet and makes for a definitive bourbon palate, but with an interesting profile all the same.
– Visual: Carrot in color, this leaves an irregular crown and fast dropping, thick legs with occasional clinging droplets.
– Taste: This is very soft across the palate, carrying notes of pine, plum, honey and pie crust. I can detect some wheat, contributing to the softness, followed quick by golden delicious apples that do little to add any significant punch of flavor. There’s a hint of bitterness that seems nutty in origin – perhaps walnuts.
When I let the bourbon sit on my palate, a stronger fruit flavor appears, but it dissipates quickly after the sip is gone. It’s a bit like baked cherries (working well with the aforementioned pie crust, I must say), with some tartness that melts into sweetness quickly. Along with this fruit is a growing saltiness, much like the one found on the nose. All this does, is make the mouth water more and look for the next sip. I don’t think there is any distinct flavor with the salt, but it is an enjoyable aspect, nonetheless.
The alcohol continues to be virtually nonexistent. If anything, I would say that the alcohol acts more as a foundation for other flavors to build off of, contributing to the profile, instead of being a side effect of being bourbon. When I partake in a Kentucky chew, white pepper emerges to mix with some of the bitter walnuts. Very little sweetness found here.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Medium. There is little to no flavor here in the finish, but the warmth does sit surprisingly heavy in the throat and in the chest. I’m impressed.
– Between Sips: Dry grains are about all I can detect between sips. It adds to the overall softness of this bourbon and leaves it without a single harsh edge.
– No More: There are more fruits to find the further into the glass I get. Suddenly there are fresh cherries to accompany the baked, and even a bit of caramel. It certainly takes this bourbon to another level of enjoyment for someone (me) who enjoys the taste of cherries in a whiskey.
The empty Glencairn is straight up sawdust shavings with some of the savory smokiness from the initial nose. It’s reminiscent of a steakhouse, and I’m absolutely now craving a baked potato.
WORTH THE PRICE?
I’d say that this does meet the standard I have for a $50 bottle of bourbon. It’s warm; it’s unique; and I think it’s accessible in a fun way to both novices and more knowledgeable sippers. There’s plenty to find in the palate, and nothing sticks out awkwardly. It’s a bottle I think is worthy of keeping around in the bunker when I find it, most certainly.
KENTUCKY OWL THE WISEMAN REVIEW RATING: 92/100
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