Brian’s Blood Oath Pact 08 Bourbon Review:
reviewed 05-September-2022
BLOOD OATH PACT 08 BOURBON REVIEW:
While preparing for this review, I remember thinking, “Apples and Bourbon — Yes please!” I am here to say Blood Oath Pact 08 Bourbon (Blood Oath P8) delivers. Those who come looking for earthy elements of flora and wood may be a bit disappointed, but the fruit, spice and sweet components shine. I am happy to have another bottle in my bunker.
BLOOD OATH PACT 08 VITAL STATS:
Category: Barrel Finished Bourbon Blend (Finished in Calvados Casks)
Region: Sourced from undisclosed distilleries in Kentucky
Blender: John E Rempe
Producer: Lux Row Distillers
Mash Bill: unpublished
Barrels: New Charred Oak, ex-Calvados Casks
Barrel Char: unpublished
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: NAS (Includes 14 year old bourbon, 11 year old bourbon, and 8 year old bourbon)
Released: April 2022
ABV: 49.3% (98.6 Proof)
Price: $99.95 (Summer 2022, Idaho, USA)
NABCA CSC #: 87078
Price: $99.95 (Summer 2022, Idaho, USA … MSRP now $119.95)
A masterful union of three well-bred bourbons. One, a 14-year ryed bourbon. Two, an 11-year ryed bourbon. And three, and 8-year ryed bourbon finished in Calvados casks from the Normandy region of France to impart slight apple on the nose with hints of vanilla and cinnamon. With each sip, feel transported to Northern France by way of Kentucky.
— Learn more at Blood Oath Bourbon.
WHAT IS CALVADOS?
Calvados is a variety of Brandy. To claim the name of Calvados, the apple-cider (or pear) brandy must be produced within the Calvados region of Normandy, France. Calvados is aged in Sessile or Pedunculate oak barrels for a minimum of two to three years prior to marketing. Aging can be much longer with four to six years being common.
ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:
Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into three Glencairns. My daughters and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.
Check out her review for this bourbon here!
BLOOD OATH PACT 08 NOSE:
The first aromas are fresh, tart apples. Then the ethanol creeps in. Blood Oath P8’s heat is a bit surprising. At 98.6 Proof, my nose is accustomed to much higher. When I breath in, roasted corn blends in as the fresh apples return, this time covered in caramel with a hint of cashew butter in the blend. With continued nosing, I sense acidic notes, but is it citrus or tart apples? As I try to decipher the pair, I smell a hint banana and baking spices of faint cinnamon, pepper, and rye along with aromas of milk chocolate and vanilla custard. The confection builds with brown sugar enhanced buttery caramel hidden in light, sweet, dry-toasted oak. What a fragrant treat.
BLOOD OATH PACT 08 PALATE:
I get a warm bite of alcohol in each sip of Blood Oath P8. As my mouth acclimates, I taste roasted corn and dusty grain along with the apple and faint banana sensed on the nose. And like in the aroma, I pick up acidic, and bitter notes. As before, I cannot decide if the flavors are citric in nature, or from tart apples. Either way, they add complexity to the pour as the baking elements of Cinnamon red hot candies, pepper and rye marry with subtle milk chocolate and light vanilla. There are notes of caramelized sugar here and soft caramels as well. The flavors are light and fresh owing to the acidity with only a minimal amount of dry, toasted oak.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Blood Oath P8’s aromas and flavors are well balanced but for my tastes, are somewhat lacking in the flora and woody elements. Each sip is viscous and oily and gives my mouth and throat a pleasant tickle. As I enjoy the mahogany nectar, the liquid veil breaks inside the Glencairn falling in fast legs which leave behind small, widely spaced droplets.
BLOOD OATH PACT 08 FINISH:
Blood Oath Pact 08 has a medium-long throat warming finish. I feel the sensation of dusty grain and bitter citrus on my palate and taste the memory of vanilla enhanced caramel apples with a touch of cinnamon, pepper, and rye. And as these perceptions fade, dry-toasted oak drifts away leaving an empty Glencairn of vanilla and caramel infused sawdust.
MY RATING: 87/100
Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
Click 87/100 to access Brian’s other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Blood Oath.
WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
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