Bulleit 10 Year Old Bourbon

Bulleit (say, ‘bullet’, like the ammunition) was marketed between 1830 and 1860 by Augustus Bulleit, but when the creator died, the brand died with him. It was revived by his great-great-grandson Tom Bulleit in 1987. And apparently Bulleit is doing very well, for Diageo bought the brand a few years back. Next to their Straight Bourbon Whiskey, they also have a 95 Rye and more recently this 10 Year Old. Good fun. While most brands are moving from age statements to NAS, Bulleit goes the other way around. It is bottled at 91.2 Proof, which means 45.6% ABV to the rest of the world.

On the nose, I have mostly caramel, vanilla, banana, tannins and fresh apricots. Hint of banana and some apple juice, but also some herbal tea. It is a lot softer than its NAS brother. The typical scent of wood glue is present, surely, but evaporates very quickly and turns into something of cuberdons (Belgian candy). Very pleasant.

It has a good body and is immediately – of course, I am inclined to add – very sweet. Caramel and honey come first, then black pepper and coriander and then the candy. Yep, cuberdons indeed. Lovely. Some cherries and oranges sneak in. Zesty, but soft. This is dangerously quaffable.

The finish is short and spicy.

This bourbon – not-so-secretly distilled by Four Roses – is quite nice. Nothing big or fancy, but just a very good and accessible bourbon for around 35 EUR.

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