Whisky: Bower Hill Barrel Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Producer: Bower Hill Barrel
Distillery: Undisclosed
Region: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Whisky Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Age: 4 years
ABV: 43%
Aged in Cask: New charred oak. Level 3 char.
Price Range: $
Bower Hill is a non-distillery producer founded by Carl Brown and Kevin Clang in 2015. The distillery sources its Bower Hill Barrel Reserve from an unknown distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, and bottles it in Ohio.
In 1791 Secretary of Treasure Alexander Hamilton created The Excise Whiskey Tax to pay France for the Revolutionary War. The whiskey tax was the first tax implemented on any product in the United States and a key source of revenue for the government until the Federal Income Tax of 1913. This expression commemorates the battle of Bower Hill of 1794 during the Whiskey Rebellion period (1791-1794).
From the website:
“Bower Hill Bourbon commemorates the “Battle of Bower Hill” which was The first bloodshed of the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. The Mingo Creek militiamen numbering nearly six hundred surrounded federal tax inspector General John Neville’s fortified home, Bower Hill. The battle took the lives of two rebel leaders, Oliver Miller and Major James McFarlane, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, as well as a few U.S. soldiers defending the Bower Hill home. Upon completion of the two-day battle, the home was razed by fire.”
“The Rebellion originated from the Excise Whiskey Tax of 1791. The farmers who resisted, many of them war veterans, contended that they were fighting for the principles of the American Revolution.”
Tasting Notes for Bower Hill Kentucky Straight Bourbon
This expression is aged four years, bottled at 43% ABV, and made from 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley.
Nose: Leather and oak aromas.
Palate: A thin sweet entry that develops into an astringent, bitter, and oaky palate. Adding water does not change the flavors significantly. The palate feels young and thin.
Finish: Short and slightly bitter. There is an alcohol kick at the end.
Conclusion: This Straight Bourbon feels very young for four years old. There is not a lot of complexity in this expression that feels thin on the palate. The flavors need more time to develop into something interesting. For only 5$ more, you can buy Milam & Green Triple Cask Bourbon, a steal for that caliber of whiskey.
Don’t miss the collection of pictures of this whiskey on my Instagram account.
Score: 2.5/5 ⭐
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Legend
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