Luxco is a producer and marketer of distilled beverages and liqueurs founded in 1958 in St. Louis, Missouri, by David Sherman Sr. and Paul A. Lux as David Sherman Corporation. The company was renamed Luxco in 2006 and has grown by acquiring brands (i.e., Ezra Brooks, Rebel Yell, etc.) and distilleries (i.e., Limestone Branch Distillery and Lux Row Distillers)
In April of 2021, MGP purchased Luxco.
The distillery offers five experiences for bourbon aficionados
- Distillers Collection Select. A complete distillery tour with Single Barrel Section warehouse. You will be able to taste Rebel and Ezra expressions (no longer sold to the public) straight from the barrel.
- Lux Row Distillers Production Tour. The traditional distillery tour with a guided tasting.
- Daviess County Double Barrel Launch Party. A special event to celebrate the release of a Daviess County bourbon composed of wheated and ryed mash bills with master distiller John Rempe.
- Lux Row Premium Experience. This experience offers a deeper look at the distillery and the opportunity to taste Lux Row 12 premium bourbon plus other popular brands.
- Evenings with Ezra. A VIP distillery tour with a guided tasting of different expressions of the Ezra brand.
The Lux Row Distillers Production Tour started with a video introducing the company, the new distillery in Bardstown, and the brands. The guide then took us through the steps of production, such as milling, mashing, fermentation, distillation, and aging. The most impressive parts of the tour were the 43 feet tall copper column still, and the massive warehouse that can hold up to 20,000 barrels. The tasting ended at the restaurant with a flight of four bourbons.
Lux Row makes two different styles of bourbon
- Wheated Bourbon. This mash bill produces a smooth and creamy sweet flavor. 68% Corn/20% Wheat/12% Malted Barley.
- Ryed Bourbon. This mash bill produces a spicier bourbon. 78% Corn/10% Rye/12% Malted Barley.
A guided tasting at the end of the tour comprised the following bourbons:
#1: Daviess County Blend Straight Bourbon Sour Mash: This bourbon is bottled at 96% proof, made by blending wheated and ryed bourbons that are at least two years old, and finished in French oak barrels for six months. This bourbon presents a delicate nose, smooth flavor of caramel and spices with a short to medium finish. The average age for this bourbon is four years old.
#2: Daviess County Straight Bourbon: Bottled at 96% proof, with the same composition as the previous one, but finished in barrels that previously held Cabernet Sauvignon from napa valley. A nice bourbon with sweetness, spice, and dryness from the red wine. Medium-long finish.
#3: David Nicholson Reserve: Bottled at 100% proof at cask strength. A straight bourbon with ryed mash bill. I taste caramel, vanilla, and oak notes with a medium finish. There is enough potency here to make a good Old Fashioned.
#4: Lux Row 12 year Double Barrel (Available in Kentucky): Bottled at 118.4% at cask strength, made from two 12-year bourbons with rye mash bills. This bourbon delivers a big punch of vanilla, caramel, spice, and oak notes. This bourbon was my favorite of the guided tasting due to its full-bodied and long finish. You may purchase Lux Row 12 at the gift shop.
What I like about the experience 🙂
A modern distillery in operation made the overall experience better than that at Maker’s Mark. The tall copper column still making bourbon, the warehouse, and the classy bar were my favorite parts of the tour.
What I did not like 🙁
Blood Oath, one of the most popular brands of this distillery, was not offered in any tour or experience.
Score: 3.5/5 ⭐
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