Old Medley 12-Year Bourbon

A little background

Old Medley has roots dating back more than 100 years prior to prohibition when the Medley and Wathen families began distilling bourbon in Kentucky. Unfortunately, like so many bourbon brands, Old Medley changed hands multiple times, the original distillery in Owensboro, Kentucky was eventually closed, and the brand was lost. The Medley Family recently revived this brand, along with Wathens, both of which are made from the same recipe. Old Medley 12-year is sourced from an unknown distillery in Kentucky and is bottled by the Frank-Lin Company in California. This bourbon is made from a mash bill of 77% corn, 10% rye, and 13% malted barley and is aged for 12 years. Old Medley 12-year originally retailed for $50.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Orange Amber

Nose

The nose is fairly light and sweet.There is slight bit of ethanol up front that is somewhat medicinal, but this quickly dissipates and reveals plenty of sweet vanilla, toffee, toasted grain, and oak. I started to enjoy the nose here more and more with time.

Palate

The mouthfeel is average and there is a slight alcohol burn right up front. However, the sweetness from the nose quickly takes over and ushers in plenty of vanilla, caramel, and a few milk chocolate notes, along with a slight rye spice and mild oak undertones.

Finish

The finish is medium-short and characterized by the same sweet notes from the nose and palate. The rye spice lingers along with more alcohol burn than is expected from an 86 proof bourbon. While there are some pleasant notes that transition to the finish, the finish is ultimately thin in flavor and underwhelming.

In conclusion

This 12-year expression of Old Medley is a pleasant and easy-drinking bourbon with some nice flavors, particularly on the nose. However, this bourbon does not have much depth and there really isn’t anything here that stands out or makes you want to come back for another pour. If I had to pick one word to describe this pour it would have to be ‘average’, but unfortunately, the price point for this bottle is not average. For $50, I think there are some much better alternatives that deliver a lot more.