A little background

Created by Luxrow Distillers to honor the legacy of the historic Daviess County Distilling Company, the Daviess County Straight Bourbon Whiskey is one of three whiskeys in a lineup that also includes a whiskey finished in Cabernet casks, and a whiskey finished in french oak casks, all of them at 96 proof. The straight bourbon is a blend of a wheated bourbon with a more traditional bourbon that includes rye as the flavoring grain in the mashbill. Daviess County Straight Bourbon Whiskey has a suggested retail price of around $40.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Dull Gold

Nose

Vanilla leaps from the glass, followed by a fresh almond note that draws you in, however that is where the complexity stops.

Palate

The rye spice touches down and streaks down the center of the palate quickly, while light toffee and butter soaks into the edges of the palate. While not unpleasant, the dichotomy between the rye and wheat bourbons become a little disjointed after a moment in the mouth. The mouthfeel is mildly soft at the back of the palate, but retains some spice up front.

Finish

Cinnamon spice and overcooked toffee carry from the start to the tail of the medium finish. While not particularly complex, the finish is good for 96 proof.

In closing

Daviess County Straight Bourbon Whiskey was an interesting pour. The conflict between the rye and wheat mash bills felt apparent to me, however, the result is that the various styles cover the full palate all at the same time. At a reasonable price of around $40 I would keep a bottle of this on my shelf in order to showcase the difference in the two styles of whiskey blended together, however, this definitely isn’t a bottle I’m reaching for when I want a classic bourbon flavor profile.