A little background

J.W. Dant Bottled in Bond is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced by Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. With a retail price of around $15 for a 750ml, it’s considered by many to be one of the best values on the (bottom) shelf. This whiskey is named after Joseph Washington Dant, a Kentucky distiller in the 1830s who is rumored to have fashioned his still from a hollowed out tree trunk. J.W. Dant is Bottled-in-Bond, meaning it is a Straight Bourbon at least 4 years old and bottled at 100 proof. It’s distilled from Heaven Hill’s 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Mash Bill.

(Tasted neat from a Glencair n Glass)

Color

Golden Amber

Nose

Banana and a nuttyness are the first notes to jump out of the glass, followed by sweet corn, oak, vanilla, and white skinned fruits. Very much a classic Heaven Hill nose.

Palate

The nutty notes from the nose carry through to the palate, along with an almost salt like quality. Salted peanuts? Sure! Plenty of caramel and corn characteristics are present as well.

Finish

The finish is long, spicy, and lingers about for quite some time. Oak dominates, with more subtle baking spices, nutmeg, and black pepper.

In closing

At $15 bucks for a Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey there is very little to complain about here. However, this whiskey is far from perfect. Although the flavor profile is enjoyable and the finish is nice, it does lack much body, mouthfeel or complexity. Will I most certainly buy it again and continue to surprise people with it in blind tastings, you bet. However, I will say that for around the same price you can step into Evan Williams Bottled in Bond, JTS Brown Bottled in Bond, and Early Times Bottled in Bond, which I feel are superior products.