J.W.Kelly Old Milford Single Barrel Select Double Oaked Straight Bourbon

A little background

Handcrafted in a 3,000-gallon pot still, J.W.Kelly Old Milford Single Barrel Select Double Oaked Straight Bourbon Whiskey is born and raised in the scenic city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Each bottle of J.W.Kelly Old Milford Single Barrel Select is selected from barrels of 5-8 year old bourbon then transferred into a new American oak barrel and aged for another 8-12 months. J.W.Kelly Old Milford Single Barrel Select Double Oaked Straight Bourbon Whiskey is bottled at cask strength (109 proof) and has a retail price of around $50 – $65 USD.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Copper

Nose

A gentle and sweet nose with notes of caramel, nutmeg, pineapple, orange citrus, and vanilla.

Palate

Sweet with notes of buttered popcorn, simple syrup, baking spice, caramel, vanilla, tropical fruits, and a touch of cinnamon. A bit abrasive and lacking of much body or viscosity.

Finish

A short finish that’s slightly drying and quite sweet. Sweet buttery caramel corn, vanilla, and a bit of oak lingers.

In closing

I found J.W.Kelly Old Milford Single Barrel Select Double Oaked Straight Bourbon Whiskey to be a confusing pout. There are some enjoyable sweet notes and flavors, however, there are also abrasive and unpleasant aspects to this whiskey as well. The 109 proof is very much “in your face” and not very well integrated. There are quite a few wonderful options in the $50 – $60 price range today, making it hard for me to justify the cost of this whiskey.

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of J.W. Kelly & Co. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.