Sam Houston 12 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey 750ml

Sam Houston Bourbon Whiskey is a 12-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey that was curated for Western Spirits by Steve Nally, John Hargrove, and the team at Bardstown Bourbon Company. Bardstown is an interesting emerging operation in Kentucky, showcased by a state-of-the-art distillery and visitor experience.

This release, which is actually the second go around under the Sam Houston label. It was “crafted from a rare, premium bourbon reserve. The Sam Houston 12 Year bourbon was aged for a minimum of 12 years in new American White Oak barrels, charred at #4 level. And was held to the highest scrutiny for quality, flavor, and complexity. Each barrel was hand-chosen, and the current release has been crafted in extremely small batches. Using only 3 barrels at a time. Each bottle is individually hand-labeled with specific aging notes and numbered.”

Western, in a rather rare move compared to some other NDPs, has actually highly detailed information related to each state’s release on the website for this bourbon. In general, it has a mash bill that’s 74% corn, 18% rye, and 8% malted barley. You’ll find some detailed official tasting notes at the end of this story as well for this deep amber-copper-colored whiskey for your consideration.

Color:

Deep amber, dark reddish tones with shimmering copper highlights.

Nose:

A subtle but noticeable balance of dried fruit, honey, orange peel, molasses, with a lingering toffee. As it opens up a noticeable, yet elusive smokiness round out the complex but balanced nose.

Taste:

An expected rye spice, married with hints of cherry cream, vanilla, citrus, and cotton candy. A slight creamy mouthfeel highlights the sweetness that presents itself on the end of the palate.

Finish:

A savory, yet classical finish. Both, long and balanced. Subtle oak and baking notes are buried under a slight spicy cinnamon flavor.