Meeting #15: May ‘25 - Kentucky Derby

Happy May Y’all! The flowers have bloomed, the weather has warmed, and Sovereignty is champion of Churchill Downs! To stay on brand with derby month, High Flight had a derby themed meeting where we sampled 3 Kentucky bourbons, followed by cigars on the patio…it’s about time!!

The first two whiskeys are readily available (well, sort of), and we finished the evening with a unique less-known (at least to me) whiskey. Without further ado… RIDER’S UP!

#1) Woodford Reserve 151 Derby Edition  (Versailles, KY)

90.2 proof / 6-7 Years / $50

Undisclosed mashbill

HF Avg: 2.94

NOSE: Cherry, vanilla, caramel, sweet sponge cake

TASTE: Clean and traditional sip, light caramel and vanilla

FINISH: mild finish, oaky, dry tannins with a hint of peppery bitterness

Woodford is a classic bourbon, steeped in tradition. They are the official whiskey of the Kentucky Derby and it would be criminal to exclude them from our May tasting. The 151 Derby edition is the same recipe, just aged 1 year longer, and the release a special edition each year. Relatively easy to find (until it runs out), but similar to the normal batch. Overall, Woodford has a very nice sweet nose, mild flavor, with a little dry oak finish. While it doesn’t blow your mind, it’s classic, it's traditional, it's good. Interesting observation by the crew, folks mentioned they struggled to taste the cherry sweetness found in the nose. While I agree, I really noticed the pleasant vanilla caramel sweetness after comparing to our third whiskey. Me personally, Woodford is my 3.0 benchmark for a good whiskey that I’d share with friends. (What is your benchmark 3.0 whiskey?). 

#2) Baker’s 7-Year (Clermont, KY) Distilled by Jim Beam

107 proof / Aged 7 years / $65

77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley

HF Avg: 3.34

NOSE: Apple crisp, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon

TASTE: Vanilla, cinnamon and baking spice, caramel, hint of peppercorn

FINISH: Sweet finish, cinnamon spice, not dry, with a pleasant Kentucky hug 

Baker’s 7-year is a single barrel offering by Jim Beam, known for it’s sweet and oaky notes. You are immediately greeted with sweet smells of baking spice, brown sugar, and apples. This sweetness carries through the sip and ends in a really nice warmth. I think 107 is a nice sweet spot in proof, with a balance of flavor and heat. For $65, I think this is a good bourbon. Not complex, not ground-breaking, but good! And it's easy to find too…

#3) Boondocks 6-year Old Straight Bourbon  (Bardstown, KY)

90 proof / 6-years / $40

Undisclosed mashbill.

HF Avg: 3.14

NOSE: Sweet, dark fruit, caramel, slight varnish

TASTE: Very soft, raisins, faint smoke

FINISH: dry smokiness, shorter finish, hint of port

A different whiskey than the first two. Finishing in port barrels can introduce some notes you can’t achieve otherwise (Angel's Envy is known for this). For those who enjoy unique twists, ports, etc…this may be for you. It has a dark fruity raisin quality, with a hint of smokiness. More traditional and high-octane folks, you may not be as interested as it's on the milder side - some folks mentioned a "watery then raisiny" taste at first. Me personally, I thought it was fine, but the finish was short and left me wanting more. But then again, it’s only $40. Overall, the group gave it a 3.14, so it ain’t bad!

REMINDER!! Our June meeting is taking place a week early - 6/5! This is because our new friends from Found North (Boston) are traveling to us for a guided tasting and bringing their wares. So clear your calendar, and please RSVP promptly so we can plan all the logistics. This is likely going to be a full meeting, hopefully the weather cooperates so we can do this outdoors. See you then!!