🥃Review #18 Rowan's Creek - Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

Rowan's Creek - Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey with backlighting and a cairn

I'm a pretty big fan of Willett. They're slept on when it comes to major producers I feel and Noah's Mill became something of a go-to for me when Booker's started to draw scarce. Though it alas lost it's 12 year age statement more than a decade ago, Rowan's creek has an endearing aesthetic to the labeling and I was excited to take another peak at this easier to drink offering.

📚Background: Made by Willett Distillery in Bardstown Kentucky, Rowan's Creek claims to be crafted with care by hand in "small lots, one batch at a time." It is named after the creek that to-this-day runs through the Willett Distillery The namesake , John Rowan himself was a esteemed judge and statesman who incidentally both represented Kentucky in the Constitutional Convention of 1799 and killed a man in a duel over a drunken gambling dispute. He went on to serve as the Kentucky Secretary of State and in the US House of Representatives.

🛒Sourced: $38.99 Local Vine, GA 750ml

🧪Proof: 100.1, 50.05% ABV - Yeah gemmie that extra .1% thank you, I'll take it.

🎨Color: R3 - A solid medium intensity per the Castle & Cairn Color Scale, leaning towards reds/browns

🥔Mash Bill: An interesting Blend of Four Mash Bills;

72/17/15 Corn/Rye/Malted barley - BALANCED
79/7/15 Corn/Rye/Malted barley - HIGH CORN
52/38/10 Corn/Rye/Malted barley - HIGH RYE
65/20/15 Corn/Wheat/Malted barley - WHEATED

No age statement, tastes probably 5-6 years to me.

👃Nose: Woody Oak, clove, vanilla to start. Make sure to open your moth when nosing this one. Once I did, I started to find some Licorice/Tobacco notes as well, a nice surprise. A full but nonabrasive nose, go back to this while chewing.

😜Palate: A full medium thickness in line with the color and nose, good mouthfeel. Lots and lots of wood, deepening into what I find to be a bit of a muddle aromatic notes. The cloves and licorice come through well on the tongue and I get a general grassy or herbaceous feel.

💦Finish: The muddle clarifies into hot tea, a short burst with an overall warming finish. Tea and heat flash quickly before subsiding to a lingering oakiness. Reasonable alcohol sensation for the proof, not smooth but not disagreeable either.

🏆 Overall: 6.5/10 - Very Good - Solid for your wallet and your cup, Rowan's creek has a lot of prairie flavors executed with the excellence of a mature distillery. It's easier drinking than Noah's mill and has plenty of things to like. It would be truly remarkable if coming from a craft startup, but I feel for the price you're starting to get within range of some really solid alternatives. I'll probably grab this bottle occasionally as a moderately priced representation garden flavors to share with buddies getting into the hobby. Will be happy to work this into my "Friday Pour" lineup for the time being. Original review 5.75/10, assessed to be low.

Mid Bottle Review 7/16/24: 7/10 - this bottle has a lot to love about it. A little bit of air in the headspace mellows any of my earlier concerns. Little House on the Prairie notes stay strong and it dances across the tongue with elvish enthusiasm. Leaf lovers rejoice, I'm convinced to pick up another bottle. Bumped overall rating as I really have enjoyed this bottle since first review.

Tipsy Review 7/24/24: After a few pours into an evening, how do things change? Grassland flavor intact from the nose, even in a rocks glass. Got to love the definition of the character. Little bit of paint coming through on second nose, but not altogether unpleasant. Sip is downright delightful. Clear and bright would be my two descriptors. With a little duller mouth, this bottle tastes like sunshine. Throw away your fridge, putting ice in this would be a shame. A modicum of the garden character remains and delights the relaxed mind. This is one of those bottles that truly climbs a drink or two into the night.

💵Would buy again? Sure

⚖️Rating Scale:

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