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Licensed in 2014, B.R. Distilling Co. is a craft distillery located in Memphis, Tennessee very close to the Mississippi river and it's tributaries which have a moderating effect, proving high humidity and relatively steady temperatures. The brand is named for Blue Notes, those of a slightly flattened (lower) pitch on the 3rd, 5th, or 7th degree of the major scale which often create a soulful, ambiguous blend of major and minor sounds characteristic of blues, jazz, and gospel. Further, a Juke Joint was an informal, often makeshift bar in the rural American South, primarily for African Americans, offering food, drinks, dancing, and gambling, also serving as crucial incubators for blues and early R&B music. Blue Note Juke Joint is a workhorse, priced aggressively for a craft spirit and meant both for neat sipping and cocktail use. Not to be overlooked, it has won double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits competition. Also under the Blue Note branding, you'll find Crossroads (finished), Uncut (a SFWS platinum award winning), rye, and single barrel offerings in addition to special limited releases.
I should mention that B.R. Distilling Company is a Non-Distiller Producer and sources their white dog, focuses instead on maturation, blending, and bottling. They source this juice from Kentucky (you can peep that back label and note the "Bottled By" language), to my understanding, from Lofted Spirits (parent company of Bardstown Bourbon Company and Green River distilling company, both world class facilities and production teams). Based on some hubbub when Green River (prior to rename) had some flooding it is my understanding that most of their current Juke Joint dumps are from Owensboro rather than Bardstown. This "asset light" strategy likely enables their competitive pricing strategy. As evidenced by their award hauls, there is plenty of room to add value in aging, blending, and finishing.
🛒Sourced: $29.99 Tower Beer, Wine, and Spirits, GA - 750ml
🧪Proof: 93 proof, 46.5% ABV - similar to most flagships
🎨Color: Y3.5 - gasolina, yellow petroleum
🥔Mash Bill: 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley. Non-chill filtered. No-age statement. Aged at least four years.
👃Nose: Approachable with red fruit, Aperol, and honey. As the bottle opens up, there is a truly astounding amount of cherry, more than I usually get from Buffalo Trace family brands.
😜Palate: Initially bright with some sweetness, a brief vegetative note that transitions into a cereal and young corn mid palate and then a somewhat tart red berry and rye spice towards the finish. There is some abrasive tingle at work of which I am not altogether a fan. Thicker/fuller than I expected on balance, a relatively oily mouthfeel but without the strength of flavor that usually comes with it.
💦Finish: Very Short, some Aperol citrus but more feel than flavor.
🏆 Overall: 5.25/10 - Good, Drinkable Neat - It's a credible bottle at a mass market price point. There is still enough of a baby corn influence and some still exposed edges of booziness that make it a step below some other options on my shelf for around the same price point. That being said, I think it will hold up just fine in most cocktails and some simple syrup and bitters will probably make this blossom in an old fashioned; there is enough of a rye influence to make it pop well.
1/2 Bottle Update - Oxidation has really helped to temper the rough edges and open this one up. It is closer to first crack 1792 at this point, but I can't say that you wouldn't just be better off with that bottle.
1/3 Bottle Remaining - As a comparison, there's no noting that this bottle has some shortcomings but comes from good juice. The fruited profile is solid and surprisingly full, up their with 1792 and Buffalo Trace, though the experience has jagged edges and immature flavor accents.
💵Would buy again? I'll probably save my money for the uncut version which Redditors seem to rave about.
🙈Blind Tastings:
- 2/9/26 - Four Roses Small Batch > Chattanooga 91 > Blue Note Juke Joint (This bottle)
⚖️Rating Scale:
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume it by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws | Struggle to get through the bottle
4 | Serviceable | Mixing or ice recommended.
5 | Good | Drinkable Neat | An agreeable dram indeed.
6 | Very Good | Any flaws offset by interesting flavors | A cut above.
7 | Great | You find yourself reaching for this one often | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Serve to Impress Guests | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite | You guard this bottle jealously