INTRODUCING KENTUCKY TAVERN BOURBON
I was looking for a decent pub or restaurant to enjoy the World Cup 2014 matches and wound up at J. Gumbo’s on the campus of the University of Louisville. Being the multi-tasker that I am I figured what better time to do a bourbon review?
Denise, our bartender, introduced herself cordially.
Me: “What’s the worst bourbon you have?”
Bartender: “This stuff in the well, its $3” (Apparently “this stuff” was so bad that she didn’t want to mention it by name.)
Me: “I’ll take that – neat”
Bartender: [Shivers in disgust]
A three-finger pour OF Kentucky Tavern in a plastic cup is what I got. This was not going to be pleasant, I thought to myself.
Kentucky Tavern has been around since the trademark was registered in 1903. The brand survived Prohibition, two World Wars, and several acquisitions. The latest acquisition saw Kentucky Tavern purchased by Sazerac in 2009 as part of a package deal with Tom Moore Distillery/Constellation Spirits Brands.
According to “The Book of Bourbon” Kentucky Tavern is comprised of the same wheat heavy mashbill as Weller and Old Fitzgerald. But given that the only places one finds Kentucky Tavern are in the hands of undiscriminating hobos and under the sink at dive bars, the mashbill likely won’t be a redeeming quality.
Strangely enough, when I give Kentucky Tavern a whiff, the nose isn’t off-putting. Pepper, sweetcorn, and cinnamon waft out of my plastic cup.
KENTUCKY TAVERN MASHBILL %
KENTUCKY TAVERN APPEARANCE/COLOR
KENTUCKY TAVERN BOURBON TASTING NOTES
Even more surprising, this bourbon isn’t gag-inducing. The wheated mashbill presents a smooth, sweet, very light-bodied bourbon. Perfect for sipping on a hot summer day while eating Cajun Jambalaya. The burn is non-existent (which is expected from an 80 -proof), and the flavors are muted, save for sweet corn. In fact, Kentucky Tavern is barely above being a simple distilled corn whiskey.
The pepper, baking spices, and corn in the nose are prevalent on the palate, but if you aren’t paying attention, you wouldn’t realize you are drinking bourbon. What is somewhat notable is the fruit in the finish: really fresh pear apricot and cherry. But again, this stuff is so watery light-bodied that you would be forgiven if you miss all that.
KENTUCKY TAVERN FLAVOR WHEEL
OUR VERDICT
C+
Because of the very muted character of Kentucky Tavern, the low proof, and the generally unremarkable character of the whiskey, Kentucky Tavern is not a bourbon lovers bourbon. Whiskey drinking Bachelorette party attendees and frat rats will enjoy this. As will members of the blackout brigade (8 shots should get you where you want to be).
We give Kentucky Tavern Bourbon a C+.
How we grade bourbons. KT isn’t terrible. I have had much, much worse out of the well. But Kentucky Tavern does absolutely nothing for those who want quality. Maybe that’s why it sells for $9.99 a half-gallon at the drug store up the street.
Because of its light body and low proof, this is a bourbon that’s easy to enjoy in the summer. Just don’t mix it with anything, and if you are going to add ice, use a slow melting king cube or spherical ice ball.
Have you tried Kentucky Tavern Bourbon? If so, leave your own rating by using the stars below and click here to leave a comment.
Reminiscent of Walkers Deluxe if not the same.
C+? Oh, wow. You claim to have tasted worse bourbon than this? Funny, as I see you have Old Crow as an F, and I consider Old Crow a tiny notch above KT.
No one will enjoy this(nope not even inexperienced Frat Boys who get drunk off Bud Light), but being alcohol it will get you buzzed for cheap. I definitely recommend holding your nose on this.
Not very good
Taste is obviously relative. I don’t drink for flavors. I drink for a buzz. That being said KT taste pretty awesome to me. I threw away a lot of money drinking high-end whiskey and at the end of day the buzz was the same. Just my opinion.
Amen brother ! The snobs drive me crazy !
I’ve kept KT as my “mixer” bourbon ever since friends in Owensboro introduced me to it in 2001. It’s not terrible and is a straight, not blended, bourbon. However, yesterday I grabbed a bottle and got it home and noticed it no longer says Straight Bourbon. Instead, it says Special Reserve and is not looking step as a straight bourbon. In fact, it is labeled as 80 proof bourbon with natural flavors. What happened to my old KT?
Sorry you feel that way. Personally I find KT a fine, smooth bourbon with good flavor. The fact that it is inexpensive makes it doubly great to me. I’ve tasted all kinds of bourbon in my long lifetime and I’d drink KT any day of the week and enjoy it’s value..
Amen !
Was in a jam this past weekend. I left my wallet at my office. It was Friday night and I had $11.08 in my Jeep console. Armed with this large amount of cash, I proceeded into my local liquor store. I asked Vinod who owns the place what a good cheep bourbon was. Without hesitation, he said Kentucky Tavern and try it over ice without a mixer. It was priced at $9.99 for a 1.5 liter bottle. He fetched a bottle and i purchased.
This is a really smooth bourbon with a delicate flavor. No ether after burn like many cheep bourbons if have tried.
I was pleasantly surprised. It is aged a minimum of 36 months and well worth the $. Keep it real KENTUCKY TAVERN!!
Love Kentucky Tavern! Luckily this country boy doesn’t have as sophisticated a palate as some and with the savings that suits me just fine. Ill keep enjoying and add another percent or two to the 401k instead of wasting money on overpriced liquer . Have been drinking bourbon for 20 years now and after trying most bottom shelf varieties KT is my fave. I enjoy mine straight over rocks.
Just bought a bottle for $8.49. Will be my first try. I saw an old timer grab a bottle right as he walked in as I was browsing. So I thought I’d give it a try. Straight Bourbon, 80 proof, at least 36 months. Not sure where the guy ended up with Special Reserve.
Just picked a bottle of this Kentucky Tavern Special Reserve as I like to check out bottom line whiskeys and bourbons to try and find hidden gems and what they are good for. I previously and currently have owned multiple bars over the past 20 years having used a variety of well whiskey and bourbons like Kentucky Deluxe, TW Samuels and Old Forester and of course very familiar with all the higher echelon tastings….my straight up go to is Makers Mark for point of reference to my preferred flavor, proof and variety of mixing qualities. This one is interesting as I know some are saying that it’s great just over ice, but I would take Henry Mckenna’s Sour Mash over this for something on the rocks in this price range. I did find that it suited itself well for mixing with Coke, but oddly the sweetness of the Coke mixed with this particular Bourbon/Whiskey gave it an almost rum like hybrid flavor…not off-putting, but unique in it’s own way with the sweetness of the whiskey combined with the sweetness of the Coke gave it a hybrid whiskey/rum flavor. So, all in all not bad and a great thing to have around the house for throwing odd things together…a whiskey mojito anyone?
May he rest in peace, my beloved Father-in-law, was a serious drinker, and a Bourbon man. He lived out on Cape Cod … my wife and I in NYC … and we’d visit 3 or 4 times a year. Dad also did a near-perfect W.C. Fields impression, always greeting me with, “What are you drinking, my boy?” Never one to spend too much money stocking his bar, Kentucky Tavern was always his ‘welcome to The Cape’ libation. Back then I was a neophyte drinker, so I grew accustomed to the unique, if not unsophisticated, flavor profile of KT … and the fun days by the sea to follow. So now, many years later, I always keep a bottle on hand, and the taste always brings me back to better days on Old Cape Cod.
Correction to above: should read, ‘unsophisticated’
This is not the KT from even just a few years ago. That was straight bourbon. This is bourbon with natural fkavors. Same as Echo Spring and Ten High, all of which are classified at TTB as specialty whiskey and have that same sweet fake bourbon flavor. To me this is a downgrade by Sazerac to save money …for them. Skip this an go for Benchmark, also from Sazerac, which is a 36 month straight bourbon for about $1 more per half gallon.
Echo Spring was once my whiskey of choice. It was an 8 year old bourbon then. Now that it’s a 3 year old, I won’t even use it in mixed drinks.
Agree; Cabin Still did the same. Sorry, don’t appreciate the “natural flavors” added.
These days it’s not always easy to find a normally priced 80 proof bourbon. So many are 90 proof or stronger, which I find too strong
The current version of this whiskey is labeled as bourbon with natural flavors, not the straight Kentucky bourbon of just a few years ago. Sazerac wouldn’t disclose what natural flavors are added but said it was reformulated to make it taste smoother. Similar to current versions of Ten High and Echo Spring. It is pretty smooth but that original straight bourbon flavor is now missing. Not terrible but not as good as the original version. Sazerac: : how about a throw back 100 proof version for old times sake?
Prior to starting a four day kayak trip in Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp in early March (right before the world went crazy) I had to make a run to the Florida border to pick up a bottle of bourbon. Left my intended, Wild Turkey 101, at home. Finally found the drive up window and an interesting older woman handling it. Not being able to see the choices and having none of the requested I asked her for a recommendation. She walked away and returned with Kentucky Tavern Straight Bourbon Whiskey. When asked why this particular brand she informed us that it was the most popular but a wee bit expensive. (Thought… pushing the expensive stuff on a non-local. Huh.) Deciding it was part of my swamp adventure I said I’d take it without asking the price. She paper bagged it, handed it to me and rang it up – $9.99. I smiled. Arriving back at the night’s campsite I opened, poured, sniffed, and sipped. Nope, not my choice of bourbon. Sitting here now trying it again I still come up with vanilla on the nose and a little something else sweet but also overwhelming raw alcohol. Taste – spicy, hot (which I tend to like) but with an alcohol burn on the back end. Adding a drop or two of water has mellowed it a bit. A bit of breathing time, a bit smoother. I do like a wide range of bourbons, whiskeys and tend toward ryes. I am not a snob believing that whiskies are much like wine – you can get plenty of good reasonably priced choices. This one just doesn’t happen to be one of those for me. Happy it is for others though. Now, off to make a Perfect Manhattan. Enjoy!
Just returned from my local grocery store here in Wakayama Japan w/a bottle of KT!
Typhoon heading our way and I needed some bourbon to get me thru it…it’s a big’un heading our way! The price was right 1080¥ about $9.00 for 750 ml.
Poured a ‘taste’ and it’s pretty ok👍
I’ve drunk some very expensive bourbon ( my brother had a wealthy gf and he spent her cash w/reckless abandon on high end scotch and bourbon) of which we imbibed!
But now in JP the land of O’Sake and sochu (a sweet potato 25% alcohol ) I crave bourbon and KT caught my eye…I’ll buy it again w/or w/out a typhoon…cheers! 🙏
Update – recently found a straight bourbon version of KT in SE Indiana so there is apparently at least 2 versions of this whiskey floating around. The straight version is pleasant ;light grain with a little vanilla spice. Not as icky sweet as the flavored version. Nothing complex or deep due to the young age (at least 36 months according to to label). Nice mixer and can be enjoyed neat in pinch.
I like,KT! Smooth taste, priced cheap, but better then Jack!