Bulleit
“Look, Chalmers, let’s understand each other... I don’t like you.”
Between 1830 – 1860 Augustus Bulleit made rye whiskey, that’s right it wasn’t even bourbon at all originally even though it was promoted as such. In 1987 his great, great, grandson Thomas E Bulleit Jnr revived the brand & the legend, but more importantly changed the recipe. The rye content was reduced to 28%; with 68% corn and 4% malted barley making up the final ingredients.
In the early days, the revived whiskey was sourced from several distilleries until a deal was struck in the late 1990s for it to be distilled at the Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. With demand at such a high, it became inevitable that Bulleit would have to open its own distillery. In 2016 and 115 million dollars later, in Shelby County, Kentucky their dreams were realised.
Bulleit is a solid, entry-level offering. It is not too strong, not too offensive, not too sweet or spicy. There is very little burn, which can put some 'newbies' to whiskey completely off before they’ve even finished their first glass. So while this bourbon isn't one we go to very often these days, it can’t be underestimated for those first dipping a toe into the bourbon world.
That first dip will present you with a sweet, fresh, floral nose with some heavy citrus notes and a hint of mint leaves. The palate is inoffensive and presents the usual oak and caramel without offering too much else. A woody background finish disappears disappointingly quickly. For the more discerning whiskey aficionado, it doesn’t offer enough to keep you engaged, but as a first starter bourbon it won’t put you off and may just be the first step leading you on a bourbon discovery journey.
