Bourbon

Whiskey Review: Bardstown 2022 Château de Laubade Armagnac Cask Finish

We review Bardstown 2022 Château de Laubade Armagnac Cask Finish, the second in a collaboration between a Kentucky bourbon distillery and a French armagnac house.

OVERALL RATING

7
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Bardstown 2022 Château de Laubade Armagnac Cask Finish

Tasting Notes

About:

53.5% ABV, 107 proof. Blended straight bourbon whiskeys finished in Château de Laubade Armagnac casks. 750ml. $160.
Appearance:
Auburn
Nose:
From the beginning, the nose is instantly hit with Armagnac. After moments of waiting to let the Armagnac settle, pink peppercorn and freshly crushed cinnamon stick add a layer of spice. Lemon oil wafts throughout the dram for brightness. Overripe pear is pungent, but toward the end, it becomes more woody and musky like wet cedar.
Palate:
There is a lot going on with this dram! It is spicy with pink peppercorns but also mulling spices like cinnamon, clove, and allspice. Cedar makes the dram feel dry, especially with all the spices. However, I do get a metal key taste near the end and it just zaps my mouth. Overall, the whiskey reminds me of rum raisin cake. Straw and cornstarch are brought out on the finish.
Finish:
Comments:
While the whiskey is great to sip, the Chateau Laubade Armagnac finish is a little overwhelming. It doesn’t taste like bourbon, it mostly tastes like Armagnac. If you are an Armagnac fan, the Bardstown Bourbon Company collaboration is for you, but if you prefer the finishing casks to mildly influence your whiskey, then you can skip it. It is worth trying, but I would buy a bottle of Armagnac outright.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Courtney Kristjana

Courtney Kristjana is a leading whiskey taster in the United States. Inspired by an article on Heather Greene, she left her career in Gerontology to pursue her passion for whiskey. Currently studying to become a Master of Scotch, Courtney dreams of one day being nominated for the Keepers of the Quaich. Her reviews may be as strong as the peat in her scotch, but she guarantees honesty, integrity, and an open mind.

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