Bourbon

Bourbon Review: Kings County Peated Bourbon

We review Kings County Peated Bourbon, a whiskey that owes its existence to a happy accident at this New York craft distillery.

OVERALL RATING

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Kings County Peated Bourbon

Tasting Notes

About:

Appearance:
Medium caramel in the glass.
Nose:
Toasted marshmallow, seafoam candy, semisweet chocolate, and sea salt. King’s County doesn’t necessarily smell peated, but does have a certain saltiness to it that offsets its round sweetness in a rather pleasing fashion. Spiced oranges, vanilla tootsie rolls, and saltwater taffy round out the nose.
Palate:
The dram is salt-forward from start to finish, interspersed with rich bursts of flavor. Hot rubber, pretzels, slightly bitter baker’s chocolate, warm leather, and hard candies define the palate. The body is meaty and rich; tannic, but not unpleasantly so. As on the nose, peat is not a primary element, but it is clear that this is an exceptionally complex spirit. Salty, leathery, and chewy on the finish, white pepper, leather, and Goetze’s caramels linger. Conclusion: Although King’s County Peated Bourbon did not live up to my preconceived notions of what a peated bourbon might mean, it did blow me away with its delicious character, complexity, and clear attention to detail. Kings County continues on as one of the leaders of the craft whiskey renaissance in an ever expanding sea of craft whiskies of variable quality and honesty. A true American expression and something to be proud of. FINAL SCORE: 93/100
Finish:
Comments:

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.

Savannah Weinstock

Savannah Weinstock is a graduate of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, where her Environmental Studies thesis delved into the intersection of Scotch Whisky, sustainability, and the commodification of nature and culture. During her thesis research, she spent time living and studying in Glasgow, Scotland, visiting and interviewing distilleries across the country, with a particular focus on the Hebridean Isles. Savannah is currently immersed in the industry, gaining firsthand experience with whiskey, spirits, and cocktails on a daily basis.

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