Whiskey Review: Town Branch Single Barrel Bourbon 1029

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Alltech. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link towards the bottom of this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.

Town Branch Bourbon is made by Lexington Distilling, which is owned by Alltech. The company was established in 1999, and offers a full line up of whiskey, beer, canned cocktails, gin, bourbon, and other spirits.

In 2012 with the opening of the Town Branch Distillery in Lexington, Kentucky, they became part of the world renowned Kentucky Bourbon Trail. They also have another location, Alltech Dueling Barrels Brewery and Distillery in Pikeville, Kentucky. For even more fun and history, they also own Pearse Lyon Distillery at St. James church in Dublin Ireland.

For this whiskey review, I tasted a sample from a single cask (barrel no. 1029) of Town Branch Bourbon. It’s labeled with a fill date of 13k6, which, according to the brand, refers to the year, month, and day that the cask was filled. That means this cask was filled in 2013, although it’s not clear what month k refers to, putting it somewhere between seven and eight years old. Town Branch has an active single cask program, but most releases are sold as distillery exclusives.

Town Branch Bourbon uses a mash bill with corn, malted rye, and malted barley. The mash is fermented in large cypress wood fermenting containers in Town Branch Distillery’s glass front room. Town Branch distills in two large, copper pot stills imported from Scotland. The raw whiskey is aged in oak barrels, charred on the inside to char level five.

Town Branch Single Barrel Bourbon (image via Liquor Barn)

Tasting Notes: Town Branch Bourbon 1029

Vital Stats: Proof 109.7. No age statement, but either seven or eight years old, depending on what month it was distilled in 2013 (and when it was bottled in 2021).

Appearance: Old gold in color.

Nose: There is a strong solvent aroma that’s a bit overpowering. When you get past that, there are sweet notes of vanilla custard.

Palate: I did not feel there was much flavor on this one. It burned all the way down, which does not happen to me often, even at higher proofs. This one was just too hot for me. There was too much jet fuel and a bitter bite to taste any subtleties.