Luxco Restores Historic Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon Brand

by Nino Kilgore-Marchetti
February 21, 2020

Daviess County Distilling Company, with heritage dating back to 1874, was once a prominent distillery in Daviess County, which boasts a long history of distilled spirits and iconic distilleries that helped Kentucky earn its reputation as the home of great bourbons. It was acquired by the Medley Distilling Company in 1901, survived Prohibition, but ultimately the Daviess County brand was shuttered, apparently among others, by what would later be known as Diageo in 1992 when Medley itself was closed by its new owner.

The Daviess Country brand was acquired shortly thereafter by David Sherman Corporation in 1993, which in turn became Luxco when it was renamed in 2006. Now and again an old bottle of the Daviess Country whiskey pre-closure is rescued from a dusty retail shelf somewhere, but for the most part it was seemingly dormant for decades. That’s changed now, as Luxco, through its Lux Row Distillers operation, has restored it as a new “ultra-premium” family of bourbons.

The new Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon line up, according to those behind it, consists of a mixed mash bill of both wheated and ryed bourbons for a balanced sweetness and spice. The three variants in this line are Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Cabernet Sauvignon Finish and Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon – French Oak Finish. You’ll find more official information on each variant, including tasting notes, at the end of this article.

“The combination of mash bills really sets this bourbon apart – the smooth wheated mash bill and the traditional spicy ryed mash bill come together for a balanced taste profile,” said John Rempe, Head Distiller at Lux Row Distillers, in a prepared statement. “The secondary aging in the cabernet sauvignon and French oak barrels adds a nice extra layer of flavor with a slight sweet fruitiness and oaky caramel undertones.”

All three variants are bottled at 96 proof in 750ml bottles with an embossed shoulder and topped with a natural cork. Availability nationwide is set for March, with a pricing point of around $40 for the straight bourbon and $45 for the two barrel finishes.

Daviess Country Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Mash bill: corn, wheat, rye, malt
Aroma: honey, vanilla, and caramel
Palate: warm, rich notes of honey give way to the sweetness of vanilla and caramel.
Finish: long, warm finish with a hint of spice

Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Cabernet Sauvignon Finish

Mash bill: corn, wheat, rye, malt
Rested for six months in cabernet sauvignon barrels from the Napa region in California
Aroma: honey, vanilla, and caramel
Palate: smoothness from the barrel finish with hints of fruit and oak
Finish: long, warm finish with a hint of spice

Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon – French Oak Finish