Peerless Bourbon – Corona, TBWS, Bern’s Barrel Select
Quick Stats:
- Distiller: Peerless Distilling Co.
- Spirit: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Aged: Unstated
- Proof: 109
- Purchase Price: $62.95
- Peerless Bourbon Website
- Davidoff Tampa Website
About The Distillery & Bottle: - “Originally established in the early 1800s, Kentucky Peerless is now home to six fermentation tanks, a 3,800-gallon beer well, and a one-of-a-kind 26-foot continuous copper still made locally by Vendome Copper & Brass Works. The 2,500-gallon Peerless cooker holds the finest corn, rye, barley, and Kentucky limestone water.”
- “Peerless® Kentucky Straight Bourbon upholds the promise of producing top-notch spirits from the historic distillery. Unlike rye, which features more hay and pepper, Peerless® Bourbon is rooted in fruits, florals, and oaks. The nose features citrus, cedar, and honeysuckle as well as a nice balance of spicy oak. The first sip is that of caramel and toasted oak before a multitude of notes from around the flavor wheel show up on the palate. The finish showcases an enduring duel between sweet and spicy notes as citrus, florals, and sweet oak tussle with dry cocoa, cinnamon, and spicy oak. The result is an amazing whiskey – fascinating for everyone from beginners to connoisseurs.”
-
Nose
(4.5)
-
Palate
(4)
-
Finish
(4)
-
Value
(4.5)
Notes & Review
Nose: Stewed vanilla spice winter fruit, charred oak, tobacco leaf, tanned leather
Palate: Caramel cream, cinnamon sugar, molasses, campfire marshmallow
Finish: Winterfruit, spiced rye, toasted oak, burnt caramel
Review: The bourbon that resurrected Peerless has been hot on people’s radar. It’s good, affordable, and most importantly, available. The good news is that it’s one of those great pours that you can find readily, and it is enjoyable for veterans and whiskey newbies alike.
The pour picked by Corona, Tampa Bay Whiskey Society, and Bern’s takes the balance found with the regular bourbon, and amplifies the sweetness to the perfect level for a pour to balance out a bold meal, like steak or barbecue, or have as an after dinner drink.
The think I liked most about the pour was that the sweetness isn’t syrupy or overpowering, it’s earthy, it’s full of molasses, and has a beautiful creamy caramel to it. The finish carries an earthy sweet note to it that creates a nice consistency throughout the pour, and helps balance the more savory char notes that usually accompany the finish of most bourbons.
It creates a truly unique pour that, while easy on untrained palates, is also complex enough to be highly enjoyable by seasoned bourbon enthusiasts. If you have the opportunity, get one before they’re gone. And, if you can’t, pick up a regular Peerless bourbon at your nearest store.
