Bourbon Heritage Month 2020 Day 3: Lux Row Distillers 12-Year-Old Double Barrel Limited Edition
This distillery exclusive by Lux Row Distillers was produced as part of their distillery’s grand opening in 2018. The bourbon was put in new, charred American oak twice and each barrel is hand-written on the bottle. Lux Row is rumored to source their liquid from Heaven Hill (or at least did until 2018, when they opened their own distillery and began phasing this contract distilling out). At 12 years old, the liquid is undoubtedly sourced but remember - sourced does not mean bad! This limited edition was only available at the distillery but can be found (usually for secondary prices) if you look. An added note: the proof references the distillery’s opening date (April 2018).
Lux Row Distillers Double Barrel: Specs
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Origin: Lux Row Distillers
Mashbill: Unknown
Proof: 118.4 (59.2% ABV)
Age: 12 Years Old, Distilled 3/16/2007 and Bottled in 2018.
Location: Casks 5138299 and 5138301, Bardstown, KY
Lux Row Distillers 12 Year Double Barrel Price: $150 (MSRP)
Lux Row Distillers 12 Year Double Barrel Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Dark maple syrup - the kind of color you only get from lots of age or multiple virgin barrelings. Medium rims and droplet legs.
Nose: Massive, pure bourbon flavor - make a candle out of this and send me a case. Vanilla, caramel, just the slightest hint of alcohol despite the higher proof. Brûléed fruit and a smoldering campfire after some air.
Palate: A bit more burn up front than you get in the nose, but absolutely worth it. Vanilla and caramel dominate, with some wine sweetness usually found in a wine barrel finish. Wood char on the back and pepperiness on the tongue that lingers throughout. Mouthfeel is a little thin, but coats the tongue and builds on itself.
Finish: Medium-to-short length, a burst of flavor that burns brightly if quickly.
Overall: I wish that finish was longer…it’s the only thing holding this back from being an upper-echelon bourbon. The incredible nose needs a slightly heavier mouthfeel to back it up, too, but I’m expecting that to grow as it ages in the bottle.
Final Rating: 7.5
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)
3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)
2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)
1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)
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