Not long ago, my bourbon-hunting daughter gave me a ring to ask, “Would you like a Coors bourbon”? “A what?”, I replied. You read that right - that Coors - of Coors Light fame - is making whiskey. Today, we take a look at their newest addition to the stable - Barmen 1873 Bourbon.
The Coors Whiskey Company
In case you missed it, the second largest brewer in the Americas - Molson Coors - has quietly entered the distilling business. Beginning with Five Trail (not Trails) whiskey, and now Barmen 1873, whiskeys are being produced in collaboration with the Bardstown Bourbon Company.
From the Coors Whiskey Company website, we learn that this bourbon is inspired by our founder’s great, great grandfather, A. Coors. The Barmen 1873 name honors his birthplace and the year in which he established his legacy, now 150 years strong.
The Tasting
Barmen 1873 is bottled in a tall spirits bottle bearing a blue, German-style coat-of-arms. The label shares that it is a blend of straight bourbons. The phrase “straight bourbon” implies an age of at least two years, and if less than four years, the age must be disclosed (such as “36 months”). In this instance, there is no additional age statement present, so it is safe to assume that these blended bourbons are all at least four years old. The finished product is bottled at 92 proof.
The website doesn’t share the mash bill, but I’ll share that Bardstown Bourbon Company has access to hundreds of mash bills and yeast strains from which producers can choose. From the neck tag, we’re told to expect notes of caramel & vanilla, and flavors of grilled peach & chocolate, with a finish of cinnamon & ginger spice. Bottoms up!
Eye: Golden amber with several, thick legs displayed on the inside of my Glencairn glass.
Nose: An inviting nose, with traditional notes of caramel and vanilla. The peach note is more delicate and took a few nosings to uncover.
Palate: A creamy mouthfeel, laden with sweet vanilla and browned butter, balanced with gentle spice.
Finish: Medium-long with oak and spice rising in a crescendo.
Overall: Barmen 1873 may strike you as somewhat gimmicky. And, I confess, I took some heat a while back when Chris Stapleton’s Traveller Whiskey didn’t strike my palate. This one though - there’s no gimmick.
This is quite good, and I would readily purchase another when this soldier falls. At $35, this isn’t ridiculously priced, and is probably one of the best, new moderately-priced bourbons I’ve sampled of late. Consider adding this one to your shelf or your house well.