There are a host of unappreciated bourbon brands on the shelves today - some good, some bad, and some downright nasty. Where does Boondocks 6-Year Bourbon place on that list? Let’s find out.
Sourcer, Not Distiller
In a prior review of a slightly older bourbon in the Boondocks lineup, I shared the story of Royal Wine Corporation as the parent behind Bardstown Spirit Company that is listed on the Boondocks labels. BSC lists Bardstown, Kentucky as their location, though BSC doesn’t own or operate a distillery. My money is on Bardstown Bourbon Company, with access to hundreds of mash bills and yeast strains as the likely source of this bourbon. There’s nothing wrong being a non-producing distiller (NPD). In fact, many great brands today, including the likes of Wild Turkey and Four Roses, trace their lineage back to sourcing spirits as an NPD.
The man behind Boondocks is master distiller Dave Scheurich. With more than four decades of experience in the distilling industry, and the recipient of a Whisky Advocate Lifetime Achievement Award, he brings his love of bourbon to life in every bottle.
The Tasting
Boondocks is packaged in a tall, slightly shouldered bottle with a raised "B" on the bottom left front. The lettering of the brand name is straight out of the Wild West. Neither the label, nor the website disclose the mash bill. The finished product is bottled at 86 proof (note this is slightly lower than the 8-year expression we enjoyed previously.
From the website, we also learn that the bourbon was aged in barrels receiving a level three char and stored on the top floor of the rickhouse for maximum exposure to Kentucky’s hot and cold weather cycles. We’re told to expect a product with a deep reddish amber color and a rich, sweet aromatic, caramel and vanilla scent, with a sweet, mellow, balanced, and smooth flavor with toffee, caramel, cherries, raisins, and subtle rye spiciness.
Eye: Amber ocre in color with medium, evenly-spaced legs in my glass.
Nose: Deep notes of vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, cocoa powder, and tobacco leaf.
Palate: Butterscotch, toffee, and cherry nougat balanced with a hint of spice and toasted oak.
Finish: Medium in length, with some spice and oak balanced with sweeter brown sugar and fruit notes.
Overall: This under-the-radar bourbon is a super easy sipper. I recall paying about $40 for this at a large Kentucky-based liquor chain. I wasn’t sure how it would stack up vs. the slightly older and higher proof version we previously enjoyed. At 86 proof, I was afraid this would be underpowered. I was pleasantly surprised with a pour that was very well balanced with sweet vanilla, fruit, and light oak and spice, with any one note not overpowering another. Don’t be afraid to grab this if you find it - it’s worth the pour.