The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
By Emily Mullis
Rating: B
Daviess County Sauvignon-Finished Bourbon
(Credit: Emily Mullis)
On a mission to bring back that good ‘ol pre-Prohibition whiskey, Lux Row has created a new whiskey line thusly named after the county where it all began. As one of the earliest Kentucky distilleries (in the modern sense), Daviess County Distilling Company set the course for other distillers to follow, and was the biggest operator in an Ohio River town that was once a hotbed of bourbon-making, Owensboro.
Now, Lux Row proudly boasts the age-old name on their bottles with labels that call back to the Daviess County era while at the same time featuring a newer look that is appealing to a modern audience.
The Daviess County Sauvignon Finish is a robust whiskey happened to be my favorite of the three. With a bit more complexity than the oak finish and slightly more flavor than the straight bourbon, the Sauvignon finish certainly something to try.
The Bourbon
With a medium amber color, the Sauvignon finish whiskey looks as elegant in a glass as its name implies. The nose is gentle with hints of honey, vanilla, and spice. As mentioned above, there is a bit more complexity to this whiskey when compared to its siblings. The palate is smooth from the Sauvignon barrel finish with a rich and deep flavor that is heavier than the other whiskies. There is the standard flavor of bourbon with notes of corn, wheat and in this case spice notes from the rye. With all that, there is also a fruitiness to the whiskey that is reminiscent of mulled wine. The finish is one and tastefull, not overpowered by the expected whiskey burn but drawn out with hints of spice (though I have to say there was more burn in this whiskey out of the three).
The Sauvignon is not ideal for summer but for the cooler months, particularly beginning in October as it’s very warm, full, and heavy. Most of the time I drink whiskey straight but this particular one opened up quick nicely on the rocks, so that is something to consider when trying it out.
The Price
Some places will sell this whiskey anywhere from $50-$65 though most beverage retail stores have it on the shelves for as low as $40. That’s a pretty reasonable price for this whiskey. Honestly, don’t spend higher than $45 if you can help it.
