Daviess County Straight Bourbon Review

By Emily Mullis

Rating: B

(Credit: Jenn Cox)

Honoring a time when the now well-known whiskey distilleries were just getting started, Lux Row Distillers has crafted a unique blend of whiskeys inspired by (and are thus named after) Daviess Country Distilling Company. Dating all the way back to 1874, long before the sour days of prohibition, Daviess Country laid down a foundation for other, later distilleries to build on. Dozens of distilleries opened in the same county and thrived in a community that couldn’t get enough whiskey. They were also one of the few distilleries that survived Prohibition.

Luxco, owner of Lux Row, acquired the brand rights to Daviess in 1993. They were naturally intrigued by this story and felt compelled to pay homage to this monumental distillery. A great deal of thought not only went into crafting the whiskey but into the label as well, so everything about the whiskey is meant to stand out as people peruse the shelf. The label sticks out as being classical with a hint of a modern feel to it. Lux Row Distillers certainly went out of their way to recreate history for the benefit of whiskey enthusiasts.

The Whiskey
It’s not all about label appearance, the whiskey holds up to the name. Out of the three whiskeys under the new brand name, the Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the most even-toned as it doesn’t have the same fancy finish as the other two which are finished in French oak and Cabernet barrels. It blends two bourbon mash bills, one wheated and one traditional ryed, giving the whiskey a smooth, but spicy palate.

The color is medium amber in the bottle and a medium/light amber in a glass. The nose isn’t too overwhelming but a nice sweet, spicy aroma that is light but distinguishable with hints of vanilla, honey, and caramel. Likewise, the palate itself doesn’t overwhelm the taster with heavy spice or overly sweet wheat notes but instead balances both. I did find that the sweetness of the wheat was initially more obvious than the rye taste notes, however, after a few sips the spiciness of the rye kicked in and there was the harmony I was looking for. Naturally, most of the burn is found in the finish though not as heavy as other bourbons. Overall, it’s a light whiskey, good for the summer, and is really good on ice.

The Price
Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon can be found on store shelves anywhere from $50-$55.