Blue Run Reflection I Bourbon Review

By Douglas Fraser
Rating: A

Blue Run Spirits has been making a name for itself within the bourbon industry over the past few years, helped by their adviser, Hall of Famer Jim Rutledge. Blue Run Reflection I drew on a carefully selected lot of 200 barrels distilled under contract at Castle and Key Distillery in 2018 . Each barrel was toasted to level 3 or 4 char and aged in Frankfort or Bardstown, Kentucky. Reflection I is aimed to please the bourbon novice and the expert alike with well-balanced sweetness and spice.

The Bourbon
Blue Run Reflection I has No Age Statement (NAS), but the data available suggests it is four years old. I have only tried one or two Blue Run bourbons in the past, and I have yet to come across anything nearly as impressive as this. Reflection I is fantastic. It’s not perfect, yes, but fantastic. I tasted Fall Batch 08/30/2022, bottle 1217. It has a great balance of sweetness and spice that takes you on a tasting journey. Reflection I is bottled at 95 Proof/47.5 ABV.

Color: Dark Caramel

Upon nosing I was instantly hit with aromas of ginger spice, hazelnut, dark cherries, cinnamon, nutmeg, and rosemary all complementing one another. The almost perfect balance continued on the palate with notes of hazelnut, ginger spice, maple sweetness, oak, and butterscotch. The fruitiness does fade, however. The finish is long and lingering with notes of tobacco, returning fruitiness, and baking spices, whilst the maple sweetness fades away. The sweetness and spice sing a choir on your palate giving this bourbon depth and complexity.

The Price
Blue Run lists this as sold out, but a review of online retailers shows it to still be in stock around the country. What is more, you should expect to pay the listed $100, with mark-ups being rare.