Blood Oath Pact No. 4 Bourbon Review

By April Manning

Grade: B-

Blood oaths and pacts bring to mind deep, dark secrets, such as a secret society not wishing to be revealed or a secret rendezvous one desires to not be made public. Blood Oath Bourbon developer, John Rempe, has sworn to never tell where he finds the bourbon he uses for a unique approach in creating a spirit whose popularity is on the rise. I don’t know about blood being shed in this vow, but it does paint quite a picture of dedication.

Rempe has been working with beverages in one form or another for over 20 years. The Certified Food Scientist started out improving and inventing carbonated soft drinks. He then brought his scientific approach to Luxco, where he has directed the development of their ever-growing portfolio. Because of this diverse portfolio, Rempe can enjoy “…the ability to sample many of the finest bourbons available to make the perfect blend for each Blood Oath Pact.”

The Blood Oath installments are comprised of ingenious combinations of rare, top-shelf bourbons that resulted in exclusive (and somewhat pricey) unions.  Keep in mind, these bourbons can never be made again.

This version uses 12 year old and 10 year old bourbons, plus a 9 year old that has been given a toasted barrel finish.

The Bourbon
The appearance of Blood Oath Pact No. 4 is not as dark as the name. The bourbon has an appealing orange shade with a golden glow.

As Blood Oath hits the nose the familiar bourbon bouquet is expressed pleasantly with no astringency and a lingering sweetness. However, the tongue is immediately reminded that Blood Oath Pact No. 4 is hand-bottled at 98.6 proof (49.3 ABV) and this is not a smooth representation of higher proof. The toasted oak barrels used in aging do sneak in mid-palette giving an enjoyable smoke essence and it finishes with a hint of sweet that makes up for the initial sting.

This bourbon is definitely not for the greenhorn, but what exclusive spirits are?

The Price
$99.99 750ml bottle in a commemorative wooden box