Blood Oath Pact No. 8 Bourbon Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B+

The Whiskey Reviewer is 11 years old now, so it predates most of the annual limited edition bourbon series currently on the market. So, when something like Blood Oath Pact No. 8 shows up at my house and I hold the bottle in my hand, all I can do is think “Really? It’s been 8 years? I still remember Pact No. 1.” Maybe we should do Blood Oaths as our next “Best Bottles In The Series” feature?

Blood Oath is where Luxrow Master Distiller John Rempe gets to flex his creative muscles, drawing on the best aged stock Luxco has in inventory. This time around, that led to blending three rye mash billed bourbons: a 14 year old bourbon, an 11 year old bourbon, and an 8 year old bourbon finished in Calvados casks. Calvados is an apple or pear brandy made in Normandy, distilled from cider. For those who don’t know where Normandy is, it is the region of France that Rollo (yes, Rollo from Vikings) took charge of and settled with Norseman. Hence Normans.

The Bourbon
Pact No. 8 has a middling, reddened amber look to it, and the scent caramel candy sweet, with a current of pie spices and a hint of mustiness. I found the flavor was in much the same vein, but with the spiciness taking on a minty note and the sweetness an apple one, so the whole thing was akin to a concentrate of apple bourbon mint julep, served in a musty wooden cup instead of a pewter one. The finish ran light, with wood and spice.

The Price
Since I mentioned Pact No. 1, eight years ago this brand went for $90. That is now $120.