Hardin’s Creek, a unique offering from the renowned James B. Beam company, showcases the rich terroir of whiskey from different regions around Kentucky. The Kentucky Series from Hardin’s Creek includes bourbons from Clermont, Frankfort, and Boston, Kentucky. Each variant promises a distinct flavor profile, reflective of its origin. For more information on the story behind these remarkable whiskeys, visit the Hardin’s Creek website.
While many whiskey enthusiasts have already sampled these bourbons, I was late to the game. After months of being overwhelmed with samples, I finally had the chance to sit down and conduct a blind taste test of the three Hardin’s Creek variants. To ensure a fair and unbiased tasting, I labeled the glasses and bottles with symbols—square, star, and triangle. By the time I sat down, I had completely forgotten which bourbon was which, ensuring a truly blind test.
Join me as I dive into these three distinct bourbons from Hardin’s Creek to determine which one stands out as the best. Whether you’re a seasoned bourbon drinker or new to the world of whiskey, this blind tasting will offer insights into the unique characteristics of each Hardin’s Creek release. Let’s explore and find out which bourbon takes the crown.
Tasting Notes: Square (Boston)
Nose: The nose starts with a heavy almond aroma, it was balanced by oak, cardamom, and cinnamon
Palate: It has a bold palate with a barbecue sauce characteristic: smoky, hickory wood, brown sugar, and molasses. This pour had a very thin mouthfeel.
Finish: Lingering smoke with hints of sweetness
Tasting Notes: Star (Clermont)
Nose: This was much sweeter on the nose than the square taste beforehand. It was rich caramel, sweet tobacco and butterscotch.
Palate: The palate smelled very similar to the nose, with the sweet tobacco note shining. There was a bitterness to this pour that was very nice, almost cocoa nibs. This was very oaky, but given that it’s a 17 year old whiskey, this makes sense.
Finish: This finishes with a nice nuttiness that is traditional Jim Beam, with underlying tobacco and hint of sweetness.
Tasting Notes: Triangle (Frankfort)
Nose: The last pour smelled most like traditional bourbon. Oak, vanilla frosting, and hints of fresh blueberry.
Palate: Vanilla frosting, peanut butter, and oak. This just reminded me a lot of the traditional Jim Beam.
Finish: This had the most drying finish with a touch of oak and vanilla.
The Final Ranking: Clermont, Frankfort, Boston
- Clermont – was the one that stood at the most to my palate.
- Frankfort – this gave me traditional Jim Beam vibes and I really enjoyed this sip.
- Boston – This was a fine bourbon, but didn’t stick out as much as the other two.
Closing Thoughts:
This Hardin’s Creek blind tasting was one I won’t soon forget. It isn’t often that you get to drink three 17 year old bourbons in a blind. While Clermont stood out above the rest for me, I don’t think you would be disappointed to sip on any of these three bourbons. What are your thoughts, let us know!
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