The Basics:
Do I recommend it?: How about “two cheers for Town Branch!” Can we describe that as a gentle recommendation?
Availability: Seems reasonably widespread, at least here in NM.
ABV: 45%
Presentation: Unspecified
General information: Umm, it’s bourbon.
Bottling type: Proprietary
Character: Fruity, sweet and sour.
Score: 80/100
The details:
Town Branch is the distilling side of the Lexington Brewing & Distilling operation. Initially only a brewing concern producing a variety of beers, including several that have spent time in ex-bourbon casks, the company branched into distilling in 2012 when they opened Town Branch.
The first new distillery in Lexington in over 100 years, Town Branch is interesting in that it uses Scottish made copper pot stills for its production, where most bourbon (there are exceptions) is made in column stills or a mixed production between column and pot.
The whiskey is a likable, easy going bourbon with a sweet and slightly sour fruity character, dominated by pronounced notes of cherry. It’s quite appealing and moreish, without knocking your socks off.
Town Branch Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 45% abv
Bottling Information:
Expression: Town Branch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Bottler: Proprietor
Range: Core
Bottle Code: 2020B40 12/10/20
Presentation: Unspecified
Details: n/a
Price: $40
Availability: As far as I can tell, it’s fairly widespread.
Distillery Information:
Region: Kentucky
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Geography: Inland
Date Founded: As far as I can discern, distilling commenced in 2012.
Owner: Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.
Website: https://lexingtonbrewingco.com/
Capacity: ?
Plant Summary: ?
Total expressions sampled: 1
Overall distillery score: n/a
Tasting notes:
Nose: Warm and rich with lots of sweetness, and a sort of fat woodiness. Lots of carmelized sugar and some corn. Becoming rummy and almost Irish in character, with some notes of dried fig. Slightly sour cherry. Interesting.
Body: Light to medium.
Palate: Rounded and rather rummy. Oatmeal raisin cookie? Slightly sweet, slightly savory. Corn. Blackstrap molasses. Again, a pleasant note of slightly sour cherry.
Finish: A brief spike of sourness and bitterness, mellowing into a medium to long version of the palate that gently fades.
Score: 80/100
Who should buy it?: I’m mainly a Scotch drinker, as anyone reading this should well know. For me, $40 for tasty whiskey–even if it’s not mind-blowing–is a steal of a deal. So I’d say this is a buy, unless you already know you hate bourbon.
Overall thoughts: An appealing, easy drinking whiskey, perfect for long summer afternoons.
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Whisky Considered 