Today Talking Bourbon is visiting Kings County Distillery in New York City, not really, we just bought a bottle here in Indianapolis. Neither of us had heard of this Bourbon nor this distillery. From their website “Situated in Brooklyn, Kings County Distillery is New York City’s oldest and largest operating whiskey distillery and the first since Prohibition. All Kings County whiskey is distilled on-site, using New York-grown organic corn and rye, while malted barley comes from Scotland and England.” So, they have been around for a minute. As stated above, we had no knowledge of this product, we were drawn to it because of the label, described below in the next paragraph.
Kings County Straight Bourbon Whiskey sells for around $65, is bottled at 90 proof, aged between 3-6 years and we are unsure of the availability around your area. It has a mash bill of 80% corn and, unlike most Bourbons, 20% malted barley, no rye, and no wheat. We are not aware of another Bourbon that has this much malted barley. As to the label, it is small, with what looks like words written by an old typewriter, and is stuck at the bottom of the bottle. Very minimalist. The corked bottle also reminds one of an old-style medicine container. Our picture does not do it justice.
Couple things we are leery of, first is that cool yet ultra-simple label, is it a gimmick meant to draw your eyes to it, as it did with us? Second, with all that malted barley, is this going to taste like scotch? Only one way to find out.
NOSE
Matt: Pepper, vanilla, and brown sugar are all very prominent. Also get cinnamon and red fruit, just not as strong. I like it, I smell sweet promises.
Todd: I get the vanilla and fruit that Matt tasted along with caramel, spice, and a slight nuttiness. Nice.
TASTE
Matt: Tasting the vanilla that I got on the nose, but the brown sugar has been replaced by butterscotch. Also getting a nice tobacco flavor and while I know it is not in the mash bill, I swear I taste a little rye. Ice opens it up and brings out the fruit that was on the nose.
Todd: Smooth neat with a nice caramel/vanilla sweetness. Also tasting leather, fruit, raisins, and a slight bit of wood. Ice definitely adds to the experience.
FINISH
Matt: Medium with a slight spiciness to it.
Todd: Medium long with more of that sweetness and fruit.
OVERALL
Matt: I actually like this a bit more with a little ice. Having said that, this is a good Bourbon and a good buy, I will get it again.
Todd: I agree about the ice. I also would buy it again.
Nose 3.75 out of 5
Taste 8 out of 10
Finish 3.5 out of 5
Total score 15.25 out of 20 barrels.
Well, we can put away our worries, the label was no gimmick, (and who cares if it was) and it didn’t taste like scotch. Hallelujah, we didn’t waste our $65. Kings County Bourbon is very drinkable, it is smooth and tasty neat, and even better with ice. It is a very cool bottle and a nice conversation starter. Let your Bourbon-loving friends taste it; they will thank you. And we can almost assure you that they haven’t had it yet.
If you can find it, buy yourself a bottle of Kings County Bourbon. You won’t regret it.