Bardstown Discovery Series #2 Vs. Discovery Series #3
This is another in my series of small-batch-release battles… Both of these retail for around $130, and both can still be found for purchase. The question is, which one is the better one to spend your money on! Fancy chose Kentucky Straight Whiskey, lets see if she is a winner or not today!
Discovery #2) A blend of bourbon casks sourced from Heaven Hill, Barton, and Wild Turkey (see the 2nd picture for the blend). 122.2 proof
-The Nose is full and inviting, with maple cinnamon pancakes, with a side of pear and apples. There is also oak, leather, and vanilla.
-The Palate is very full-flavored and coats your mouth in initial oak tannins that then become warming, sweet vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, and baked apples. There’s also a little nuttiness as you chew.
-The Finish is long, with a little black-pepper spice, more oak, leather, and sweet caramel.
Overall, this is not the most unique whiskey, but it is a VERY good, fairly complex bourbon that almost justifies its price tag.
Discovery #3) A blend of older Barton and MGP barrels. 110proof.
-The Nose here is definitely more on the spicy side, with oak tannins, leather, walnuts, and a little vanilla.
-The Palate is a little less full-flavored compared to #2, and is immediately syrupy sweet with brown-sugar and buttery vanilla notes. Then the rye-spice starts to come in with cinnamon, black pepper, along with some leather, oak, and citrus.
-The Finish is medium-long and spicy with black pepper, oak, and caramel.
Overall this isnanother very good whiskey, but doesn’t quite live up to the complexity or #2, and is significantly more spicy. I will say this is much better than any of the Barton-sourced bottles I’ve tried so far.
VERDICT) While these are both very good bottles, Discovery #2 is definitely the clear winner for me. The sweeter, more complex, and fruit-forward notes are very enjoyable, and I think I can recommend picking this one up if you are in the market for an excellent whiskey in this price-category. #3 is very good, but I’m not sure I would buy another bottle for that price. Fancy agrees, and she claims another victory today!