Review: Pride of Anderson County Bourbon 9.5 Years Old

Rare Character Whiskey launched in 2021, founded by spirits industry veterans Pablo Moix and Peter Nevenglosky. The independent bottler quickly developed a devoted following by focusing on single barrel selections, custom labels, and premium whiskey stocks. It also became closely associated with its barrel code system, with certain codes developing dedicated followings and becoming highly collectible.

In the spring of 2023, Rare Character temporarily shifted its focus away from barrel code branding for Pride of Anderson County Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The original release left little room for speculation about its origin. The back label identified Wild Turkey Distilling in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, as the source of the bourbon while also specifying the rickhouse and floor where each barrel matured. It even referenced Tyrone, Kentucky, the small unincorporated riverfront community in Anderson County located roughly three miles from Lawrenceburg and generally regarded as the more precise location of Wild Turkey. Enthusiasm surrounding the inaugural release was considerable, and bottles quickly became difficult to obtain.

Three years later, Rare Character introduced the next chapter for Pride of Anderson County. The brand shifted from a lottery-exclusive release to an ongoing single barrel series. Although the name remains Pride of Anderson County, the back label received a significant overhaul. The 2026 version omits any reference to Wild Turkey, its rickhouses, individual warehouse floors, or Tyrone.

Rare Character was unable to comment on the source of the 2026 iterations of Pride of Anderson County due to non-disclosure agreements. Even so, the origins of the brand remain closely tied to Wild Turkey, and Anderson County is home to the distillery. With almost full certainty, Pride of Anderson County continues to be distilled by Wild Turkey from a mashbill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, using entirely non-GMO grains. Pride of Anderson County is aged for at least nine years in barrels with a #4 alligator char and entered into the barrel at 115 proof after the distillate exits the column still at 125 proof and the doubler at 128 proof.

Rare Character provided Drinkhacker with a review sample aged for at least 9.5 years, making it several years younger than the 13.5 year-old bourbon released in 2023. According to Rare Character, Pride of Anderson County is intended as “a tribute to legends… both past and present.”

Does the liquid live up to the legend?

Pride of Anderson County Bourbon 9.5 Years Old Review

The nose opens with an artificial vanilla taffy note that arrives with plenty of intensity but disappears almost as quickly as it appears. From there, dried cherries and sweetened cocoa powder take over, while roasted pecans arrive later to provide a sturdy foundation along with a touch of tannic dryness. Aside from that fleeting vanilla note at the start, the bouquet lands squarely in classic bourbon territory.

The palate begins with sweet apple jelly before shifting into a potent, short-lived sour cherry note. That quickly transforms into cherry cola, accompanied by a medium-thick mouthfeel. The finish keeps the cherry theme going with cherry preserves and dark brown sugar. That darker sweetness transitions into a smidge of sweet and nutty late-harvest dark maple syrup before closing with sweet cinnamon chewing gum.

This is a fun bourbon. Beyond the opening aroma of artificial vanilla, Pride of Anderson County delivers on nearly every front. For anyone seeking a bourbon driven by cherry, this bottle fits the bill. I cannot recall another bourbon that explores so many different expressions of cherry within a single pour, and I enjoyed every minute of that ride. With that said, as much as I enjoyed this bourbon, the asking price of $250 is a tall ask. If this specific barrel were priced in the range of $150, I’d be all in.

119.8 proof.

A / $250

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