Review: Elkwood Reserve Cask Strength Bourbon 9 Years Old

Bluegrass Distillers was established in Lexington, Kentucky, in 2012 by Ben Franzini and Sam Rock. The following year, the distillery began production on a 250-gallon Hoga copper pot still fired by open flame, frequently working with heirloom corn varieties and placing a particular emphasis on blue corn.

In 2020, Bluegrass Distillers acquired the historic Elkwood Farm in Midway, Kentucky, relocating operations to the 62-acre property. The estate’s mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, now serves as the distillery’s visitor center. With the move, Bluegrass reinforced its commitment to a farm-to-glass approach, producing whiskey entirely on site. The distillery marked ten years of active distilling in 2023.

To honor that milestone, Bluegrass Distillers introduced the Elkwood Reserve series, a collection of single barrel bourbons sourced from select Kentucky distilleries rather than distilled in-house. Each release highlights a classic bourbon mashbill, offering a different perspective on well-aged Kentucky whiskey.

The fourth installment in the Elkwood Reserve Cask Strength series features a mashbill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley. The bourbon was aged for a minimum of 9 years and distilled by an undisclosed Kentucky distillery.

Bluegrass Distillers generously provided Drinkhacker with a sample for review. With the background set, it is time to dive into Release No. 4 of Elkwood Reserve Cask Strength Bourbon and see whether it lives up to its celebratory intent.

Elkwood Reserve Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon 9 Years Old

The barrel selected for Release No. 4 was filled on October 24, 2016 and bottled on December 10, 2025, resulting in a final age of 9 years, 1 month, and 16 days. The bourbon was matured in a Kelvin Cooperage barrel with a No. 4 char, entered into the barrel at 120 proof.

While the distillery of origin has not been formally disclosed, the production details provided by Bluegrass Distillers strongly suggest Green River Distilling in Owensboro, Kentucky. Green River began active distillation in late August 2016, which places 9-year aged Owensboro bourbon within reach as of late August 2025. Notably, barrels from this early period have appeared in transparent bottlings by non-distilling producers, even though Green River has yet to release bourbon of this age under its own label.

The mashbill, barrel char level, and entry proof all align with Green River’s documented production practices. In addition, during its early distillation years, Green River sourced barrels from Kelvin Cooperage before transitioning to other suppliers. If this bourbon did originate at Green River, it would rank among the oldest examples of that distillery’s whiskey currently bottled.

The barrel aged entirely in Kentucky, spending most of its life at its original distillation site before a brief transfer to another undisclosed Kentucky distillery. It was later moved to Midway for additional maturation in Bluegrass Distillers’ black metal-clad warehouse with plenty of windows for ventilation, a structure capable of housing roughly 20,000 barrels.

Bluegrass Distillers holds several additional barrels of this mashbill slated for future releases. This particular barrel stood out due to its notably low fill level upon arrival in Midway. To limit further volume loss and prevent excessive wood influence, the barrel was placed near the center of the warehouse at a low elevation, where temperature and airflow remain more stable.

At harvest, the barrel yielded less than 10 gallons of bourbon, making Release No. 4 a genuinely scarce offering drawn from a barrel that demanded careful stewardship to the very end.

The aroma opens with pipe tobacco and allspice. Shortly after, a smoky sweetness appears, similar to a heavily charred marshmallow, followed by a light note of lemon-scented wood furniture polish. With additional time in the glass, stewed black cherries rise to prominence and gradually take the lead over the tobacco. Every phase of the nose delivers something engaging.

The palate begins with cherry cordial, driven by milk chocolate, brandied cherry, and sweet vanilla. As it progresses, the cherry shifts toward a softer tobacco note, paired with a medium-thick mouthfeel. The finish brings cherry cola along with a light hue of eucalyptus.

This is one of the most enjoyable bourbons I have tasted in the past year. Bottled at 134 proof, it presents itself far below that number, offering power without harshness. If this bourbon is indeed distilled in Owensboro, it stands as the best example I have encountered from Owensboro, and I have tasted a great deal from my town of residence.

The Elkwood Reserve series was created to mark 10 years of active distilling for Bluegrass Distillers, and this single barrel release fully earns its place in that milestone.

134 proof.

A / $89

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