Introduction
Today, we're diving into Lexington Bourbon, a whiskey that caught our attention mainly due to its appearance on the OHLQ "last call" section a couple of years back. We weren't entirely sure if it was discontinued or simply getting a packaging update, but the minimalist design featuring a portrait of a horse definitely caught our eye.
Bottled at 86 proof and non-age stated, this bourbon comes from Western Spirits, a company that also owns brands like Calumet Farms and Bird Dog Whiskey. Despite its name, there’s no evidence that Lexington Bourbon has any real connection to the city of Lexington, Kentucky. In fact, it's bottled by the Three Springs Bottling Company in Bowling Green, Kentucky, making its true origin somewhat of a mystery.
Let’s see how this mystery bourbon fares as we dive into the nose, taste, finish, balance, value, and finally, our overall scores.
The following review is taken from our episode "Home Alone / Lexington Bourbon." Click the link to listen to this review in audio format.
Nose
Brad: On the nose, I’m getting a decently strong grain smell. It’s very corn-heavy, and there’s also a hint of cream cheese and vanilla. What really stood out to me was the distinct aroma of Werther’s Original, which I know is just caramel, but it popped into my head right away. I’m giving it 6/10.
Bob: I’m getting specific whiskeys popping into my head as I nose this—there’s a bit of Elijah Craig with that Heaven Hill kind of nose, but also a hint of regular Woodford Reserve with its maltiness. Underneath that, I get a candy apple note, more like a green apple sucker with caramel. It’s really nice, and I’m giving it 7.5/10.
Taste
Brad: For me, the taste improved quite a bit. There’s a strong caramel opening, some vanilla cake, and almonds. The green apple that Bob mentioned earlier definitely comes through on the palate for me as well. I’m giving it 7.5/10.
Bob: I’m going to come down a bit on my score here. While it has good flavors—caramel, vanilla, and a lot of oak—it’s super thin. The mouthfeel is almost like sugar water before any real flavor comes up. I wonder how this would taste at a higher proof, like 94 or so. It’s still good, but the thinness brings it down for me. I’m giving it 6.5/10.
Finish
Brad: The finish offers some nice fresh bread notes, caramel drizzle, and a hint of black pepper. It gets just barely spicy at the end. It’s a decent finish, and I’ll give it 7/10.
Bob: I think the finish gets a bit malty, with a lot of oak. It doesn’t really get bitter, but those notes do come out more than they did throughout the rest of the experience. The finish is really short, though, and I think that’s due to the proof. I’m giving it 6.5/10.
Balance
Brad: The balance here is decent. There’s a consistent flavor profile, and while there’s not a ton of complexity, there’s enough variety to keep things interesting. I’ll give it 7/10.
Bob: I agree with Brad. This is a well-balanced whiskey that’s slightly above average in most aspects. A score of 7/10 feels right to me.
Value
Brad: I see this going for anywhere from $35 to $40 online. At that price, I think it’s a 6/10 for value.
Bob: I had to look up the price because I honestly couldn’t remember what I paid for it. Seeing that it’s about $35-$40, I’d give it a 6.5/10. If it were $25, it would be a solid value, but at this price, it’s just okay.
Final Scores
Brad: My total comes out to 34/50.
Bob: I’m at 33.5/50.
Overall Score: 33.75/50 (67.5/100)
Conclusion
Lexington Bourbon is a solid, albeit average, whiskey. Scoring just below the 35/50 mark, it’s a decent choice, especially if you’re new to bourbon and looking for something sweet with a light introduction to malt and oak notes. However, at the $35-$40 price point, there are better options out there, like Elijah Craig, which offers a more robust experience.
While this bourbon may work well in a cocktail or as a starting point for bourbon beginners, it doesn’t quite stand out enough to warrant a strong recommendation.
