Since its launch in 2020, Bhakta — the namesake of multi-time spirits entrepreneur Raj Bhakta — has constructed its title on brandy releases with eye-popping age statements. Their Bhakta 50 releases utilized Armagnacs barreled between 1868 and 1970; more moderen releases embody each single barrel vintages and youthful brandy blends.
Now, Raj Bhakta and workforce are returning to the whiskey world with a vintage-dated bourbon, a 9+ yr product completed in freshly-dumped Bhakta Armagnac barrels for 2 months.
To their credit score, the corporate is abundantly clear on the place they’re sourcing from. It is a 9 yr, 5 month-old MGP bourbon with a 99% corn mash invoice. (The whiskey was initially barreled in 2013, therefore the 2013 classic date.) After the 2-month Armagnac barrel end, the bourbon is bottled at 100.6 proof.
Bhakta’s web site says they “advocate having fun with this Classic Bourbon neat in a Glencairn glass,” in order that’s precisely how I’ll be making an attempt it. Let’s dive in.
The barrel end makes itself recognized on the nostril with important oak affect, however it’s not overpowering. This noses equally to some toasted barrel-finished bourbons, a development that has develop into seemingly commonplace amongst stalwart manufacturers lately. That woody sweetness is coupled with nuts — particularly walnuts — plus sugar cookies and maple syrup. There’s additionally some fruit right here, however it’s not recent fruit, somewhat berries which have been cooked down right into a darkish compote.
Apparently, I don’t sense numerous what is likely to be conventional brandy notes. Nor do I scent important notes of spice, which isn’t stunning given the just about entirely-corn mash invoice. It’s a wealthy, candy, and engaging nostril that had me looking forward to extra.
That multifaceted sweetness on the nostril instantly offers approach to one thing extra balanced on the palate. Once more, there’s a right away reminder of toasted oak finishes, with the same sweetness I sense comes from a lot of wooden affect. There’s that nuttiness once more, although it’s robust to pin down precisely which this time: Walnut? Hazelnut?
The palate comes with barely extra spice than one would count on given the nostril and mash invoice. Return sips yield a pop of that berry compote, candy and fruity with out the sharpness of recent berries.
At first, it’s troublesome to discern which flavors are coming from the Armagnac end. Then tobacco and really darkish chocolate begin to spherical out the profile, and being accustomed to a few of Bhakta’s Armagnacs, I draw a beeline line from these flavors to that end. Regardless of the final affect on the spirit — it will be fascinating to style samples of this from earlier than the ending interval! — this bourbon tastes considerably older than its 9 years and 5 months, with a viscous mouthfeel that carries layered flavors throughout the tongue.
If searching for flaws, it’s straightforward to say this drinks a contact above its 100.6 proof. That’s simply barely to the sip’s detriment, as there are moments the place the ethanol comes near overtaking some extra delicate taste notes.
The end is bread pudding with apple chunks, drizzled with caramel and fruit syrup all the best way down. There’s additionally a contact extra toasted tobacco. It’s a end with important size and taste that, once more, implies a whiskey older than its precise age. At this level, I ended making an attempt to select aside the place the whiskey affect ends and Armagnac end begins (or vice versa). On the end, they’re each working in spectacular concord. It’s clear Bhakta’s workforce was retaining shut tabs on the size of time this spent of their barrels, they usually dumped this at nearly the fitting time. That is bourbon kissed by Armagnac, not swallowed by it.
This bourbon took some wrestling to untangle numerous notes, and there have been moments the place none actually sang to their very own profit; the result’s one thing that, whereas scrumptious, is ever so barely, often muddled. It’s an pleasurable problem, to make certain. I saved revisiting and practically drained my pattern bottle by the tip of be aware taking. After a powerful first exhibiting, I’ll actually be retaining a watch out for extra Bhakta Bourbon releases.
100.6 proof.
A- / $149 / bhaktaspirits.com
Bhakta Bourbon 2013
$149
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