Proof: 106 proof

Mash bill: 64/24/12 Corn/Wheated/Malted barley

Tasting Notes: The nose is plump with vanilla frosting, smoked butterscotch, softer candied fruits, and a lovely kiss of sweet honey-dipped oak. Gentle nips of candied orange and sugared blueberries appear as it moves toward a softly smoked oak.

The palate drinks so much richer than its 106 proof, still carrying plenty of viscosity. Well-seasoned oak continues to expand in the glass while dense smoked vanilla cream and candied fruit flavors emerge, including the orange and sugared blueberries from the nose.

The finish is long and saturating, turning those sweet fruits into more intense baked pie-like notes. The spice leans a bit reminiscent of a double oaked rye, while wine-like tannins enter the mix along with a touch of bleu cheese-like tanginess. Never too much, always just right.

If there was ever a time to try Kentucky Nectar, it would be now.

About:Originally built in 1889, in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, the Old Commonwealth Distillery has been home to Hoffman Distillery, Ezra Brooks, and Commonwealth Distilling over the past 135 years. In 2019, it was purchased by Zachary Joseph and Andrew English, a nephew and uncle who bonded over the distillery’s history and its venerable products. Along with family friend and partner Troy LeBlanc, the trio are reviving iconic labels once produced there, and preserving the facility’s heritage through immersive tour experiences.