The Wiseman Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The Wiseman was featured in Whisky Advocate’s “Top 20 Whiskies of 2021”, along with the following glowing review…

92 points, “The first Kentucky Owl release under master blender John Rhea, this Bourbon drops the high proof and price point typically associated with Kentucky Owl for something more approachable – a blend of Bourbons ranging from 4 to 8 years old. Green apple candies, cinnamon stick, buttered popcorn, and sage on the nose. Ginger spice and sweet bubble gum notes intertwine on a creamy palate along with blackberry tart and cocoa powder. Candied raspberries on the finish are matched with a sustained spice that lingers.” – Whisky Advocate

It also picked up a Double Gold Medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. So, as the name suggests, it appears to be a very wise choice indeed.

The Wiseman from Kentucky Owl is a blend of four Kentucky Straight Bourbons, which explains the complexity. As stated above, it was made by John Rhea. What Whisky Advocate didn’t say, was that John Rhea retired as the Chief Operating Officer at Four Roses in 2016 after an illustrious 40-year career, and he came back out of retirement with this magical Bourbon. It makes us feel like children in a sweetshop, with its notes of toffee apple, Terry’s Chocolate Orange, Joe & Seph’s popcorn, Bounty bar, gingerbread, summery red berries, cinnamon, banana foam sweets, caramel, allspice, lemon bonbons and delicate hints of oak.

Kentucky Owl was founded in 1879 by C.M. Dedman. Sadly, the much-loved Bardstown distillery fell dormant during the Prohibition era. Luckily, in 2014 a descendant revived “The Wise Man’s Bourbon”. In 2017, the brand was bought by the Stoli Group, and the quality is simply sensational. So, getting your hands on one of these bottles should be ‘owl’ you’re thinking about right now.