I just about fell out of my seat when I saw that this is a blended whisky. WHAT? What an outrageously risky thing to do! I absolutely love it when companies do crazy stuff like this. If you're not aware, this whisky includes a not insignificant amount of old Canadian corn whisky - there by removing it from the bourbon category. But what it lacks in namesake, it more than makes up for in quality. This is EASILY the best Disco in years, handily beating the excellent 6 and definitely better than 4 and 5. What's so impressive about the Disco 7 is how complete it feels. It certainly doesn't feel at all outside the category (straight bourbon) and has a very old school vibe to it - almost to the point of feeling slightly antique in the best way possible. Let's have a go. The nose is a gorgeous conglomerate of dense red and black berry fruit, exotic spice, antique wood (sandalwood especially), freshly ground medium roast and hints of honey lathered saddle. Why you'd put honey on your saddle I don't know, but leather and honey go together surprising so I'm not judging you. The entry starts very sweet and honeyed as well before being pushed back with a bold clove-y spice and some caramel covered apple. The finish is long and surprisingly spicy with this gorgeous dusty note that gives it that antique-y feel that I love so much. This is a very modern whisky in everyway, but flavor. An absolutely exceptional diversion from the last few batches an a welcome change to exemplifies the name perfectly! What a find!!!

I enjoy the Bardstown whiskeys quite a lot for the flavors created through their blending techniques, but I also like them a lot because of how transparent they are about their blending. On the side of all their labels, they will tell you what whiskey is going into the batch, including info on mashbill, age, and location sourced. They don't mention distillery names, mind you, but in any given project they are up front about how much is coming from their distillery along with other Kentucky distilleries or even whiskey sourced from farther afield. This bottle is the 7th batch in their Discovery series, and it's my favorite yet in that project line. The ages of the whiskeys in the blend span 7-17 years and that depth and maturity really come through in the glass. One of the most fun and peculiar elements is a 12 year old 100% corn whiskey coming from Ontario, Canada. This ain't your typical blend! The nose begins with big juicy red cherry notes, dusty oak, varnish/polish, and a touch of pine before dipping into dried mixed berries, brown sugar, and cinnamon stick. With more time in the glass and air exposure, the caramel and brown sugar notes turn to vanilla bean with building perfume-level aromatics along with a lot of allspice and clove. The palate is more fruit-forward along with more intense baking spices. More orchard fruit and dried fruit characteristics step forward, and the whiskey has a good texture, nearing chewiness. The Discovery #7 stands at an impressive 114.5 proof, so adding water would be a reasonable consideration. Happily, a little water does not diminish the whiskey at all and offers a change many might love. More salted caramel notes come out. Other dessert-oriented or confectionary flavors emerge as well like a very tasty candy corn note, but the presence of the spice characteristics remains, especially headed into the medium-long finish. This is quite a lovely whiskey.

Discovery. This is what happens when you drink this whisky. You'll discover that names aren't as important as thoughtful, flavor driven decisions. Controversial? Perhaps. Risky? Definitely. Worth it? Absolutely. One of the most compelling whiskies to date out of Bardstown (and that is saying something!). My hat is off to the creators and blenders involved in this one. The color is mahogany. The nose is brimming with spice, fruit, wood, and fine leather. When thinking about the component whiskies, the cohesiveness feels like a surprise, but upon further reflection, it probably shouldn't be. It's no different than any other thoughtfully created blend, they have just started with a more diverse set of ingredients. The mouthfeel is big and full. No sharp edges here. Just a nice kick from the 57.25% ABV. It feels more full and complete than the last several batches of Discovery. It's almost like a great chef has been cooking with one hand tied behind his back. Now that hand has been untied and the sky is the limit.