Whiskey Review: Rowan’s Creek Bourbon

My Bourbon Journey continues with Rowan’s Creek Bourbon. I was looking for an aggressive bourbon at a great price point, and this bottle of Rowan’s Creek was my gamble. What a good gamble it was. At 100.1 proof, this bourbon packs a punch, but at just $38 in New York City, this is easily one of my top 5 bourbons. I picked this whiskey up at my new favorite local liquor store in Crown Heights: Liquor Warehouse, on Bergen St. and Washington Ave.  Now for the review…

Product Information

  • Spirit Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Producer: Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD)
  • website: http://www.kentuckybourbonwhiskey.com/whiskeys.html
  • Origin: Kentucky, United States
  • Age: 12 Years
  • ABV: 50%
  • Price: ~$38
  • Reviewed: Neat

Nose

In order of prominence: Caramel, vanilla, honey, rye spice, and cinnamon.

Taste

Plenty of spice present in this whiskey. Spicy upfront that quickly transforms into a thick flavor profile that coats the palate, with notes of caramel, slight butteriness, oak, and honey. Very good. A couple of drops of water bring the spice down and really help the caramel and vanilla to come through quite a bit more.  A complex but accessible whiskey.

Finish

Medium length finish, with caramel and vanilla. I also notice some confectionery notes as well that quickly disappear.

Conclusion

I really enjoy this bourbon. I’ve found it pretty difficult to find a bourbon that pairs well with a powerful cigar at a reasonable price. Rowan’s Creek bourbon absolutely hits the mark here, and at just $38 a bottle I’ll be back for more.

Final Grade: A (strong buy)

Matthias Clock: Brand evangelist, digital marketer, cigar and spirits expert specializing in consumer tasting and educational events. Matthias made the long trek from his hometown of Portland, Oregon to New York City in 2007, and in nine years has hosted more than 120 events and helped promote and launch dozens of cigar and whiskey brands in the U.S. In 2016, he joined the Cigar Journal Tasting Panel, blind-reviewing pre and new release cigars.