Personally, the holidays are my favorite time of the year to spend time with friends and family and to show those around us how much of an impact they have on our lives! Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, or any other celebration I might have not listed, this is the time of year to be thankful for the ones we love. So what better way to do that but with a bourbon that’s a proof point is the average human temperature; I know, that was ridiculously corny… So let’s just ignore what I just wrote and move on to reviewing an annual release from Lux Row Distillers, Blood Oath Pact No. 8.

From the Blood Oath Bourbon and Lux Row Distillers Website: A masterful union of three well-bred bourbons. One, a 14-year ryed bourbon. Two, an 11-year ryed bourbon. And three, and 8-year ryed bourbon finished in Calvados casks from the Normandy region of France to impart slight apple on the nose with hints of vanilla and cinnamon. With each sip, feel transported to Northern France by way of Kentucky. Every batch of Blood Oath is the undertaking of one man – John Rempe – a student of both bourbon and science. This bourbon connoisseur has one goal in mind – to seek out bourbons rare and wonderful, famous and forgotten, then bottle them in combinations previously unimagined for a lucky few.

Having never seen one of these bottles in NoCo over the past three years, I was excited to come across this year’s release at a decently close price to MSRP. Since finding this bottle, we have seen a few empty display case tags but have yet to see another actual bottle in the wild. Overall, this bottle is a bit pricy for a non-stellar pour, but this was still quite a good whiskey. This is a very well-balanced bottle with strong notes of fruit and your very typically sweet bourbon characteristics. If this bottle was a bit more accessible, perhaps priced a bit less, and a bit higher in proof, although I know this would defeat the niche purpose, I would recommend this as a must-have for your collection. However, taking everything I just mentioned into consideration, I would recommend trying one of these bottles at a bar before seeking next year’s release. With that said, let’s get our taste on!

• Nose: Sweet Profile with Notes of Fruits (Apple/Pear), Brown Sugar, Vanilla, and Baking Spices
• Palate: Vanilla, Apples, Pears, and Baking Spices all Melted Together in Harmony
• Finish: Medium with Notes of Spiced Baked Apples
• 2022 MSRP: $119
• 2022 National Average: $280
• Proof: 98.6
• My Rating: Drink It! (What I would call a delightful after-dinner whiskey)

Please remember, drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman