Bardstown’s Origin Series represents the brand’s first bottlings of strictly their own distillate. The rye whiskey release is made from a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley aged for at least five years and eight months. The whiskey is then finished in barrels made with alternating staves of toasted American oak and toasted cherrywood before bottling at 96 proof. The nose is herbal and earthy, with notes of black tea, clove, oak, rye spice, and leather with the light sweetness of marzipan and candied cherries in the background. The palate follows the nose closely, with black tea, earthy oak, dark rye bread, sweet cherry, and red licorice. The finish has dry oak, dark rye, and black pepper with a touch of chocolate.