A 15 year sourced Kentucky Straight Bourbon that hits all the right notes.
The Story
Every once in a while you stumble across a bottle of bourbon you've never heard of that checks all of the right boxes. For me anything 12 years or older with a proof statement of at least 90 from a reputable distiller, is usually enough for me to hunt a bottle down. Three Chord Whiskey Drummer 15 Year is not that bourbon. Let me explain.
With the sky rocketing prices of bourbon reaching new heights every year, you have to be careful where you spend your hard earned money. Limited releases are getting more expensive as the demand for bourbon continues to rise. Both traditional distillers and non-distillers producers (like Three Chord) can easily charge $100 or more for limited release bottles because the market eats them up.
When you look at Three Chord's Whiskey Drummer there's a lot on the surface to fall in love with, until you start peeling the layers back a little. The first sign of trouble is the suggested retail price of $200. I mean, that's a lot of cash. Personally speaking, there's only a small and select handful of bourbon and rye whiskeys that I would even consider paying that kind of money for. What makes you really question Whiskey Drummer's price point is the fact there's almost no information on where Three Chord sources their 15-year-old barrels from.
What convinced me to pull the trigger on a bottle of Whiskey Drummer was its a limited release of 1200 bottles. I know this sounds crazy, but in my experience when non-distiller producers like Barrell Craft Spirits or High West rollout limited one-time releases, they're aiming for a home run and not a pay day. Small non-distillers producers build their reputation through the quality of their special releases like this 15 year bottle from Three Chords.
What convinced me to pull the trigger Whiskey Drummer was its limited release of 1200 bottles and the consistent positive reviews it's received...
With this logic in mind, I decided to roll the dice and hunt a bottle down. I was fortunate to find a bottle from a trusted online retailer at MSRP plus shipping.
The bottle of Whiskey Drummer that I received (via Fedex) was from batch 3 and bottle 442 of 1200. Unfortunately as far as bottle design goes, I'm personally not a fan. The fake burnt and torn edges on the labels are a little too cliche and expected in my opinion. The cork stopper also isn't anything special to write home about, which is kind of a bummer.
Tasting Notes
Luckily what's in the bottle more than make's up for its uninspired brand packaging. In fact, Three Chord has something special with this 2020 limited release. The nose is full of seasoned oak, sweet vanilla, and little bit of heat that rounds it out perfectly. The palate is nothing short of amazing for a 15-year-old bourbon. It coats your mouth with robust but balanced notes of oak, vanilla, dark fruit, walnut and baking spice.
The finish provides one of the most unique and pleasant experiences I've had in a long time. The oiliness of this bourbon coats your mouth with an enjoyable amount of warmth and sweet oak that lingers long after each sip. It's rich, full and literally a mouth watering experience.
Closing Thoughts
Simply put, Three Chord's Whiskey Drummer is one of the best examples of a 15 year bourbon I've ever had. It's one of those rare bottles where I'd walk as many Kentucky miles as reasonably possible to find one.
Final Score: 315 out of 379 Kentucky Miles (Outstanding, high quality bourbon)
Three Chord Whiskey Drummer Photo Gallery
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