MB Roland Distillery
Barker’s Mill
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bottled in Bond
DSP-KY-15010
Age: 5 years
MSRP:~$50 (available only in Kentucky)
Please enjoy our MB Roland Barker’s Mill Bourbon Review!
Why Barker’s Mill?
Barker’s Mill is the first Bottled In Bond bourbon from M.B. Roland Distillery. Its namesake mill existed from the early to mid 1800’s until the mid 1900’s. According to the website, the mill included a distillery, although I can’t find any further information about that. The mill had a few names during its existence, one of which, interestingly, was Miller’s Mill. That may have been its originally name back when it was owned and operated by a James Miller. Also, M.B. Roland Distilery is located on Barkers Mill Rd, so there is a definite connection to this name.
The Bourbon
So what about the bourbon? The specifics of the mash bill are not given, but we are told it is “distilled using local white corn, red winter wheat, and malted barley”. It is 5 years old, aged on site and bottled unfiltered. Being Bottled In Bond, it is 100 proof. The bottle bears a replica of an old tax stamp over the cap, as was originally required by the Bottled In Bond Act. That tax stamp gives the required information of the distillery at which this bourbon was distilled (MB Roland Distillery DSP-KY-15010) and the season when it was distilled (Fall 2016), as well as when it was bottled (Fall 2021).
Tasting Notes
Let’s taste MB Roland Barker’s Mill Bourbon:
Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
Nose: There’s a graininess, with corn, pears, honey graham crackers, raspberry-grape jam & light cedar; mild alcoholTaste: Honey graham crackers, caramel, honey, light molasses, jam, oak and there is still a graininess, a bit like oatmealFinish: The flavors continue and linger; there’s building cayenne pepper spice, which rises to the forefront, but the sweetness lingers, with a hint of raspberry flavors, too. The finish is fairly long, with a mild burn.
A Unique Distilling Process
Barker’s Mill Bourbon is 5 years old, and there are still some youthful flavors, in a good way. These flavors are likely the product of M.B. Roland’s distilling methods, which are to distill to a fairly low proof, and then to barrel the distillate at the proof at which it comes off the still. As we know, bourbon has to be barreled at no greater than 125 proof, so this makes their distillation proof quite low in comparison with most distilleries. However, that results in a very full flavored and full bodied bourbon. I am not sure if they did anything different with this bourbon, since it is a bottled in bond and had to be bottled at 100 proof; maybe it was proofed down prior to entering the barrel?
Summary
MB Roland Barker’s Mill Bourbon reminds me of a nice warm bowl of hot cereal with jam, sort of like oatmeal, but not in as much the overall flavor, but the feeling. It just gives me that overall warmth that you get from hot cereal on a cold winter’s day. With raspberry-blueberry jam. I don’t often get those jam-like flavors, but this time I definitely do. I am finding this to be a very enjoyable bourbon. It’s been a while since we have been down to M.B. Roland distillery, but this bourbon makes me feel like it’s time for another visit!
I hope you enjoyed our MB Roland Barker’s Mill Bourbon Review! Would you like to learn more about MB Roland Distillery? Check our our full MB Roland Distillery write up and review!
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