Blue Grass Elkwood Reserve Spanish Oak Finish “The Dusty Matador” - REVIEW
Bluegrass Distillers – Elkwood Reserve
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Single Barrel | Spanish Oak Finish
Selected by Dusty Barrel Spirits & Wine
Aged 9.5 Years | 128 Proof
Sourced from Orangeburg
Distilled in Kentucky
A 9.5-year Kentucky straight bourbon at 128 proof, 78 bottles, nicknamed “The Dusty Matador.” The notes below track the producer’s Spanish Oaked line, not this Orangeburg dump.
Nose
Rich and layered, with deep oak influence leading. Spice rides alongside the wood. Hints of caramelized sweetness follow, then dark fruit in the background.
Palate
Deep oak, then spice, then caramelized sweetness filling the mid-palate. Dark fruit threads through the sip. At 128 proof it is intense, but stacked — oak, spice, and sweetness — rather than a heat bomb.
Finish
Deep oak and spice, with caramelized sweetness and dark fruit lingering. Warm and persistent at this proof.
Overall Impression
A finish-driven pick: deep oak and spice on one side, caramelized sweetness and dark fruit on the other.
