Cream Of Kentucky Cask Strength Bourbon 750ML

Cream Of Kentucky Cask Strength Bourbon 750ML is a sourced Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at cask strength — 53.2% ABV (106.4 proof) — in a 750ml bottle. This expression earned a Double Gold medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, reinforcing master distiller Jim Rutledge's reputation for selecting and blending exceptional barrels.

Quick Facts: ABV: 53.2% (106.4 proof)  |  Origin: Kentucky, USA  |  Cask Strength  |  Bottled at Kentucky Artisan Distillery

Production & Heritage

Cream of Kentucky is a sourced bourbon selected and blended under the direction of Jim Rutledge, a veteran with over four decades in the Kentucky bourbon industry, most notably as master distiller at Four Roses. The liquid is distilled at undisclosed Kentucky distilleries using a mashbill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley, then bottled at Kentucky Artisan Distillery in Crestwood, Kentucky. This Summer 2024 release reaches the bottle at a notably restrained cask strength of 106.4 proof, suggesting a lower-than-typical barrel entry proof that preserves more of the grain's original character during maturation.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Vanilla wafers and minced pie open the nose, followed by cashew, peanut shell, and a flash of red pepper. Barrel char anchors the aromatics with a warm, toasted foundation.

Taste: The entry is soft and grain-forward, moving into black tea, dark berries, and a whisper of coconut at mid-palate. Deeper into the sip, chocolate, graham cracker, and butterscotch converge in a layered profile that recalls chocolate cream pie.

Finish: A soft cola note fades gradually into light nutty oak, keeping the close approachable rather than tannic. The finish is medium in length with lingering sweetness and gentle spice.

How to Drink Cream of Kentucky Cask Strength

At 106.4 proof, this bourbon is remarkably approachable neat, though a few drops of water open up the chocolate and berry notes further. Its lower cask strength means it doesn't overpower cocktails, either. Try it in an Old Fashioned, where the butterscotch and cola notes complement bitters beautifully. A Boulevardier benefits from the dark berry and chocolate undertones that stand up to Campari. In a Kentucky Mule, the vanilla and baking spice interplay well with ginger beer's bite.

Best For

• Bourbon collectors seeking limited cask-strength releases with award pedigrees
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who follows Jim Rutledge's post-Four Roses work
• Side-by-side tastings comparing sourced bourbons at natural proof
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert courses featuring chocolate or caramel

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cream of Kentucky Cask Strength taste like? It delivers a dessert-forward profile of chocolate, butterscotch, and graham cracker layered with dark berries and black tea, finishing with soft cola and nutty oak.

How does Cream of Kentucky Cask Strength compare to Booker's? Both occupy a similar price tier and are uncut bourbons, but Booker's typically comes off the still at a higher proof with a bolder, more heat-forward punch. Cream of Kentucky's unusually low cask strength of 106.4 proof yields a softer, more dessert-leaning character.

Is Cream of Kentucky Cask Strength good for sipping neat? Yes — the 106.4 proof is notably gentle for a cask-strength bourbon, making it one of the more approachable full-proof options available without requiring dilution.

Where is Cream of Kentucky Cask Strength made? The bourbon is distilled at undisclosed Kentucky distilleries and bottled at Kentucky Artisan Distillery in Crestwood, Kentucky, under master distiller Jim Rutledge's supervision.

What foods pair well with Cream of Kentucky Cask Strength? Pecan pie complements the nutty oak finish; dark chocolate truffles echo the cocoa mid-palate; smoked pork belly plays off the barrel char; aged cheddar mirrors the butterscotch sweetness; and bread pudding with caramel sauce amplifies the vanilla and graham cracker notes.

What sizes does Cream of Kentucky Cask Strength come in? The standard release is available in 750ml bottles.

Is Cream of Kentucky Cask Strength worth the price? Positioned as a premium cask-strength sourced bourbon, it competes in the upper-middle tier alongside expressions like Booker's. The 2025 Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Jim Rutledge's involvement add significant credibility to its value proposition at this level.

Why Cream of Kentucky Cask Strength?

The 2025 Double Gold medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition validates what the liquid in the bottle promises — a carefully curated cask-strength bourbon that prioritizes flavor complexity over raw proof. Jim Rutledge's barrel selection expertise, honed over more than 40 years in Kentucky distilling, is the engine behind this release. The unusually low 106.4 proof cask strength points to deliberate choices in barrel entry proof, resulting in a bourbon that carries more grain character and nuance than many competitors bottled at higher strengths. For drinkers seeking proof that cask strength doesn't have to mean fire, this expression makes a compelling case.