Nooku Bourbon Cream 750ML

Nooku Bourbon Cream 750ML is a 17% ABV (34 proof) cream spirit made from just two ingredients: fresh dairy cream and bourbon. A Gold Medal winner at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, it distinguishes itself from conventional cream liqueurs by containing no added sugar, no neutral spirits, and no artificial flavoring or color.

Quick Facts: ABV: 17% (34 Proof)  |  Origin: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA  |  Bourbon Cream (Two-Year Aged Bourbon Base)  |  Distillery: Old Elk Distillery

Production & Heritage

Nooku is produced at Old Elk Distillery in Fort Collins, Colorado. The bourbon base uses a mashbill of 51% corn, 34% malted barley, and 15% rye, aged for two years before blending with fresh dairy cream. That unusually high proportion of malted barley — more than double what most bourbon mashbills call for — contributes significant body and malt sweetness. Because nothing else is added, Nooku technically falls outside the "cream liqueur" category; it is simply bourbon and cream, which allows the whiskey character to remain far more prominent than in conventional cream liqueurs that rely on neutral grain spirits and added sugar for body.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Cinnamon spice leads, followed by gentle vanilla and toffee. Underneath sits a lightly eggy cream note characteristic of real dairy, with no artificial sweetness on the nose.

Taste: The entry is pleasantly creamy, but bourbon asserts itself quickly with clove and cinnamon spice at the mid-palate. Lush vanilla and caramel develop as the bourbon's oak influence emerges, carrying real whiskey weight rather than the confectionery sweetness typical of many cream liqueurs.

Finish: Medium in length, with bittersweet dark chocolate and toasted oak lingering after the cream fades. The finish is notably smooth given how much bourbon character comes through.

How to Drink Nooku Bourbon Cream

Served chilled or over ice, Nooku shows its best balance — the cold temperature tightens the cream while letting the bourbon spice cut through. It also works well as a stand-alone after-dinner pour at room temperature for those who want more whiskey presence. In cocktails, try it in a Bourbon Cream White Russian, where it replaces both the cream and some of the coffee liqueur with a spicier backbone; a Bourbon Cream Espresso Martini, where the dark chocolate finish complements fresh espresso beautifully; or a Bourbon Cream Old Fashioned Float, poured over a standard Old Fashioned as a dessert riff that adds richness without added sugar.

Best For

• An after-dinner dessert course replacement when you want something less sweet than traditional cream liqueurs
• Gifting a bourbon drinker who has never explored cream spirits
• Spiking holiday coffee, hot chocolate, or chai without introducing artificial sweetness
• Hosting a blind tasting comparing bourbon cream against Irish cream liqueurs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Nooku Bourbon Cream taste like? Nooku leads with caramel and vanilla from its two-year-aged bourbon base, supported by cinnamon and clove spice, real dairy creaminess, and a bittersweet dark chocolate finish. It tastes noticeably more like actual bourbon than most cream liqueurs because no sugar or neutral spirits are added.

How does Nooku Bourbon Cream compare to Baileys Irish Cream? Both are whiskey-cream blends bottled at 34 proof, but the production philosophy differs significantly. Baileys uses Irish whiskey with added sugar, flavoring, and neutral spirits, while Nooku contains only Old Elk bourbon and dairy cream — resulting in a drier, more whiskey-forward profile with less residual sweetness.

Is Nooku Bourbon Cream good for sipping neat? Yes — the absence of added sugar means it drinks more like a light whiskey with cream texture than a dessert liqueur, making it comfortable to sip neat or slightly chilled without becoming cloying.

Where is Nooku Bourbon Cream made? Nooku is produced at Old Elk Distillery in Fort Collins, Colorado. The bourbon base is distilled and aged on-site before blending with fresh dairy cream.

What foods pair well with Nooku Bourbon Cream? Dark chocolate truffles complement the bittersweet cocoa finish. Pecan pie mirrors the caramel and toasted-nut sweetness of the bourbon. Warm bread pudding with vanilla sauce echoes the vanilla and cream notes. Blue cheese creates a savory-sweet contrast with the caramel. Fresh berries, especially raspberries, cut through the cream richness with tart acidity.

What sizes does Nooku Bourbon Cream come in? Nooku Bourbon Cream is commonly available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Nooku Bourbon Cream worth the price? Nooku positions in the mid-range for cream spirits but punches above its weight given the two-ingredient, no-sugar-added production approach and multiple Gold Medal wins. For drinkers who find conventional cream liqueurs too sweet, it fills a gap that very few competitors address.

Why Nooku Bourbon Cream?

The two-ingredient formula — just bourbon and cream — is genuinely rare in a category dominated by products that rely on added sugar, neutral spirits, and artificial flavoring to build body. That simplicity earned Nooku a Gold Medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a Gold Medal at the 2017 New York International Spirits Competition, and 86 points from the 2018 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. The Old Elk bourbon base, with its high 34% malted barley mashbill, gives Nooku a malt-driven richness that sets it apart from both Irish cream liqueurs and other American bourbon creams. For anyone who wants real whiskey flavor in a cream format without sweetness doing the heavy lifting, this is the bottle that makes the case.