Blue Run Reflection 1 Bourbon 750ML

Blue Run Reflection 1 Bourbon 750ML is a 95-proof (47.5% ABV) Kentucky straight bourbon distilled in 2018 and blended from 200 select barrels. Named to both Robb Report's Top 25 Bourbons list and Fred Minnick's Top 100, this release represents the handiwork of legendary distiller Jim Rutledge, who oversaw production at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Quick Facts: ABV: 47.5% (95 Proof)  |  Origin: Kentucky, USA  |  Distilled 2018  |  Distillery: Castle & Key

Production & Heritage

Blue Run Spirits is a Georgetown, Kentucky-based brand that launched in 2020 with a focus on sourcing and blending exceptional bourbon. For Reflection 1, the brand enlisted Jim Rutledge — who spent over 50 years as Master Distiller at Four Roses — to distill the liquid at the historic Castle & Key Distillery. The 200 barrels chosen for this blend were aged in a combination of char 3 and char 4 barrels, stored across two separate Kentucky locations in Bardstown and Frankfort, allowing distinct regional climate variations in temperature and humidity to shape a more complex final character than single-warehouse aging typically provides.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Opens with tart-sweet cherry and butterscotch candy, followed by ginger spice and mild firewood. Deeper exploration reveals hazelnut, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a subtle hint of pancake batter.

Taste: The entry is rich with maple sweetness and vanilla-laced butter, transitioning to hazelnut and dark cherry at mid-palate. Oak structure and fresh rosemary emerge toward the peak, introducing a savory, herbal complexity that balances the sweeter elements.

Finish: Long and lingering, with tobacco leaf and layered baking spices that slowly recede. A returning wave of dark fruit sweetness rounds out the final impression cleanly.

How to Drink Reflection 1

At 95 proof, Reflection 1 drinks comfortably neat or with a few drops of water to open up the herbal and maple layers. An Old Fashioned highlights the bourbon's butterscotch and cherry backbone against bitters and a sugar cube. A Boulevardier brings out the darker tobacco and spice notes, playing well against sweet vermouth and Campari. A Whiskey Sour lets the maple sweetness and tart cherry character shine through fresh citrus.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon collector who follows Jim Rutledge's post-Four Roses career
• Celebrating a milestone with a limited-production, multi-barrel Kentucky bourbon
• Adding a dual-location-aged expression to a home whiskey library
• Hosting a side-by-side tasting comparing modern blending approaches

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Reflection 1 taste like? Reflection 1 leads with maple sweetness, vanilla butter, and dark cherry, moving into hazelnut, oak, and rosemary at mid-palate. The finish is long and tobacco-driven, with lingering baking spices and returning dark fruit.

How does Reflection 1 compare to Four Roses Small Batch Select? Both expressions benefit from Jim Rutledge's blending philosophy — Rutledge spent over five decades at Four Roses before crafting Reflection 1 for Blue Run. Where Small Batch Select leans into floral and red fruit notes from Four Roses' high-rye recipes, Reflection 1 skews toward maple, hazelnut, and herbal complexity drawn from its dual-location aging in char 3 and char 4 barrels.

Is Reflection 1 good for sipping neat? Yes — at 47.5% ABV it sits at a moderate proof point that delivers full flavor without excessive heat, making it well-suited to neat sipping or with a single ice cube.

Where is Reflection 1 made? Reflection 1 was distilled in 2018 at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, under the direction of Jim Rutledge. Its 200 barrels were aged across two Kentucky locations — Bardstown and Frankfort — before blending and bottling.

What foods pair well with Reflection 1? Smoked pork ribs complement the tobacco and oak notes. Pecan pie mirrors the hazelnut and maple sweetness. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the butterscotch richness. Dark chocolate with sea salt draws out the cherry and spice layers. Herb-roasted chicken echoes the rosemary finish.

What sizes does Reflection 1 come in? Blue Run Reflection 1 Bourbon is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Reflection 1 worth the price? Reflection 1 positions as a premium bourbon, reflecting Jim Rutledge's pedigree, a 200-barrel blend, and dual-location aging. Its recognition from Robb Report, Fred Minnick's Top 100, and a 4.5/5 score from The Whiskey Wash supports its placement in the upper tier of Kentucky bourbon.

Why Reflection 1?

Reflection 1 distinguishes itself through a dual-location aging strategy that few bourbon producers employ — barrels matured simultaneously in Bardstown and Frankfort experienced meaningfully different temperature swings and humidity levels, yielding broader flavor development across the 200-barrel blend. Jim Rutledge's five-plus decades of blending expertise guided barrel selection across both char 3 and char 4 levels, adding another variable to the final profile. The results earned recognition from Robb Report's Top 25, Fred Minnick's Top 100, a 4.5/5 from The Whiskey Wash, and an "A" rating from The Whiskey Reviewer. For drinkers seeking a bourbon that pairs deep Kentucky tradition with a genuinely distinctive production approach, Reflection 1 makes a well-documented case for itself.