Kinnard And Drake Straight Bourbon 750ML

Kinnard And Drake Straight Bourbon 750ML is a 5-year-old, high-rye straight bourbon bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof) from Indiana. This expression stands out as an 11-barrel blend of 36% high-rye bourbon sourced from MGP Ingredients in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and bottled by Boone County Jail Distillery — a family-owned operation housed inside a repurposed county jail.

Quick Facts: ABV: 45% (90 Proof)  |  Origin: Indiana, USA  |  Age: 5 Years  |  Distillery: Boone County Jail Distillery (sourced from MGP Ingredients)

Production & Heritage

Boone County Jail Distillery operates out of a converted historic jail in Boone County, Indiana, giving the brand a distinctive backstory rooted in local character. Kinnard And Drake Straight Bourbon uses MGP's 36% high-rye mashbill — a recipe prized among bourbon enthusiasts for its balance of grain sweetness and spice — and is aged a full five years before bottling. Rather than pulling from a single barrel, the distillery team selected and married 11 individual barrels to create this particular blend, aiming for consistency and layered complexity that a single barrel alone might not achieve.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet honeysuckle and vanilla custard greet the nose first, followed by warm cinnamon, clove, and a subtle thread of caramel. Faint traces of spearmint, lime citrus, and nutmeg add an unexpected aromatic lift.

Taste: The palate opens with rich butterscotch and apricot sweetness that gives way to a pronounced rye spice at mid-palate. The mouthfeel is notably creamy and round, with a deceptively low alcohol feel for a 90-proof bourbon. Hints of Grand Marnier and popcorn add intrigue as the flavors develop.

Finish: Pleasantly long and sweet, carrying notes of confectionary sugar, caramel, dried raisins, and cherries. A lingering cinnamon warmth ties the finish together without turning hot or astringent.

How to Drink Kinnard And Drake

Neat or with a single ice cube is the best starting point — the creamy body and moderate proof reveal their full range at room temperature or slightly chilled. For cocktails, the high-rye backbone makes this bourbon a versatile base:

• Old Fashioned: The butterscotch sweetness pairs naturally with bitters and a citrus peel, requiring less added sugar than many bourbons.
• Manhattan: The rye spice and dried-fruit finish complement sweet vermouth without being lost in the mix.
• Bourbon Sour: The apricot and caramel notes add depth behind fresh citrus, creating a richer sour than a neutral-profile bourbon would.

Best For

• Bourbon drinkers exploring high-rye MGP expressions beyond familiar labels
• Gifting someone who appreciates small-batch, story-driven whiskey
• An after-dinner sipper when you want sweetness balanced by spice
• Building a home bar comparison tasting of Indiana-sourced bourbons

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Kinnard And Drake taste like? It delivers a creamy, butterscotch-forward palate with apricot fruitiness and a distinct rye-spice kick, finishing long with caramel, dried raisins, and cinnamon warmth.

How does Kinnard And Drake compare to OKI Reserve Bourbon? Both source high-rye bourbon from MGP Ingredients in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, making them close relatives in terms of base distillate. Kinnard And Drake carries a 5-year age statement and is an 11-barrel blend, while OKI Reserve has historically varied in age and batch size, so the flavor profiles diverge in their barrel selection and blending approach.

Is Kinnard And Drake good for sipping neat? Yes — the 90-proof strength and creamy, round mouthfeel make it approachable neat, with enough complexity in the butterscotch, spice, and fruit notes to hold your attention across a full pour.

Where is Kinnard And Drake made? The bourbon is distilled at MGP Ingredients in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, one of the most prolific contract distilleries in American whiskey, and is selected and bottled by Boone County Jail Distillery in Boone County, Indiana.

What foods pair well with Kinnard And Drake? Smoked pork ribs or pulled pork complement the caramel sweetness. Aged cheddar or Gruyère echo the butterscotch richness. Pecan pie or bread pudding amplify the dessert-like finish. Dark chocolate with sea salt draws out the rye spice, and stone fruit tarts mirror the apricot notes on the palate.

What sizes does Kinnard And Drake come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Kinnard And Drake worth the price? It positions in the mid-range tier for sourced Indiana bourbon, and the 5-year age statement, specific 11-barrel blend, and high-rye mashbill offer genuine substance at a price point where many competitors carry no age statement at all.

Why Kinnard And Drake?

What separates this bourbon from the crowded field of MGP-sourced releases is the specificity of its blend — 11 barrels of a single 36% high-rye mashbill, all aged five years, selected and married by a small family operation. That tight barrel count means each batch reflects deliberate choices rather than large-scale blending. The result is a bourbon with a distinct personality: creamy and sweet up front, spiced and lingering at the back, with enough complexity to reward patient sipping. For drinkers who want transparency about sourcing and a well-executed Indiana high-rye bourbon without paying collector prices, Kinnard And Drake fills that space convincingly.