Spirit review: Blade and Bow bourbon a tasty tribute to legendary Stitzel-Weller

In the last few years, whiskey has grown in popularity. With so many brands available and new distilleries emerging or redefining themselves, it's easy to get overwhelmed with all the options. This column is here to help you learn the basics of various whiskies, scotches and bourbons before you invest in a new bottle.

The spirit: Blade and Bow

The story behind Blade and Bow is a bit different as far as other bourbons go. This bourbon is drawn from some of the oldest remaining whiskey barrels distilled at Stitzel-Weller before it ceased production in 1992. This is why the new company can proudly keep the "est. in 1935" as a tribute to Stitzel-Weller.

This bourbon is being crafted using a unique solera aging system. According to the website, "the solera liquid is then mingled with other fine whiskeys, aged and bottled at Stitzel-Weller." This is a mixing process that involves shuffling bourbon of varying ages from barrel to barrel so that no barrel is ever quite empty.

As for the name Blade and Bow, it is said to be "a tribute to the Five Keys of crafting bourbon made famous at Stitzel-Weller. Those keys included grains, yeast, fermentation, distillation and aging." You can see and read more about these keys that are represented on the whiskey's geometric bottle. Additionally, an actual key is located on every bottle, numbered to align with one of the five listed above. Fans of the bourbon are encouraged to collect all five.

Here's what to expect...

Nose: Sweet dried fruits, with underlying caramel or toffee

Taste: Hint of dried apricot and ripe pear with sweet cereal.

Finish: Spice and oak with a sweet coating that lines your mouth and throat.

Cost: $50-$60

Recommended? Yes; I drink mine with a splash or two of water or enjoy it on the rocks for a smoother drink.

Booze News Insider Josh Hart is an amateur reviewer, but a professional drinker. He has been sipping and learning about whiskeys for a more than a decade and hopes to help you sift through the basics, to find the best bottles for you.