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Derby Town Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon

CAPSULE REVIEW

Classification: Straight Bourbon

Company: Pursuit Spirits

Distillery: Sourced from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery(ies)

Release Date: April 2025

Proof: 122.8

Age: 7 Years

Mashbill: 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye

Color: Dark Gold

MSRP: $50 / 375mL (2025)

Official Website

Press Release

NOSE

Raspberry | Cherry | Butterscotch | Dried fruits | Seasoned oak

palate

Walnut | Brown sugar | Toffee | Fruitcake | Vanilla

finish

Cinnamon | Toasted oak | Clove | Nutmeg | Stewed cherries

uniqueness
value
overall

A long-forgotten brand now resurrected, Mellwood Bourbon’s Derby Town Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon stays classic in flavors and close to its roots.

When Pursuit Spirits decided on a downtown location for their blending and tasting experience, they discovered the location was steeped in history. Originally home to Mellwood Spirits on Melwood Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky, they took this as a divine calling to resurrect the forgotten brand. With the brand's throwback label design housed in a 375mL flask-style bottle, the result is a blast from the past.

This 7 year old cask strength bourbon’s flavor profile is anchored by a classic style but slightly deviates where necessary. Raspberry and cherry mixed with butterscotch lead the nose, with a palate weighted by walnuts, brown sugar, and fruitcake notes. The finish is cinnamon-heavy with complementary toasted oak, clove, and nutmeg notes.

Derby Town Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon doesn’t reinvent the wheel, nor should it. A classic style brand should indeed be classic in its resurrection and offer fleeting moments of intrigue. That seems precisely what Pursuit Spirits set out to do here, and it succeeds in that regard.

The sample used for this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy its respective company. We thank them for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.
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Written By: Eric Hasman

May 5, 2025
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