Old Ripy Bourbon Review
Old Ripy is a combination of 8-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon with 12-year-old and younger whiskies for added complexity and oak. It is distilled at the Wild Turkey Distillery in Anderson County, aged in timber warehouses and non-chill filtered.
BOTTLE DETAILS
- DISTILLER: Released by Campari America with barrels sourced from the Wild Turkey Distillery
- MASH BILL: Undisclosed but since it’s sourced from Wild Turkey we assume it’s likely 75% Corn | 13% Rye | 12% Malted Barley
- AGE: The youngest whiskey in the Old Ripy bottling is a 6-year-old whiskey, but the majority of the liquid is 8- and 12-year-old.
- YEAR: 2017
- PROOF: 104 (52% ABV)
- MSRP: $49.99 for 375ml
POPS' NOTES
NOSE: Vanilla | Raisins | Toasted Oak | Almonds | Apple
TASTE: Big Oak Notes | Spice
FINISH: The finish is sweet and dry (tannic) with a short, but bright peppery bite on the tip of the tongue. Give it a few minutes, and you’ll get rewarded with a nice burn that surges in the back of your throat.
SHARE WITH: Pour this one for friends who enjoy a strong oak profile in their whiskey. This has lots of dry, toasted oak accompanied by peppery spice sure to make them happy.
WORTH THE PRICE: The MSRP of $49.99 seems right on until you remember that it’s only for a 375ml bottle – not a standard 750ml bottle. I asked Campari why they were releasing this as a 375ml and they told me “The Bond & Lillard and Old Ripy 375ml bottles are a nod to pre-Prohibition. Bottle sizes were not standardized then, and smaller format bottles were frequently sold.”
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Despite my feelings on the 375ml bottle, if you’re a serious bourbon drinker–who enjoys oaky juice– it’s worth getting a bottle to try and share with friends with share your love of bourbon. At almost $50 per 375ml it probably won’t become anyone’s everyday drinker, but then again, that doesn’t appear to be Campari’s goal with this one or any other release in the Whiskey Barons Collection.
OVERALL: Old Ripy bourbon is a solid, well-balanced bourbon that caters to those that enjoy a more tannic profile. I preferred the Bond & Lillard over this one but wouldn’t mind having a bottle at home to enjoy on occasion. I think Campari has done a good job with the first two releases in their Whiskey Barons Collection by making sure that neither whiskey is too far off what I would consider being mainstream bourbon flavor profiles. So while they may be new labels on the market, they remain approachable, somewhat familiar due to the Wild Turkey sourced juice and easily drinkable by just about any bourbon drinker–novice through expert.
You can read more about the origins of the Whiskey Barons Collection via this post on our site.
BRAND NOTES
Born in Bourbon’s heartland in 1868, Old Ripy was created by Irish immigrant James Ripy and continued to be made in Lawrenceburg, KY, on the site of where the current Wild Turkey Distillery stands today, up until 1950. Back then, the Ripy family was ubiquitous in Anderson County’s bustling distilling community. They had opened several distilleries in the area, which remained in the family for generations. T.B. Ripy IV and Tom Ripy, the great grandson and great great grandson of T.B. Ripy, advised throughout the project on packaging and liquid development – calling upon original bottlings, brochures, and family stories to help us recreate what we can honestly say is the closest representation of the original Old Ripy brand possible.
Old Ripy is a combination of 8-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon with 12-year-old and younger whiskies for added complexity and oak. It is distilled at the Wild Turkey Distillery in Anderson County, aged in timber warehouses and non-chill filtered to retain congeners, fusil oils, lipid fats and proteins we believe you would find in the original. This results in more natural and complex flavor characteristics, fuller body, and a smooth but “chewier” mouthfeel.
COLOR: Deep amber
NOSE: Oak and vanilla with fruits and a hint of banana
TASTE: Big mouth feel of chewy toffee, apple and oak notes
FINISH: Oaky tannin gives way to pepper spice and sweet caramel
AVAILABILITY: Wild Turkey Visitor Center and in select markets, including California, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York City, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.