Old Zach Review 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon (132 Proof) – Cox’s Creek Distilling Review
A tannic, oak-driven powerhouse that rewards patience with a finish full of spice, depth, and surprising sweetness.
About Cox’s Creek Distilling
“Our mission is simple: to craft exceptional bourbon for everyone…” – Cox’s Creek Distilling website
Cox’s Creek Distilling Company, located in its namesake, Cox’s Creek, Kentucky, is host to a number of non-distilling producer (NDP) brands including Good Times, Old Zach, and Old Rick.
Good Times is likely its most (in)famous brand due to their eclectic cask “finishes”, which caught notoriety in the thick of the Bourbon Boom on countless single barrel picking clubs.
Old Zach made its name sourcing BuffTurkey during the height of its craze and more recently the eighteen year Barton barrels that have been circulating through the NDP channels.
Old Rick is the newest addition to their brand lineup which has primarily seemed to be sourcing high age statement (18-21 year) American light whiskey as well as interesting blends like the one provided to the author.
Stats
- Age: 10 Years
- Proof: 132 (66% ABV)
- Origin: Bardstown, Kentucky (Sourced)
- Release: 2025 Single Barrel, Barrel Strength
- MSRP: $149.99
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Rich oak dominates, supported by leather, tobacco, and dark raisin sweetness.
- Palate: Drying oak continues, layered with molasses and black tea. Dense, structured, and unapologetically oak-forward.
- Finish: Peppery clove leads into blackberry jam, coffee bean, and cacao. The sweetness sneaks back in just as the spice peaks, adding surprising depth.
An oak-lover’s dream. Tannic, drying, and richly structured from start to finish. The money spot is the finish — peppery spice wrapped around complex, sweet undertones that elevate this from powerful to genuinely compelling.
There’s only a handful of Bardstown distilleries with whiskey at or near 10 years old, and even fewer that are openly sourcing it, which leads me to believe this is Barton distillate. I hesitate to say that as even I am biased to it after the influx of barrels in the last 5-6 years. This single barrel however is a stand out and really impressed me.
Buy this if you:
- Love the rich and drier oak presence of older Kentucky Bourbon
- Want a high proof straight bourbon that will steal the show.
Skip if you:
- Prefer lower proofs
- Dislike oak heavy profiles
- Don’t like the better Barton distillate.
The price tag of $149.99 feels similarly steep to the other Cox’s Creek products, while not completely unreasonable, is about 1.5x what I would expect a fair price to be especially with this being Barton distillate.
That being said, this is a fantastic single barrel and if you’re a fan of a quality, well aged Barton single barrel, this will be well worth it for you.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 6.2 / 7
- Palate: 5.75 / 7
- Finish: 6.4 /7
- Presentation: N/A (samples)
- Value: 3 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.34 / 7 – Divine
Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style.
| Score | Descriptor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Hell No | Drain pour. Seriously undrinkable. |
| 1.1–2 | Purgatory | Bad, but could be worse. Only in extreme cases. |
| 2.1–3 | Only Earthly | Just okay. Best used as a mixer. |
| 3.1–4 | Bliss | Passable sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. High value for the price. |
| 5.1–6 | Divine | Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style. |
| 6.1–7 | Holy Heaven | Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn. |
Disclosure: This sample was provided to me free of charge for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
Looking for more whiskey reviews? Browse my latest reviews here.