Vibrant, fruit-forward, and unmistakably Town Branch
About Town Branch
“Our roots are in our branch” – Lexington Brewing & Distilling Company (Town Branch)
Some distilleries impress with scale. Others with story. Town Branch Distillery manages both — grounded in history, yet firmly focused on what ultimately matters: what’s in the glass.
Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Town Branch is part of Lexington Brewing & Distilling Company (founded in 2008), producing American Single Malt, bourbon, rye, and bourbon barrel-aged beers.
But the story begins long before Town Branch itself. The original Lexington Brewing Company dates back to the 1890s before Prohibition shuttered operations and ownership changed hands repeatedly. In 1999, Pearse Lyons and his son Mark Lyons took ownership of the struggling brewery. Drawing from a family lineage rooted in Irish coopering and fermentation, Pearse revitalized both the brewery and a craft tradition in Lexington that traces back centuries.
Distilling followed naturally. Two copper pot stills commissioned from Scotland arrived in 2008, and in September 2012, Town Branch Distillery opened across the street — the first new distillery built in Lexington in more than 100 years. Those stills remain both functional and symbolic: a meeting point between tradition and imagination.
Experimentation has always been part of the DNA. In 2006, freshly emptied bourbon barrels were filled with Kentucky Ale®, resulting in Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale® — a beer that would go on to define a category. From there came Town Branch Malt, the first malt whiskey produced in Lexington since Prohibition, followed by bourbon, rye, sherry cask finishes, and limited releases.
Today, the Lyons family continues to guide the brand forward, balancing respect for history with thoughtful innovation. Quality ingredients, transparency, and hands-on craftsmanship remain central to every bottle. In 2012, Town Branch was officially added as the seventh distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
During my visit, hosted by head distiller Dave Bob, I spent the morning touring the facility and tasting through the lineup. Dave welcomed us with fresh donuts and a Bluegrass Sundown — a hot cocktail built on bourbon, dark-roasted coffee, sugar, and a float of cream. It was warming, smooth, and completely disarming — the perfect tone-setter for a distillery that consistently overdelivers without pretense.
Stats
- Age: min 6 year (6-8 yr blend)
- Proof: 116.6 (58.3% ABV)
- Mashbill: 72% │ 15% Rye │ 13% Malted Barley (varies by batch)
- Origin: Town Branch — Lexington, Kentucky
- Distillation Stye: Blend of pot & column still bourbons
- Finish: Straight, uncut
- Release: Limited batch
- MSRP: $42.99 (Lexington Brewing Co)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: From the first pour, this one feels different. Brighter. More energetic. Nectarine and orange peel lead the charge, followed by honeyed sweetness and a soft hint of nutmeg that adds just enough warmth.
- Palate: Dusty brown sugar gives structure while peach cobbler and caramel pull everything into balance.
- Finish: The finish leans indulgent — crème brûlée, mandarin oranges, and a wave of baking spices that rolls across the palate before easing off. The linger is pleasant and flavorful, though I found myself wishing it hung around just a bit longer given how expressive the journey is.
- Presentation: Square bottle whose labeling is clean, minimal, and quietly stylish.
What stands out most is how fruit-forward this bourbon feels without ever tipping into syrupy territory. It’s tropical and citrus-driven by Kentucky standards, centered by sweetness that’s present but never heavy-handed. Bold and bright without being aggressive, expressive without losing its footing.
Presentation
I’ve always had a soft spot for rectangular bottles — they immediately signal that something a little different is happening. The labeling is clean, minimal, and quietly stylish. I especially like the subtle overlay of the “branch” motif and Lexington street map beneath the brand name — a thoughtful nod to place without shouting about it.
Value & Transparency
At $42.99 and a minimum of six years old, this bourbon easily exceeds the $10-per-year rule. Each batch offers a slightly different experience thanks to barrel selection and subtle mashbill variation, which keeps things interesting without sacrificing identity.
Town Branch is refreshingly transparent. This bourbon is distilled, aged, and bottled on site (or in their off-site rickhouse), with mashbill and age disclosed. Even when small variations occur — as in their True Cask releases — those changes are openly discussed, including slight adjustments between rye and malted barley.
Distinctiveness
This takes the distinctive stone fruit of Town Branch and amps it up to a cask strength proof and quality. I love how each batch is different with subtle tweaks that have a large effect.
Similar to the 90 proof small batch bourbon, it shares similarities to its Kentucky cousins, but in its caramel, dusty brown sugar and other familiar flavors, but that’s not a bad thing. It grounds the blend with a familiar foundation then builds a bit from there.
Buy if:
- You gravitate toward brighter bourbons with citrus and stone fruit at the forefront.
- Peach, cherry, and tropical-adjacent notes excite you more than dark oak and leather.
- You appreciate cask-strength whiskey that shows energy and clarity rather than brute force.
- You enjoy picking up house character across different releases from the same distillery.
Skip if:
- You expect cask-strength bourbon to deliver long, oak-heavy, or aggressively dry finishes.
- You prefer darker, richer profiles dominated by chocolate, espresso, or heavy barrel char.
- A shorter finish at higher proof is a dealbreaker for you.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 4.6 / 7
- Palate: 4.9 / 7
- Finish: 5.1 / 7
- Presentation: 5.5 / 7
- Value: 7 / 7
- Transparency: 7 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 4 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.44 / 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 bottle was provided to me free of charge for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
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A bright, approachable Kentucky bourbon with nostalgic sweetness, gentle herbal notes, and a classic dusty finish. An easy sipper that balances comfort, character, and value.
Some distilleries impress you with scale. Others with story. Town Branch manages both — grounded in history, but focused on what’s in the glass.
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