Lucky Seven Sampler! Part 2: Workhorse, Hold Up, Proprietor (6 YR), Proprietor (15 YR)
Background
Earlier this week, I put up Part One of my review of the Lady Luck Tasting Kit by Lucky Seven. That review covered the finished bourbons, and this one will cover the four remaining straight bourbons. Since four bourbons are plenty to cover in a single review, I’ll keep the preamble brief. What I do think worth noting is that all of these are Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, including the 15 year Proprietor. This means for roughly two years, Lucky Seven has continued to roll out 14 and 15 year Kentucky Straight Bourbon. They have done so while keeping the price a relatively steady $125-$150… which is impressive.
Lucky Seven: The Workhorse (Batch 3) (NAS, 97 Proof)
Nose: Lightly herbal, root beer, powdered sugar and peanut shells. It’s pretty delicate, not exactly pulling you in but not pushing you away either.
Palate: Some peanut brittle, a bit of spice, a bit of wood, a little vanilla… it’s kind of muddled to be honest. Not unpleasant, but a bit tough to discern a throughline of flavor.
Finish: Peanut brittle, muddled mint, lightly spice forward (some nutmeg perhaps), and a bit of wood influence.
Sub-par (4/10)
Overall: It’s by no means BAD, but it’s just a little dull and lacking in focus. I’m not sure what I’m coming to this whiskey for, other than just to turn my brain off and drink something that makes me go “yup, that’s Kentucky Bourbon!”
Lucky Seven: The Hold Up (9 Years, 100 Proof)
Nose: Brown sugar, cocoa and hints of mint. It’s again on the lighter side but definitely inviting.
Palate: Ohhh creammyyyyyyy, creme brulee and drizzles of caramel, bits of cinnamon.
Finish: Some of that creaminess hangs around, with the dial on the baking spices turned up and a dash of oak added to the mix. There’s also a sense of root beer candies.
Good (5/10)
Overall: It’s a pretty rock solid sipper, having a nice brown sugar forward profile and a lovely balance of flavors with a consistent spice note keeping the sweeter side in check. The 9 years come through nicely, providing a spritely yet mature and flavorful pour.
Lucky Seven: The Proprietor (Barrel #26) (6 Years, 119.4 Proof)
Nose: Mulling spices and red fruits, leather and black pepper. Punchy!
Palate: Cranberry ocean spray, cinnamon sugar, more leather and some star anise. Fairly layered with different notes emerging or gaining prominence each sip.
Finish: Anise persists, some barrel spice… honestly a fun and spicy finish. It’s not wildly hot by any means, but it has a good length and is reminiscent at times of Hot Tamales candies.
Very Good (6/10)
Overall: What a ride! Something for everyone in this pour, is it a little aggressive at times? Sure! Does it have a sweeter side? You bet! It’s fun and flavorful with layers of notes, most of them baking spice related.
Lucky Seven: The Proprietor (Barrel #84) (15 Years, 126.7 Proof)
Nose: Overripe cherries, molasses and an old whiskey leathery funk. Oh yeah, this is the stuff. This smells like it belongs in a rich person’s house.
Palate: Pretty leathery, chocolate covered cherries. Make that dark chocolate, the nice bitter kind. Rum raisins.
Finish: Root beer, pipe tobacco, a little medicinal herbal sensation, like a cough syrup, and some of that dark chocolate.
Excellent to Incredible (8.5/10)
Overall: This whiskey makes sensible investment decisions. It eats healthy and goes for a run in the morning and has tasteful flecks of gray in its hair. It takes cool trips. This shit is MATURE. I want to drink it out of those big round cognac glasses in a classy smoking jacket. I drank this, went “shiiiiitttt” and my wife went “something wrong?” and I went “oh no, this is just real nice.” Price is not considered in this review, but dollars to donuts, if you’re going to buy sourced whiskey, these Proprietor bottles remain one of the most consistently excellent options I’ve found.
