Town Branch Bourbon 750ML

Town Branch Bourbon 750ML is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof) in a 750ml bottle. Awarded a Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and 94 points from Tastings.com, this expression stands out for its unusual production — distilled through Scottish copper pot stills rather than the column stills typical of most Kentucky bourbon.

Quick Facts: ABV: 45% (90 proof)  |  Origin: Lexington, Kentucky, USA  |  Straight Bourbon Whiskey  |  Distillery: Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.

Production & Heritage

Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. operates Town Branch Distillery, the first new distillery built in Lexington, Kentucky since Prohibition. The bourbon is produced from a mashbill of 72% corn, 15% malted barley, and 13% rye, fermented in cypress wood containers and distilled through two large copper pot stills imported from Scotland — an uncommon choice for American whiskey that contributes to the spirit's distinctively smooth, rounded character. The liquid is then aged in new, charred white oak barrels before bottling at 90 proof.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Honeysuckle and floral potpourri lead, followed by pleasant woody oak notes. Underneath, ripe cantaloupe and peach emerge alongside subtle almond and vanilla wafer sweetness.

Taste: The entry is smooth and oily-textured, with caramel and toffee arriving immediately. At mid-palate, brown sugar and tropical fruit develop alongside melon and hazelnut. Hints of cherry and citrus add complexity as the flavors build to a rich, layered peak.

Finish: A gentle warming finish with notable length, carrying lingering tobacco and nut character. The oak influence remains present but restrained, allowing the sweeter notes to slowly fade.

How to Drink Town Branch

Neat or with a few drops of water is the ideal approach to appreciate the pot still character and floral complexity. The 90-proof bottling holds up well over a single large ice cube for those who prefer a chilled pour. Three cocktails that showcase this bourbon particularly well:

• Old Fashioned — The caramel and toffee backbone pairs naturally with bitters and orange, and the pot still richness holds its ground against dilution.
• Bourbon Smash — The floral, honeysuckle aromatics amplify fresh mint and lemon in this warm-weather classic.
• Brown Derby — The tropical fruit and melon notes in Town Branch complement grapefruit juice and honey syrup beautifully.

Best For

• Introducing a craft beer enthusiast to bourbon — the brewery heritage creates a natural conversation starter
• Building a Kentucky bourbon tasting flight highlighting different still types
• Gifting a whiskey drinker who values unique production methods over big-name labels
• After-dinner sipping alongside desserts featuring caramel or stone fruit

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Town Branch taste like? Town Branch Bourbon leads with caramel, toffee, and brown sugar sweetness, layered with floral honeysuckle aromatics and notes of peach, melon, and hazelnut. The finish is warm and lingering with tobacco and nut undertones.

How does Town Branch compare to Buffalo Trace? Both are Kentucky straight bourbons in a similar price tier, but Town Branch uses copper pot stills rather than Buffalo Trace's column still setup, resulting in a rounder, more floral profile. Buffalo Trace tends toward a spicier, more vanilla-forward character, while Town Branch leans into delicate fruit and toffee sweetness.

Is Town Branch good for sipping neat? Yes — the 90-proof strength delivers enough intensity without excessive heat, and the pot still distillation creates a smooth, oily mouthfeel well-suited to neat drinking. A few drops of water can further open up the floral aromatics.

Where is Town Branch made? Town Branch Bourbon is produced at Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. in Lexington, Kentucky. The distillery was the first new distilling operation built in Lexington since Prohibition.

What foods pair well with Town Branch? Pecan pie complements the toffee and nut notes directly. Grilled peaches or stone fruit desserts echo the bourbon's natural fruit character. Aged cheddar or Gouda plays well against the caramel sweetness. Smoked pork belly bridges the oak and brown sugar elements, while dark chocolate with sea salt highlights the lingering tobacco finish.

What sizes does Town Branch come in? Town Branch Bourbon is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Town Branch worth the price? Town Branch positions as a mid-range Kentucky bourbon that punches above its weight in terms of production distinction — pot still distillation and cypress wood fermentation are rare at this price tier. The 94-point rating from Tastings.com and Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition suggest strong value for a craft-distilled bourbon.

Why Town Branch?

The defining differentiator here is the Scottish copper pot still distillation — a production choice that gives Town Branch a texture and flavor profile genuinely unlike most Kentucky bourbons on the shelf. That distinction earned the distillery the 2020 Berlin International Spirits Competition's Kentucky Distillery of the Year designation. The combination of pot stills, cypress wood fermentation tanks, and a balanced 72/15/13 mashbill produces a bourbon that trades the assertive spice of many rye-heavy competitors for an uncommonly floral, fruit-forward elegance. For drinkers looking to explore how production method shapes flavor rather than simply chasing age statements or proof numbers, Town Branch makes a compelling case.