Pure Kentucky XO Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Pure Kentucky XO Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a small-batch bourbon from Old Bardstown Distillery in Willett, Kentucky, aged a minimum of eight years and bottled at 107 proof. That extra age and higher proof set it apart from the entry-level Pure Kentucky expression, delivering more concentrated barrel character and a richer toffee-and-spice backbone. The XO designation isn't just marketing—it reflects the extended maturation that pulls deeper oak tannins and darker fruit notes from the char. Old Bardstown Distillery, now operated by the Willett family on the same Bardstown campus that once housed the original Kentucky Bourbon Distillers facilities, distills its bourbon from a traditional corn-forward mash bill and ages it in new charred American oak barrels. The limestone-filtered water of Nelson County and the rickhouse cycles of Kentucky summers and winters drive the bourbon deep into the wood, then pull it back out, extracting the vanilla, caramel, and baking spice that define the Pure Kentucky line. The eight-year minimum age statement is notable in an era when many bourbon labels have gone non-age-stated; it tells you exactly what you're drinking. The nose opens with toffee, orchard fruit, eucalyptus, and oak; the palate follows with cinnamon, more toffee, caramel, black pepper, oak tannins, and layered baking spices. At 107 proof, the whiskey has enough weight to stand up to a large ice cube or a few drops of water without losing its structure, but it's smooth enough to sip neat if you prefer. Pour it alongside grilled steak, dark chocolate, or sharp cheddar—anything that can match the bourbon's richness and spice. It's also a solid choice for an Old Fashioned or Manhattan when you want the whiskey to show through the modifiers. Pure Kentucky XO Straight Bourbon Whiskey is available for pickup at Off Premise Chicago, 1128 W Armitage Ave in Lincoln Park, for local Chicago delivery, or for nationwide shipping where legal.