Larrikin Bourbon Co. was a relatively unknown NDP to most whiskey enthusiasts until the 2024 Kentucky Bourbon Festival, at which point a rebranding was made public. Before announcing the rebranding, Larrikin was founded as the Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company. While the facility is located in Lawrenceberg, Kentucky, the name drew some criticism as many consumers felt the name insinuated some type of direct connection with distilleries calling Lawrenceberg home, whether it be MGP, Four Roses, or Wild Turkey. Adding to the confusion, coming out of the gate, Lawrenceburg Bourbon Co. didn’t source bourbon from any Lawrenceburg distilleries, but rather from Green River Distilling in Owensboro (as well as other distilleries). Perhaps in combination with the criticism and wanting to pay homage to his Australian heritage, founder Greg Keeley decided to rebrand as Larrikin Bourbon Company. Larrikin is an Australian term for a maverick with apparent disregard for convention — and Keeley sees himself as such.

Larrikin Bourbon Co. made a public spectacle with the actual announcement of the rebranding at KBF, but the biggest splash came as the crowd discovered Larrikin Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon 8 Years Old. Buzz surrounding the bottled in bond offering from the relative newcomer quickly spread throughout the festival and eventually into the channels of social media. Now, Larrikin Decade 100% Rye Cognac Cask is the newest release from the brand that looks to shook things up in Bardstown.

For this release, Larrikin obtained 10 barrels of 100% rye whiskey distilled in Alberta, Canada that reportedly were originally purchased by a questionable Russian owner during the onset of the war in Ukraine. With 10 years of age, Australian and United States Navy veteran Greg Keeley opted to finish some of the whiskey in a 105 gallon Cognac cask and bottle it at 122.4 proof. Does this newest rye release hold with the hype Larrikin generated with the bottled in bond bourbon in 2024? Let’s have a crack and see!

Leading the way on the nose, rich honey is the first note to appear, lingering a bit before fleeting hints of oregano add complexity. With time, juicy orange marmalade develops before sultanas make a bold statement on the backend. While the bouquet skews sweet, the palate takes an immediate detour with a robust hit of pine needles. With the pine making a prompt impression, the crispness begins to fade to sweet honey, complemented by spicy cloves. The brightness soon returns with notes of lively lemon zest and a mouthfeel that smacks of citrus oil. The vibrancy found on the initial palate subsides as the finish ushers in notes of vanilla pudding, quickly balanced with the depth of book leather and black pepper. The tannins and spice soon pass as sultanas linger on forever after the final sip.

Larrikin Decade Rye Cognac Cask offers a wildly complex and evolving experience from start to finish. Every phase of the pour offers something unexpected and highly welcome, though the Cognac influence is apparent on the nose and finish, but not so much on the initial palate. Larrikin sourced excellent barrels of Canadian rye and did them justice with the finishing process. Larrikin Bourbon Co. succeeded in following up the hype generated by a Kentucky bourbon in visiting our neighbors to the north. However, despite an excellent rye whiskey, the $110 price is still too high. There is plenty of exceptionally good rye coming out of Alberta with higher age statements and smaller price tags. I thoroughly enjoyed the whiskey, but when talking about the ratio of quality to price given what else is available on the sourced market, the cost At $80, this would be a slam dunk purchase. If the price remains at $110, I would have to think awfully hard about it.

122.4 proof.

B+ / $110 / larrikinbourbon.com

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