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      Four Gate Whiskey Announces Release 15.1, 15.2, & 15.3: The Bluegrass Trilogy

      By BillNovember 30, 20210
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      November 30, 2021

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    ModernThirst
    Ancient Age

    Ancient Age 80 Bourbon Review

    BillBy BillJune 10, 2014Updated:July 31, 20175 Comments2 Mins Read

    Ancient Age 80 Proof

    75 Dull

    It just isn’t very exciting.

    glencairn-amazonThis truncated review was originally posted as part of our Budget Bourbon Battle Royale.  See the original post here.

    Ancient Age is a Buffalo Trace-produced product distilled in Frankfort, KY.  The label itself has been in production since 1946, and clocks in at 80 proof.  It is made using Buffalo Trace’s Mash Bill #2, the higher rye recipe, which it shares with Blanton’s Rock Hill Farms, Hancock’s Reserve, and Elmer T. Lee, all top-shelf bourbons in their own regard. So that makes this the most affordable label of the mash bill by a considerable margin.  Is it the same bourbon?  Nope.  But for under $13 for 750mL, it doesn’t need to be.

    ANCIENT AGE 1Appearance: Very Pale.

    • Nose: Lots of corn, some light vanilla, rye, and pepper.
    • Taste: Again, the corn and vanilla are the main players here, but there is a slight rye spice at the end.  It’s somewhat thin, without a great depth of flavor, but definitely fits the Buffalo Trace profile.
    • Finish: Very dry, very short.  The only lingering flavor is the mild rye citrus and black pepper as it quickly fades.
    • Score: 75/100.

    Synopsis:

    Really, Ancient Age is not a bad bourbon.  It just isn’t very exciting.  At its price point, it doesn’t really need to be.  It’s straightforward Buffalo Trace on the nose and palate, without much burn and with very little lingering flavor.  That being stated, it is not the best budget bourbon in its price range or in its category, as it falls well short of the recently reviewed Evan Williams Black Label, to name one.


    The ModernThirst.com scoring system is a standard 100 point system based on 4 categories, taken in order.

    1. Appearance: 15 points
    2. Nose: 25 Points
    3. Palate/Taste: 35 Points
    4. Finish: 25 points
    • 95+        Epic
    • 90-94     Excellent, Good representative of its style
    • 85-89     Solid sipper
    • 80-84     Drinkable, but potentially flawed.
    • 75-79     Low quality, flawed, use as a mixer only
    • <75        Rot Gut, avoid

     

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    Bill
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    Bill is the Co-Founder, Editor-in Chief, and official Bourbon-o-Phile for ModernThirst.com, and Founder and Chief Blending Officer for Four Gate Whiskey Company. He is a native of Louisville, KY in the heart of Bourbon Country. He attended the University of Kentucky in the mid to late 1990s. He has also been published on Liquor.com. He has conducted various bourbon and whiskey tastings in cities across the country, and consulted for multiple national labels. He is married with two daughters, and lives in east Louisville. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter @BillStraub and email him at Bill@ModernThirst.com.

    Related Posts

    Four Gate Whiskey Announces Release 15.1, 15.2, & 15.3: The Bluegrass Trilogy

    November 30, 2021

    Old Forester 21st Release of Annual Birthday Bourbon

    August 24, 2021

    Press Release: Old Forester’s Next Release in the 117 Series Features a Blend of Barrels Aged Solely in Warehouse K 

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    5 Comments

    1. Pingback: Budget Bourbon Battle Royale Round 7: Back for More | ModernThirst

    2. Pingback: Ever wanted to see all of our Whiskey Review Scores all in one Place? (March 2015) | ModernThirst

    3. Pingback: Whiskey Review Scores | ModernThirst

    4. Barbara Cowan on October 21, 2017 1:57 pm

      I love this bourbon, love the spicy taste!!! What is the 86 on one of labels mean??

      Reply
    5. Dave on January 25, 2022 1:25 pm

      I like this bourbon it is on the light side for the price very good I have drunk many high-end bourbons and enjoy the complexity of them but Ancient Age is very good mix it or on the rocks for me it good and at a low price

      Reply

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