Bomberger's : Declaration Bourbon Batch 2025

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for Bomberger's Declaration Bourbon Batch 2025

Tasting

Appearance
A deep mahogany hue, reminiscent of dark amber with alluring copper highlights. In the glass, this spirit leaves long legs, promising a rich texture and lovely viscosity.

Nose
A captivating bouquet where fresh fruit and toasted hazelnuts dance alongside irresistible salted butter caramel. With aeration, darker notes of chocolate, dark fruits and baking spices emerge, underscored by an elegant touch of sweet tobacco and forest floor.

Palate
The attack, surprisingly smooth and sweet for its strength, reveals a superb sweet-savoury balance. Floral and jammy notes coat the palate before evolving majestically into warm spices, indulgent chocolate and wild berries. The finish is long, rich and wonderfully complex.

Pairings and Tasting Moments
Serve this bourbon at room temperature, between 16 and 20°C, in a Glencairn glass to concentrate its aromas. At the table, it will pair beautifully with grilled meats, smoked ribs or duck breast glazed with cherry sauce. For cheese, opt for an aged cheddar or a mature gouda. For dessert, pair it with a dark chocolate fondant or a blueberry tart. It's the ideal companion for an evening of contemplation, best enjoyed neat or with just a drop of water to open up its aromas.

Mixology
Although this exceptional spirit is more than satisfying on its own and is best enjoyed neat, its aromatic profile also lends itself to crafting a top-tier Old Fashioned. Use a touch of demerara syrup and a few dashes of chocolate bitters to enhance its indulgent character without masking its woody complexity.

Other Characteristics
This bourbon is unpeated. It is bottled at 54% ABV (108 proof), offering remarkable intensity while remaining highly drinkable thanks to perfectly integrated alcohol.

A Remarkably Complex Kentucky Bourbon, the Signature of Bomberger's

The Bomberger's Legacy: From Pennsylvania to Kentucky Whiskey

The story of Bomberger's dates back to 1753 in Pennsylvania, with the founding of the Shenk's distillery, later renamed Bomberger's in the 19th century, then Michter's. Closed in 1990, the brand rose from its ashes thanks to Chatham Imports and its president, Joseph J. Magliocco, the current owner. Now relocated to Louisville and Shively, production of this Kentucky whiskey relies on modern equipment while honouring centuries-old traditions. Under the guidance of Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson, the distillery stands out for its low barrel entry proof and its absolute mastery of maturation. The Bomberger's range pays direct tribute to this historic distillery, establishing itself today as a true laboratory of wood innovation within the world of American spirits.

The Production Secrets Behind Declaration Bourbon Batch 2025

The Declaration Bourbon Batch 2025 is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon produced in "small batch" runs (approximately 2,400 to 2,600 bottles). This vintage-dated bourbon stands out for its distinctive production method, a true signature of the house. While its exact mash bill remains a closely guarded secret, its true singularity lies in its ageing process.

Indeed, this American whiskey is aged in new Chinquapin oak barrels (Quercus muehlenbergii), a rare North American wood species. For this 2025 edition, the distillery pushed experimentation to its limits: the staves of these barrels were air-dried naturally for varying periods of 18 months, 3 years, 4 years and 5 years before undergoing extremely precise heat treatments (toasting and charring). This extended drying process alters the chemistry of the wood, softening aggressive tannins to release an aromatic palette of incredible richness.

Bottled at 54% ABV after undergoing the distillery's signature bespoke filtration, the Declaration Bourbon Batch 2025 stands out as a bottling for connoisseurs. With no age statement, it nonetheless delivers exceptional maturity, the result of a low barrel entry proof that allows for a gentle, harmonious extraction of sugars from the wood.