A 7-Year Blue Corn Bourbon With Sweetness, Rye Structure, and a Smooth Kentucky Finish
Some bourbons get your attention before the first pour because of the label. Others do it because of the proof, the age statement, or the distillery story. This one gets your attention because of the grain.
Bluegrass Distillery Kentucky Straight Bourbon High Rye Blue Corn is built around a mash bill that immediately stands apart: 70% blue corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley. That is not a typical Kentucky bourbon recipe, and that is exactly what makes this bottle interesting. At 100 proof, with a 7-year age statement, this small batch bourbon has enough maturity and structure to be taken seriously, but the real story is the way the blue corn shapes the pour.
Bluegrass Distillers began in Lexington, Kentucky, where the team started by hand-mashing grain in small batches before expanding to Elkwood Farm in Midway, Kentucky. Their official story emphasizes craftsmanship, innovation, community, and a deeper “grain-to-glass” approach at Elkwood Farm, where they have begun growing grains on-site.
That move matters. Elkwood Farm gives this bourbon a sense of place. Bluegrass Distillers describes its blue corn bourbon as Kentucky’s first Blue Corn Bourbon, grown at Elkwood Farm, with a nutty sweetness and distinctive depth of flavor. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail also notes that Bluegrass Distillers at Elkwood Farm is the first operating bourbon distillery in Midway, Kentucky since 1959, and that its signature Blue Corn Bourbon uses non-GMO blue corn grown seasonally on-site. That is a strong foundation for a bottle like this.
Bottle Details
Distillery: Bluegrass Distillers
Location: Elkwood Farm, Midway, Kentucky
Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Proof: 100
Age Statement: 7 Years
Mash Bill: 70% Blue Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
Batch Type: Small Batch
Distillate Source: Not stated on the bottle information reviewed
Reviewed Neat: Yes
Bluegrass describes this release as a High Rye Blue Corn Bourbon that blends rye spice with savory nuttiness and the smooth, subtly floral sweetness of non-GMO heirloom blue corn. Their published notes mention cedar, dark cherry, ripe banana, soft oak, bourbon ball, milk chocolate, toasted pecan, and cream soda sweetness.
Our tasting lined up with some of that profile, especially the sweet corn influence, cherry note, oak, and nutty character.
Appearance —
In the glass, this bourbon shows an amber color that looks mature and inviting. It has enough depth to suggest age and barrel influence, though it does not quite push into the richer, darker color range that usually earns our highest appearance scores. Still, it presents well in the glass and gives a solid first impression.
Appearance Score: 2.75 / 5
Aroma —
The nose is one of the better parts of this pour. It opens with sweet vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, and rye, all working together in a pleasant and balanced way. The aroma is not overly aggressive, but it is warm, approachable, and enjoyable. The rye shows up clearly on the nose, but it does not take over. It adds structure and a little spice around the edges while the blue corn keeps the profile sweet and rounded. This is a good nosing bourbon.
Aroma Score: 3.25 / 5
Flavor —
On the palate, this bourbon brings caramel, vanilla, cherry, oak, and a nutty note that fits the blue corn story very well. The 70% blue corn gives this pour a smooth sweetness that feels different from a standard corn-heavy bourbon. It is not just simple sweetness. There is a slightly deeper, rounder quality to it — almost a soft nuttiness underneath the vanilla and cherry. The rye is present, especially in the flavor, but it does not dominate. At 21% rye, you expect spice and structure, and it does contribute to the bourbon’s shape. But this is not a sharp, pepper-heavy high-rye profile. The corn and malted barley soften the edges and keep the sip moving in a sweeter direction. The oak is noticeable but controlled. It supports the pour without turning dry or tannic.
Flavor Score: 3.00 / 5
Finish —
The finish is short, smooth, warm, and sweet, with lingering notes of vanilla and cherry. This is where the blue corn really seems to influence the bourbon. The finish does not lean hard into rye spice. Instead, it stays rounded and soft, with a smooth sweetness that carries the sip to a gentle close. The rye is there in the flavor, but less so in the finish. That makes sense with this mash bill. The blue corn and malted barley appear to pull the finish back toward sweetness and smoothness rather than spice and dryness. The only drawback is length. The finish is enjoyable, but it fades sooner than expected for a high-rye, 7-year, 100 proof bourbon.
Finish Score: 3.00 / 5
Overall Impression
This is an interesting bourbon, and the blue corn is not just a marketing detail. It shows up in the glass.
Bluegrass Distillery High Rye Blue Corn Bourbon gives us a pour that is sweet, smooth, nutty, and gently structured. The rye brings enough backbone to keep it from becoming too soft, while the blue corn gives it a rounded sweetness that makes the cherry, vanilla, and caramel notes feel very approachable. This is not a loud bourbon. It is not a heavy oak, explosive proof, or a long spicy finish. Instead, it offers a balanced, grain-forward profile with a distinctive twist. The best parts are the aroma, the smooth blue corn sweetness, and the nutty cherry-vanilla flavor profile. The finish is pleasant but shorter than we expected.
Barrel Proof Notes Score
Overall Score: 3.00 / 5
Final Call
Bluegrass Distillery Kentucky Straight Bourbon High Rye Blue Corn is a solid and distinctive pour. The 70% blue corn mash bill gives it character, the rye adds structure, and the 7-year age statement gives it enough maturity to feel complete. This is a bourbon we would enjoy tasting again, especially because the grain profile makes it different from the standard Kentucky bourbon lineup.
It may not be a permanent shelf staple for every bourbon drinker, but if you enjoy bourbons that explore grain character, sweetness, nuttiness, and a softer high-rye structure, this one has a story worth tasting.
Final Call: Worth another pour.
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