Peerless Toasted Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
(750mL) - [IWSC 98]

About the Whiskey:

Peerless® Toasted Bourbon is aged in two separate oak barrels.  It is initially aged in their standard, char level 3, barrel. This process develops the desired flavor profiles of caramel, brown sugar, and toffee. The already barrel-aged whiskey is then placed in a toasted barrel to finish. The toasted barrel adds more complexity with honey, vanilla, toasted spices, and chocolate.  The unique aging process allows for an elevated nose and palate.

“We hand-select each barrel for the finishing process. We chose to use a medium toast because it contains less tannins which results in a more aromatic whiskey with warm, sweet, savory character and strong vanilla overtones,” explains Peerless Head Taster John Wadell.

About the Barrels

The Kelvin Cooperage Difference

Kelvin Cooperage strives to obtain the best oak and utilizes the most current machinery while remaining true to time-tested traditional cooperage techniques. Their dedication to maintaining the highest level of quality and service is evident in the care taken at every step of the coopering process.

They’ve opted to use a traditional, non-mechanized process, crafting and charring barrels by hand. Each barrel is treated uniquely. To take it a step further, Kelvin Cooperage has made it a standard practice to perform an extended toast on each barrel to enhance flavor. No fuel is added when charring, leaving the most genuine oak profiles for aging whiskey.

Barrel #1

Toasted Bourbon is aged in our standard char level 3 barrel for 5 years. It takes about 30-35 seconds to achieve the perfect flavor profile with a char level 3. Hemicellulose starts breaking down into wood sugars and the wood caramelizes inside the barrel. This process develops our desired flavor profiles. Think caramel, brown sugar, and toffee.

Barrel #2

The already barrel-aged whiskey is then placed into a toasted barrel to finish. This toasted barrel adds more complexity with honey, vanilla, toasted spices, and chocolate!

109.4 proof

Tasting Notes:

Awards/Reviews:

Best Bourbon, 98 Points - Intl Wine & Spirits Competition 2024

"This outstanding Bourbon opens with captivating aromas of rich oak integrated with vibrant orchard fruit and warm cinnamon. The palate reveals layers of caramel, delicate nuttiness, and a hint of pepper, all enveloped in a creamy embrace. A wonderfully extended finish with complex notes of both grain and barrel."

91 Points - Whisky Advocate

"Soft sweet notes of cream soda, toasted strawberry Pop-Tart, and vanilla frosting lead on the nose. The palate offers a richer experience: Raisinets, Milk Duds, and Nutella mingle with strawberry milk, caramel, cinnamon graham cracker, and a zip of red berry fruit. This whiskey soars on the finish, as chocolate, toffee, a crack of pepper, and candied ginger come together, making for a delicious—if a little hot (water is your friend!)—pour that packs all the sweet heat."

"Hopes were high that the International Wine and Spirits' first-ever Global Judging event of North American whiskey on home soil would unearth some fantastic bottles. Well, it didn’t disappoint. Nine Kentucky straight bourbons won gold medals, and one took home the only outstanding gold award in the entire bourbon category. That bottle is Kentucky Peerless Distilling Toasted Bourbon. It bested bottles from gold medal winners from luminaries like Blanton’s, Four Roses, W.L Weller, Eagle Rare, George T Stagg, 15 Stars, and Blue Run." - Forbes