Duck Club High Brass Bourbon Whiskey
The Stats
- Distillery: Duck Club Bourbon Co.
- Location: Kentucky
- Type: Sourced Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys
- Style: High-Rye Kentucky Bourbon
- Proof: 110 Proof
- Age: 5- and 8-Year Bourbons
- Mash Bill: 82% 67/23/10 Bourbon + 18% 75/15/10 Bourbon
- Release: Ongoing
- MSRP: $40
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Some bottles arrive with a lot more baggage than others. Duck Club High Brass Bourbon comes with outdoor lifestyle branding, a celebrity connection, hunting imagery, and enough online debate to make you wonder whether people are talking about the whiskey or the marketing. That made it a perfect candidate for one of our Bottle in a Box reviews.
Scott tasted this one completely blind. No bottle. No proof. No price. No clues beyond the fact that it was made in the United States. The goal was simple: remove the label and see if the whiskey could stand on its own. As it turns out, the whiskey had a few things to say.
The Bourbon Behind the Brand
Duck Club is backed by country music artist Riley Green and leans heavily into an outdoorsman identity. The label features a hunter and a dog in the field, and the branding centers on campfires, duck blinds, fishing trips, and cold-weather adventures.
High Brass is the bolder expression in the lineup, bottled at 110 proof and positioned above the standard 92-proof release.
While sourcing details aren’t fully disclosed, the blend is widely believed to combine Kentucky bourbon from the Clermont area with older bourbon sourced from Bardstown. The result is a high-rye profile that aims to balance sweetness, spice, and approachability.
The question is whether the whiskey lives up to the image.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Corn is the first thing that jumps out of the glass. Not raw grain, but sweet cooked corn, followed by bright citrus notes and a fresh, almost outdoorsy quality. As it opens, toasted peanuts, marshmallow, and a hint of lightly burnt popcorn begin to emerge.
It’s pleasant and approachable, though somewhat restrained. Nothing feels overly rich or heavily aged, but it keeps you coming back for another sniff.
Taste
The palate delivers more than the nose suggests. Sweet corn, caramel, and vanilla arrive first, then shift into baking spices and rye-driven pepper. There’s a gentle warmth throughout that never becomes aggressive despite the proof.
What stood out most during the tasting was the balance. This isn’t a bourbon packed with layers of dark fruit, oak, or heavy barrel influence. Instead, it focuses on a straightforward combination of sweetness and spice that works surprisingly well.
With additional time in the glass, toasted nuts and a slightly creamy texture begin to show themselves, giving the bourbon a little more personality.
Finish
Medium length with lingering rye spice and warming cinnamon. The finish gradually fades rather than building in intensity. A touch of toasted peanut and light earthiness hangs around near the end, but oak remains fairly limited. It’s clean, easy drinking, and consistent with the rest of the experience.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
6.5 / 10 - Above Average
Duck Club High Brass is a good reminder that not every bourbon needs to be complicated.
This isn’t a flavor bomb. It isn’t particularly old. It doesn’t deliver massive oak influence or deep layers of fruit and leather. What it does offer is a balanced, enjoyable combination of sweet corn, caramel, spice, and approachable proof.
In our blind tasting, Scott landed at a 7 while Arthur came in at a 6, giving it a final score of 6.5 out of 10.
At around $40-$45, the value feels fair. The 110 proof provides enough character to keep things interesting, while the overall profile remains easy to enjoy, whether you’re sitting around a fire pit, spending a day at the lake, or simply looking for a dependable pour that doesn’t demand all of your attention.
The marketing may get people to pick up the bottle. The whiskey inside is good enough to make them pour a second glass.
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