J. W. Dant Bottled IN Bond Bourbon
The Stats
- Distillery: Heaven Hill (Bernheim Distillery, DSP-KY-1)
- Location: Louisville, KY (distilled) / Bardstown, KY (bottled, DSP-KY-31)
- Type: Straight Bourbon (Bottled-In-Bond)
- Age: NAS (Bottled-In-Bond mandates ≥ 4 years)
- Proof: 100 proof (50 % ABV)
- Mash Bill: 78 % corn, 10 % rye, 12 % malted barley
- Release: Ongoing release
- Price: $20
J.W. Dant traces its origins back to 1836, when Joseph Washington Dant used a hollowed-out poplar log to craft his first still, a symbol of frontier grit and DIY spirit. He grew, milled, and distilled his own grain, then floated his whiskey down the Mississippi to New Orleans by raft. Fast-forward through expansions, Prohibition, multiple ownership changes, and the Schenley era to 1993, when Heaven Hill quietly scooped up the brand and gave it new life. Today, J.W. Dant Bottled-In-Bond is distilled at Heaven Hill’s Bernheim facility (DSP-KY-1) in Louisville and bottled in Bardstown (DSP-KY-31), keeping the legacy alive in modern form.
Straightforward Bonded Bourbon—Nothing Fancy, Just Dependable
This bourbon follows Bottled-in-Bond standards to the letter: single distilling season, one distillery, aged a minimum of four years in bonded warehouses, and bottled at 100 proof (50 % ABV).
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Gives you warm caramel, a melted candy bar (think chocolate and nougat), and brown sugar, all riding alongside cedar, vanilla, and orange citrus notes.
Taste
Soft caramel and brown sugar syrup coat your tongue, supported by a gentle rye spice that brings minty, green peppercorn notes. You might notice roasted peanuts, salted buttered popcorn, baking spices (like cinnamon and clove), and a whisper of vanilla or cherry.
Finish
Medium-length oak tannins, white-pepper heat, caramel corn, cornmeal, and vanilla carry through, with a final touch of baking spice and tobacco.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
5.5 / 10 - AVERAGE
J.W. Dant is an average pour that’s dependable, approachable, and a great value at its modest price. It works just as well as a daily sipper as it does in cocktails like Old Fashioneds or Kentucky Mules, and it’s an easy entry point for newcomers who want to experience what bonded bourbon is all about without spending big. That said, if you’re after deeper complexity or a richer, more refined profile, you might find another BiB a better fit.
