Old Route 8 Bourbon
Overall Score: 7.25/10
Overall Value: 2.75/5
Distillery: Augusta Distillery
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Augusta Distillery
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 119.7
Age: 8 Years
Mashbill: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley
Color: Honey
MSRP: $115 (2024)
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose of the Old Road 8-Year Bourbon opens with a rich blend of berries and cream, layered with nuttiness reminiscent of a Snickers bar. Once the initial proof fades, red fruit notes like raspberry emerge, alongside hints of vanilla, cinnamon, and a touch of pancake sweetness.
The mouthfeel on the palate is oily, staying on the juicy side. The sweetness from the nose persists, but the fruitiness is slightly diminished, evolving into flavors of dark caramel, oak, and a unique butterfinger-like taste. There’s also a subtle hint of cola that blends into the mix, though the proof lingers a bit longer than desired, giving the sip a noticeable kick.
The finish brings back the fruitiness, shifting more toward a sweet red fruit underlined by a light woodiness. Dark caramel sweetness carries through, and a touch of peanut pops up alongside strong oak notes that coat your mouth.
Old Route 8 Bourbon delivers a mostly well-rounded experience with rich, bold, darker flavors, though they’re dialed back compared to something like Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. While the price point of $115 MSRP might feel a bit steep, it’s a solid pour if you give it time between sips to appreciate its subtleties.
The proof can be assertive, but for those who enjoy a robust bourbon, it’s worth a try, even if it doesn’t hit every note perfectly.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 7.5/10
Value: 3/5
THE NOSE:
Berries and cream. I also got a bit of nuttiness like a Snickers bar.
It’s a very rich and full-bodied nose.
THE TASTE:
It’s got an oily mouthfeel that remains mostly on the juicy side.
The sweetness from the nose remains, but I do think it loses some of the decadence.
I lose a bit of that fruitiness from the nose and get almost a butterfingers flavor.
THE FINISH:
The fruitiness and the juiciness pleasantly return, bringing back more of a sweet red fruit than the initial berry profile.
It is all underlined with a light woodiness
BUY OR PASS?
It's trying to sing the notes I really like, but it's not hitting all of them perfectly. However, it's a mostly well-rounded experience, the price just hurts it a bit.
The Hunter Says
Score: 7/10
Value: 2.5/5
THE NOSE:
At first, all you get is the proof, but once that fades, I picked up red fruit, like raspberry, along with some vanilla, cinnamon, and a bit of pancake and cardamom.
THE TASTE:
It coats the mouth nicely—there’s a little oiliness, and it comes across as quite sweet.
You get dark caramel and oak, and the proof definitely makes its presence known, lingering longer than I’d like.
There’s also a bit of cola in the mix.
THE FINISH:
The dark sweetness carries through, and maybe a touch of peanut comes in at the end.
Strong oak coats your mouth after a bit.
BUY OR PASS?
This bourbon reminds me of a lower proof Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (ECBP). It has a lot of the bold, darker flavors I enjoy, but they’re a bit dialed back.
It’s a pour you probably won’t go back to very quickly because the flavors seem muted if you don’t give it time between sips.
