Review #600 - 1943 Glenmore Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Glenmore distillery - it still technically exists, but it no longer operates in the same way that it once did. This brand has a huge amount of history, dating back to 1849, when the distillery was established in Owensboro, Kentucky - back then, it was called the R. Monarch Distillery. It changed hands a few times over the decades, and it also owned some notable brands: they launched both Kentucky Tavern and Old Thompson, and Yellowstone was acquired in 1944.
This distilled stayed open and operated during prohibition, selling whisky under a medicinal license; operations would cease in 1973, however, due to reduced sales and other market conditions. While distillation was halted, the Owensboro location was still used for aging stock and bottling.
Glenmore was sold in 1991 to United Distillers/Guinness, and in 1995, it again changed hands, moving to the Barton Brands. As Barton became a part of the Sazerac family in 2009, the ownership of this brand now sits with them. These days, the distillery site is used for bottling and as a distribution center.
This bottling from 1943 carries a 'Kentucky straight bourbon' label, and it's also adorned with the bottled-in-bond status; there's no age statement, but due to the 4 year requirement for bottled-in-bond spirits, we know that this was distilled in 1939 or earlier.
1943 Glenmore Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
USA - Bourbon
Available Price: USD 1,000 (2025, estimate)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 50% ABV
Details: Bottled 1943
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 30% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Very unique - black licorice, cinnamon red hots, an interesting mix of spicy, medicinal, and candied. There are light herbal notes; licorice candies grows stronger, and we get hints of anise and wormwood.
Palate: The mouthfeel has a medium thickness; wormwood again sticks out, and this is quite herbal and spicy. Licorice candies, cinnamon, and a bit of black pepper; brown sugar adds a subtle sweetness. With time, we get a Benedictine liqueur note; like the nose, it's very unique.
Finish: Medicinal notes and black licorice again dominate the flavors, and soft herbal notes linger. Freshly-laundered linens and a subtle floral note - lavender - are found in the aftertaste; it's a medium length finish.
Final Note: Wow, this is like no other whisky that we've ever tried - not just among bourbons, but in any category. The flavor profile leans very heavily into those licorice, medicinal, and herbal flavors - there's not a lot of the oak, brown sugar, or caramel notes that we often see in modern bourbons. These flavors might turn some people off of the bottle, but it was interesting to taste this to get some perspective on how whisky has changed over the years.
Because it's so unique, it was quite difficult to rate - our rating, and therefore our value score, are essentially token scores, as it's quite difficult to compare this to other bourbons we've tasted. We can't actually find any sort of price or auction history for this specific bottle online, but whiskies this old will always command a huge price, so value isn't going to be great no matter what. That said, we're happy to have tried it - it could be a once in a lifetime bourbon experience.
Our Average Rating: 8.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating (Available Price): 3.20
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other reviews of old/vintage whiskies:
Review #593 - Maker's Mark Limited Edition (Gold Wax, Early 1990s)
Review #587 - Johnnie Walker Red Label (1970s Bottling)
Review #586 - Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch 11
Review #248 - Old Pulteney 12 Year (c. 2000 bottling)
