Review #799 - Augusta Distillery Old Route 8 Single Barrel Bourbon
Augusta distillery started distilling their own spirit in 2024, meaning their whisky could be approaching 2 years old at this point. None of it has been released yet, but the brand has already been bottling whiskies for years - they've sourced distillate from a number of other distilleries (Heaven Hill, Barton 1792, BuffTurkey, and more) as they get the own operation up and running.
While the Buckner's line gets a bit more fanfare due to the high age statements and price tags, Augusta also produces this 'Old Route 8' line of single barrel bourbons. These carry 8 year age statements, and they're bottled at barrel proof; while the source distillery isn't disclosed, we do know that it's located in the Bardstown, Kentucky area.
The specific single barrel we're looking at carries a hefty strength of 65.85% ABV (131.7 proof), and the price is a not insignificant $115.
Augusta Distillery Old Route 8 Single Barrel Bourbon
USA - Bourbon
Price: USD 115 (2026)
Age Statement: 8 Years
Strength: 65.85% ABV
Details: Not chill filtered; barrel #25
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 11 months; bottles at 50%, 80%, and 70% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Rich brown sugar, a bit punchy with some ethanol notes, and then we get strong barbecued oak and fresh leather. Hard mint candies are accented by subtle mineral notes; there's just a hint of sweet cherry in the background. It's a rich nose, quite potent, but a bit simple.
Palate: Very hot and spicy - strong drying oak, charred wood, decently tannic. Warming spirit notes mesh with earthy and mineral flavors, as well as oranges, soft caramel, and spearmint. Maple wood and linen notes are accents; this has a thick mouthfeel.
Finish: The finish is medium-long, and it's still quite warm. Cinnamon red hot candies, spiced caramel, and earthy notes are complemented by orange seeds, leather, and wood smoke, and we get strong tannins in the aftertaste.
Final Note: Quite a spicy, raw bourbon - it doesn't taste young, but it's still quite brash. Strong oak notes lead the way on the palate and the finish, and it is a bit dry and tannic overall; we did enjoy the subtle sweetness from the mint candies and hints of fruit on the nose, though. Pretty good bourbon, but you have to enjoy spicy, high-proof pours if you're going to like this one.
Value is a little below average; most bottles coming out of Augusta distillery, whether they're part of the Old Route 8 series or the Buckner's line, are released at a premium price point. We think $115 is a bit too much for this bottle - $80 or so feels a bit more fair to us.
Our Rating: 6.9 / 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: 5.62
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 Augusta reviews:
Review #769 - Buckner's 15 Year Single Barrel - The Prime Barrel Pick
