Rowan's Creek Bourbon Review

Rowan’s Creek is a small batch bourbon from the Willett Distillery that remains rather drinkable despite the recent reduction in mystique regarding its aging process.

Written by CraftJack | Updated 05/25/23 | 3 min read

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John Rowan’s creek might be winding, but this Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey that’s sold by the Willett Family is anything but. A dram or two on a cold autumn night after a long day of running chores is how we prefer to enjoy it.

We tried Batch QBC No. 22-44.

Rowan’s Creek Bourbon Review

Aged in charred oak barrels and breaking the three digit proof mark, Rowan’s Creek hits the notes of the song your tastebuds want to hear, even if it has to bend up into them slightly. A 101 proof bourbon, Rowan’s conveys hints of brown sugar and oak, along with maybe just a whiff of fruit when enjoyed neat.

But we’ll get into that as we move through the whiskey review.

Another thing to note is that Rowan’s Creek won a Gold Medal in 2005 and 2011 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. However, the brand and the whiskey have changed a bit since those glory days.

Tasting Notes

• Nose. It’s as if you could bundle the whole experience of camping in an aroma. Dash of smoke, drop of morning dew, dollop of earth.
• Palate. Pinch of citrus set against some light toffee and a speck of spice.
• Finish. Middle of the road. Nothing that stands out, in a good way. That’s the mouth feel.

Alternatives to Rowan’s Creek

While Knob Creek and Maker’s Mark are common alternatives to any straight bourbon, we prefer to try our best to give options that are either from the same distillery, at a similar price point or ABV, or, align well with the mash bill (or other defining feature).

• Bulleit. Sweet oak and light toffee keep it in a similar realm, just with a reduction in in ABV and price. Bulleit tends to hit the cash register around $10 less than Rowan’s Creek.
• Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon. A whiskey blend that is smooth and approachable, with notes of caramel and vanilla. The price, like Bulleit, tends to come in between $5-10 less than Rowan’s. One would think that based on the name alone, there would be some floral notes, but we’re going with the lightest hint of leather.
• Noah’s Mill. The Willett Family produces Noah’s Mill, a 114.3 proof whiskey.

Rowan’s Creek Bourbon FAQs

Which distillery makes Rowan’s Creek?

The Willett Distillery produces and sells Rowan’s Creek. It is located at 1869 Loretto Road in Bardstown, Kentucky. Bardstown is oft-referred to as being the Bourbon Capital of the World. So one should feel in good hands when purchasing from Bardstown distillers.

Other Whiskeys from Willett Distillery

It’s true, the Willett Distillery isn’t as big as Beam Suntory or Buffalo Trace, but they still have a variety of aged spirits and old bourbon options to choose from, despite the 12 year age statement that was removed from Rowan’s Creek.

According to TheBourbonCulture.com, “Willett has said that modern version of their Pot Still bottle contain the wheated recipe while Johnny Drum uses the incredibly high-rye 52/38/10 version. Having had modern Noah’s Mill, I can only assume that Rowan’s Creek uses one of the two “high-corn” ryed mash bills although to be honest, all of their modern bourbon recipes taste high-rye to me.”

That’s intriguing to consider, especially given the Willett Family of Whiskeys below.

• Johnny Drum Black Label - 43% alc./vol. (86 proof)
• Johnny Drum Private Stock - 50.5% alc./vol. (101 proof)
• Kentucky Vintage - 45% alc./vol. (90 proof)
• Old Bardstown 90 Proof - 45% alc./vol. (90 proof)
• Old Bardstown Bottled In Bond - 50% alc./vol. (100 proof)
• Old Bardstown Estate Bottled - 50.5% alc./vol. (101 proof)
• Noah’s Mill - 57.15% alc./vol. (114.3 proof)
• Willett Family Estate Bottled Rye Whiskey (single barrel bourbon) - cask strength (alc./vol. varies)
• Willett Pot Still Reserve - 47% alc./vol. (94 proof)

How much does a bottle of Rowan’s Creek cost?

A 750ml bottle of Rowan’s Creek costs $45.99, according to TotalWine.com. Drizly has it listed comparably at $49.99.

What is the proof of Rowan’s Creek?

Rowan’s Creek is 100.1 proof. 100.1 proof is considered 50.05% alcohol by volume.

What is the age of Rowan’s Creek?

There used to be a 12 year old statement on the bottle. However, that has been removed and it is now considered NAS.

What cocktails could I make with Rowan’s Creek?

Rowan’s Creek is a decent whiskey, so we aren’t using it to mix with Coke and move on. Come to think of it, show us a college kid who could afford small batch bourbon. We’ll wait.

Anyway, here are a few classy cocktails to make with Rowan’s Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. If you’re interested, check out all of our recipes.

• Brown Derby
• Old Fashioned
• Whiskey Mule

Wrapping Up

That’s most of what you need to know about the whiskey, Kentucky Bourbon distillers (KBD), and how the bottler got it from their factory to your cupboard.