Info Shots

• Price: ~$159.99 (2024)
• Spirit: Whiskey
• Proof: 98.6 (49.3% alcohol)
• Noses (smell): Rich Nuttyness, Peanuts and a hint of sweetness with vanilla
• Palate (taste): Sweet, Oaky flavors
• Age Statement: None listed

Distiller information

Background

Blood Oath is one of those word-of-mouth bourbons that I feel if you know bourbon you know who they are, but if you are just getting started it gives you a sort of mystic to the name. In itself it’s a line of bourbons that are specifically called a Pact for each release with each being different than the last. I’m am not going to go into much detail on this one as the only thing I primarily care about is the review as this line of bourbon has let me down 2/3 so far in my time trying it.

Onto the Review

Temperature

Bland. This one is certainly not as lack luster as say Blood Oath Pact 8, but it is unremarkable. The just meh amount of oak that is in this bottle companied by the fact that the mash bill flavors are not particular remarkable for a 150 dollar bottle of bourbon.

The nose is nice and really tricked me into believing that the bourbon would be nice as the nose is one of those good smelling sweet, nuttiness almost hints of sweet corn dust in that mixture. Vanilla is present so I am set up to believe it’s a good bourbon.

And then it’s just sweet oak. That’s it. Nothing else. Just a sweet oak. There isn’t any vanilla, there isn’t anything remarkable. It’s just in and out done with sweet oak. It’s so lack luster I had to double sip to ensure I didn’t sip it wrong.

Overall, that’s what disappoints me as there are no characteristics of the barrels that were used (maybe the sweetness, but come-on why would we double cask it for the hell of it if we wanted just sweet and oak). Point is that for all the effort, time, and money I just expect more when at $150 there are certainly better options in my opinion.

Conclusion

This is the conundrum with Blood oath for me. My first introduction to them was from a bar tender and other bourbon societies speaking praise about this mystical bourbon called Blood oath. The problem was I have experienced so far in this order a BAD Blood Oath (#8) and then gone right to a banger of a bourbon from the series (#9) and now back to a disappointment in the line (#10). The issue is that the consistency of this series makes it undesirable for me to recommend this to anyone coming into this with anticipation of being good. And the hard part is that its so hard to find them, by the time you try it they sell out and you can’t purchase a bottle for yourself.

The Issue for me with this one is that it drinks like a $50 dollar bourbon and doesn’t really stand out like Blood Oath pact 9 and that’s why its rated low here. It’s better than the un-scorable Blood Oath Pact 8, but that’s not saying much as that one was genuinely just disappointing at every turn. This will probably be my last Blood Oath as for the same price for time and time again, Bookers has been killing it at the price category with Little Book and other companies such as Garrison Brothers, Old Elk Infinity blend, or even if you can find it the Woodford master collection. All these brands have wowed me for the flavors and uniqueness that stand each apart and this one just doesn’t make the cut at all (and my scores certainly reflect that).

The flavors for this one were bland given the cask and so much more could have been done given the fact that we had a Cabernet Franc and Merlot Cask finish here. It was certainly a nice smooth bourbon, but for the price; smoothness is not always the best option here. If you like this one, by all mean enjoy it. For me however, I will be passing on my boxes for someone else to enjoy. I hate giving bad scores to anything, but this one for me is just necessary to save others I hope the buyer remorse that I have. All I can say is if you’re really wanting to buy one, have a definite try before you buy.