Peerless Bourbon is one of the treasures of the Camp West back bar, the kind of pour we point West Seattle guests toward when they want to taste real craft distilling. Made by Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. in downtown Louisville, this is a barrel-proof, non-chill-filtered bourbon made the hard way, and it rewards anyone who takes the time to sit with it. For a cabin bar that respects a well-made whiskey, Peerless is exactly the sort of bottle we are proud to keep on the shelf.
About the Distillery
Kentucky Peerless traces its origins to 1889, when Henry Kraver built the original distillery in Henderson, Kentucky. The brand was revived in 2015 by fourth-generation descendant Corky Taylor and his son Carson Taylor, who reclaimed the original federal permit number, DSP-KY-50, and built a new grain-to-bottle facility in Louisville’s Bourbon District. Everything is distilled in house, never sourced.
Style & Mash Bill
This is a Kentucky straight bourbon made with an uncommon set of choices. Peerless uses a sweet mash process, fermenting each batch independently with fresh yeast rather than the sour mash backset most distilleries rely on. It enters the barrel at a low proof, is small-batched, and is bottled at barrel proof with no water added and never chill-filtered, so nothing is stripped from the spirit.
Tasting Notes
Barrel-proof Peerless bourbon is rich and full, leading with caramel and vanilla over toasted oak. Layers of baking spice, dark fruit, and a creamy, weighty texture follow, with the kind of long finish that comes from a non-chill-filtered, full-strength pour. It is bold but remarkably balanced.
How to Enjoy It at Camp West
A pour of Peerless Bourbon is $22. Because it is bottled at barrel proof, we recommend tasting it neat first, then adding a few drops of water or a single rock to open it up at your own pace. It is a sipping bourbon at heart, best enjoyed slowly. Your bartender can pour a splash of water alongside if you would like to explore it.
FAQ
What does “barrel proof” mean? The bourbon is bottled at the strength it comes out of the barrel, with no water added to dilute it.
Why is Peerless sweet mash? Peerless ferments each batch with fresh yeast and no acidic backset, a less common method that lets every batch ferment independently.
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