Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Bourbon Whiskey, Award-Winning Alcohol-Free Spirit for Cocktails, 700ml Bottle (2-Pack)

I don't drink bourbon or whisky straight, but I love a nice Manhattan or Old Fashioned. Here is what I did with Kentucky 74: 1) Tried it with a splash of water - very smoky and a touch bitter. Not appealing to me. 2) Tried it in both a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned. On first taste, again not too appealing. However, let it sit with the ice for about 10 minutes and it was okay. 3) Did the halfsies thing - 1/2 Kentucky 74 and 1/2 bourbon (I did it with Makers Mark and I also did it with TX Whisky). Did this for both Manhattans and Old Fashioneds. I found that if I waited 5-10 minutes for some ice to melt these were very nice drinks. I'm not sure I would be able to tell the difference between this and a drink without the Kentucky 74. Defiantly a viable drink. Thus, for me, I can have a nice drink with about 1/2 the alcohol, and I like the flavor. (As I write this I think I should try it in a Rob Roy vs. Cutty Sark or a nice smoky Scotch.) My recommendation is that if you try this, sip it when you make the drink, then wait 5-10 minutes to try it again. It might be like a nice Burgundy wine that needs to breathe. Only in this case it needs to sit in the ice for a short time. Full disclosure: My first purchase was one bottle. My second was the 2-bottle box. I will buy again. Also, the company could cut down on the fancy packaging - they used way too much cardboard.

I read the reviews, watched a few YouTube video reviews, and saw what a “mixed bag” this product was for everyone. Still, I wanted to try it. I do not have any issues with alcohol at all. So I am not trying to replace real whiskey. However, I am not feeling like drinking alcohol at the moment. I have tried NA beers, and they are fantastic. As for this product, TEMPER YOUR EXPECTATIONS!! This is NOT whiskey. That said, the nose is very pleasant. I got cinnamon, honey, spice, and vanilla. The palette was identical to the nose. No, I didn’t get the true whiskey mouthfeel or alcohol burn (of course). Still, I did enjoy it. I am not a cocktail guy. So I just had it neat (no ice). I can see how ice might help, but I didn’t need it. Overall, Kentucky 74 Spiced is enjoyable for what it is: a very nice NA alternative to whiskey.

I had to give Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Bourbon Whiskey a try and even bought two bottles, but honestly, I’m not sure I’ll be able to finish one. There’s not much flavor when drinking it neat, and it tastes downright terrible when mixed with Coke Zero, which is my usual go-to mixer. I’m practicing Sober October, but this stuff actually makes me want to drink because it’s so unpleasant. When mixed with Coke, the dominant flavor is a harsh glycerin taste that overwhelms everything else. It’s clear that replicating real bourbon is a tough challenge, and unfortunately, there don’t seem to be any good non-alcoholic alternatives yet.

No long stories, just a simple review here. Not that I’m a whisky connoisseur, compared to another brand I tried, this one has a nice smoke, bourbon flavor. I’d prefer a more spicy cinnamon bite to match spiced whiskey, though overall, the flavor was nice. I was actually pleasantly surprised. I’ll try other brands, though this would make a second go around.

So close to the real thing it's close enough. The moment I popped the cap off I haven't regretted my purchase. The aroma satisfies the part of me I don't allow to drink anymore. I'll order the flavored one next. In my opinion this product is for those who've quit drinking but miss it and can handle something very, very close without falling off the wagon. I drink it neat so far (yeah, it's that good) but have ordered ingredients to make my favorite drink, an Old Fashioned.