Walking in Memphis: Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon Review – Born on Beale or Just a Col. Parker Promotion?
Blue Note Bourbon
The Story vs. The Truth
Bourbon is made to be sold. Unless you’ve got unlimited funds and just want to start a distillery for fun (and if you are that person, message me — I’ll happily partner with you), the goal of a whiskey brand is profit. And in the South, we love a good story.
Mark Twain once said, “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” And since we’re talking about a bourbon that supposedly is aged in the sweltering heat of the Mississippi Delta, maybe it’s fate we let Twain kick this rant off.
Enter Blue Note Juke Joint. Yep — the bourbon that won’t leave me alone on my Facebook feed. This juice is everywhere. The branding? You’ve got guitars, you’ve got “Juke Joint,” you’ve got “Blue Note.” You’d have to be from Mars not to get the reference.
They want us to believe this bourbon was poured through B.B. King’s Lucille, aged inside Jerry Lee Lewis’s piano, maybe even sealed with a sprinkle of sweat from one of Elvis’s white jumpsuits. Hell, I half expect Mitch McDeere to be hiding behind the barrels on Mud Island when he was dodging the mafia.
But that’s the marketing. Now let’s talk reality.
Blue Note Juke Joint Distillery & Production
Distilled: Kentucky (likely Green River in Owensboro)
Producer: B.R. Distilling Company, Memphis, TN
Mash Bill: 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley
Age: Typically 3–4 years
Proof: 93 proof
B.R. Distilling calls itself a “distilling company,” but they are really a non-distilling producer (NDP). They buy whiskey, mostly from Kentucky, and then age, finish, and bottle in Memphis.
That famous line about “aged in the hot and humid climate of the Mississippi Delta”? It’s true in part — some barrels sit in Memphis. But it’s not like the whiskey was born and raised there. More likely, it was distilled and matured in Kentucky, then shipped down I-65 to spend a little time in Tennessee before bottling.
And that’s fine — sourcing is part of the bourbon world. But once you peel away the label and the blues-drenched marketing, the question is: does this bourbon carry itself on the palate?
Blue Note Juke Joint Tasting Notes
Nose
I let this glass sit for about ten minutes — at 93 proof that’s plenty of runway. On the nose it’s soft. A little sweetness, nothing offensive, but nothing complex either. Maybe a faint whiff of peanut shells. You can smell the youth on it.
Palate
It starts sweet — light toffee, corn-forward. The website talks about honey drizzle, but I’m not finding that here. What I do get is the high-rye character: nutmeg, clove, maybe a little cinnamon. Then it falls off into a bitter, grainy note that reminds you this whiskey hasn’t had enough birthdays yet.
Finish
Short to medium. Dry oak, peppery spice, and that roasted peanut/corn note linger briefly before fading out.
Is Blue Note Juke Joint Worth a Pour?
So here’s the verdict: if you’re looking for a young, lower-proof, easy sipper, it’s fine. This is what I’d call a typical “dog will hunt” bourbon. Nothing exciting, but nothing bad either. It’s pleasant, it’s young, and it’s acceptable.
Do I think the sweltering Memphis heat transformed it into a soulful masterpiece? No. The Mississippi sun didn’t work a miracle here.
At the end of the day, Blue Note Juke Joint is Kentucky bourbon dressed up in a Memphis blues jacket.
Final Thoughts
Price Point: Around $30–35
Profile: Sweet, nutty, grain-forward, youthful
Best Use: Back-porch sipping, easy cocktails, casual pours
Who It’s For: New bourbon drinkers, fans of Memphis branding, anyone who likes a good story
Who It’s Not For: Drinkers chasing age, depth, or complexity
Blue Note Juke Joint is the kind of bourbon you pour when you want something approachable with a big story to tell alongside it. Just don’t expect Elvis to come singing out of your Glencairn.
