Bond & Lillard is a name that carries serious weight in American whiskey history. This was one of the original Kentucky straight bourbon brands, and seeing it revived — bottled as a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey at 50% ABV — got my attention immediately. Batch No.1 signals intent: this isn't a quiet relaunch, it's a statement piece, and at £89.95 it's priced to compete with the growing crowd of premium NAS bourbons jostling for shelf space.
What I like about this release is the confidence of that 50% ABV. Bottled at 100 proof, it sits right in the sweet spot for bourbon — enough strength to carry flavour without becoming a chest-thumper. As a bartender, I've always found that 100-proof bourbons are the most versatile spirits on the back bar. They hold their own neat, they stand up to ice without falling apart, and they make genuinely excellent cocktails. Bond & Lillard clearly knows where this bottle belongs.
Being NAS, we don't get an age statement, which is increasingly common in bourbon at this price point. That's not necessarily a drawback. Some of the best bourbons I've poured over the years have been NAS releases where the blender had the freedom to pull barrels based on flavour rather than a number on a calendar. What matters is what's in the glass, and Batch No.1 suggests a carefully assembled blend — the kind of thing where someone has sat down and made deliberate choices about which barrels to marry together.
Tasting Notes
I'll be upfront: I'm going to hold off on detailed tasting notes until I've had more time with this bottle across multiple sessions. First impressions are promising, but a bourbon like this deserves proper attention rather than rushed descriptors. What I can say is that the 100-proof backbone gives it real presence — this is not a thin or timid whiskey by any measure.
The Verdict
Bond & Lillard Batch No.1 is a solid entry in the premium bourbon category. At £89.95, you're paying partly for the heritage of the name and partly for a well-constructed, full-strength bourbon that feels like it was made by people who understand what good Kentucky whiskey should be. A 7.9 out of 10 feels right here — this is a genuinely enjoyable bourbon that I'd happily keep on my shelf, and I suspect subsequent batches will only get more interesting as the programme matures. It loses half a point for the lack of transparency on sourcing and age, which at this price I think drinkers deserve to know. But on pure drinking quality, Bond & Lillard delivers.
Best Served
This is a natural Old Fashioned bourbon. At 100 proof, it won't get lost behind the sugar and bitters — instead it'll push through with character. Build it properly: a barspoon of rich demerara syrup, two dashes of Angostura, stir over a large ice cube for about 30 seconds, and express an orange peel over the top. If you prefer it neat, give it five minutes in the glass before your first sip. That extra air opens up bourbons at this strength beautifully.
