★★★★★
This tea surprised me, it smells like a whiskey barrel when I opened the back. Perfect smokiness black tea.
Blended for slow sipping, this black tea has notes of vanilla, malt, and a hint of smoke from the bourbon barrel.
Customers use these reviews to describe their experience with Kentucky Bourbon, including flavor, aroma, preparation preferences, strength, and how the tea fits into daily routines. Browse the full review history page by page to compare tasting notes, steeping tips, and favorite ways to enjoy this tea.
This tea surprised me, it smells like a whiskey barrel when I opened the back. Perfect smokiness black tea.
Love this for both casual sipping and some lovely mocktails. It really does have the aroma and some aftertaste of a nice bourbon. I have tried both cold and hot steeping it (then chilling) for mocktails (it makes a really lovely base for a non-alcoholic old fashioned); both ways taste good, with only subtle difference. There's richer color with the hot steep, but it turns cloudy if it's left in the fridge for a day or so (safe to drink, but the visual is very noticeable), whereas cold steeping avoids that.
This tea is incredibly unique, but was unfortunately not for me. I learned that smoky flavor is not for me
Phenomenal. Possibly my favorite tea on the site. Velvety, well balanced, bold with a hint of smoke.
THIS THIS THIS! It’s such a subtle yet strong delicious flavor that I can’t have 1000 times a day, must have.
So good! All the vanilla and caramel that I love about bourbon, with an oaky, smoky finish.
A beautifully delivered, very smooth bourbon flavor without the alcohol. Slight sweet taste, very good.
This is a very strongly flavored, complex tea. The caramel and smoky flavors come through with other flavors more subtle. I like this tea on occasion when I want a lot of flavor.
Having lived in Kentucky, I was excited to find a tea with lapsang souchong and whiskey flavor. This is a wonderful sweet, smoky tea with a hint of apple that is perfect for the colder months. You honestly can't go wrong with this tea. The whiskey flavor isn't strong at all, so if boozy flavor profiles aren't your thing, don't worry...I would still recommend giving this tea a try. Just add honey, and you're good to go!
It has a beautiful oaky scent to it and you get the bourbon kick at the end. I wasn't sure I would like this due to the chocolate, but it was very tasty, and just the right pick me up some mornings.
A deliciously sweet, yet smokey tea. The loose tea has a very strong smokey scent, but the flavor, once brewed, is not nearly as strong as the smell, which is alright as I find it a very well balanced tea in flavor. As I sip my cup of this brew, I can't help thinking up all sorts of baked goods this flavor would be very good with.
The smokiness of this tea was a unique experience for me and was the most notable flavor. The aroma did seem very reminiscent of a bourbon and was quite pleasant. I tried it both unsweetened and with a smidge of honey, and I think the honey elevated it a bit and allowed more of the flavor to come through over the smokiness. Perhaps my palette just isn't as refined as others' as far as detecting flavors like apple and caramel; I got a bourbon-esque smoky sweetness that was kind of undercut by the dried red fruits which I wasn't a fan of in this tea. To me the tartness from the fruits just didn't mesh well with the smooth flavor of the tea and kind of detracted from it. I do agree with another reviewer that the tea tastes better when it cools down a bit.
Very smoky, but almost in a bad way. If you think of it as very strong like bourbon, it's okay, but a little difficult to drink.
I was expecting a smoky bourbon but it was kind of dull and left me waiting for one more flavor to hit my tongue. It simply needs something. . . Steeped as noted on package. Will find someone who likes it and give it away.
Another tea I’ve had as part of another Adagio blend. It’s great by itself too!
If you like bourbon, this tea is for you! A perfect way to start the day if you’re Glen Cairn glasses are still dirty from the night before!
Unique flavor and a very good sipping tea. I’m anxious for other family members to try it when they visit over the holidays.
When I bought this originally, it was off an ad found on Reddit. As someone who no longer drinks alcohol, but misses the flavors of specifically whiskey and bourbon, I was very excited for this tea. Unfortunately, it doesn't really taste like Kentucky Bourbon to me at all. That said, the unexpectedly strong notes of chocolate make this an excellent breakfast tea. I love drinking a cup with pancakes!
Not one of my favorites but still very good and interesting. Much more of a dark fruity note than I was expecting.
I did not care for this tea at all. It was a muddle of various flavors and had a bit of a bitter aftertaste.
A very good deep cup! It has a little too much vanilla taste to make a good iced tea. But it is a good deep cup of hot tea
The description is dead on, as a person who is quite a bourbon drinker, this hits all of those flavor notes that you'd come to expect. The oak is prevalent along with quite a bit of spice. A great tea for a toddy.
I originally got this as a sample and fell in love! It's amazing how much it tastes like bourbon, slightly smoky, and smooth!
I like drinking this one at work so I can tell people 'Kentucky Bourbon' when they ask what I am drinking :) While not as...bourbony as actual bourbon, the flavor is certainly reminiscent of that spirited beverage.
This tea is not going to be to everyone's taste. The use of lapsang souchong to get the smokey note in there, along with the bourbon flavoring, is bold. Apple notes are a muted background sort of flavor, but the tea itself is a standout. This makes a strong, flavorful cup that will politely kick your rear and make the day brighter. It's a bit bitter and a hint sharp, but takes sugar well for a hint more sweetness that opens up that cacao flavor more.
I love the Smokiness to this tea. Very enjoyable. Lovely deep golden color. This tea is good chilled with citrus. Not bitter. Delicious with or without sweetener.
This tea tastes and smells smoky! I added some sugar and creamer and that made it taste a little better.
I'm usually opposed to any with Lapsang, but the smoky flavor compliments this tea and isn't too overwhelming.
This a NovelTEA mocktail. Lapsang ruined it for me. Maybe I have a sweet palate. If you like Smoky tasting things this is your tea. Another one I couldn't finish sacrificed to compost pile. I only sampled this Tea as part of the CommuniTEA September 2020 box.
2024 update: Lapsang Souchong smells & tastes like rubber tires, like a mechanics garage. This is me personally. No thanks I'll be drinking coffee or Peach Bellini today.
The sweet caramel didn't sit right with me, but I do get an overall sense of bourbon.
On re-try: Still not a cup I'd want to drink more than one of, but I admire it for its ability to replicate a bourbon taste.
Communitea 6/14/24: As I don't personally drink alcohol I can't speak for how accurate this is to bourbon, but I can say that it's a pleasant tea regardless! I can see why it would be divisive, though- it reminds me a lot of something like a fancy rootbeer or birch beer soda, with a woodiness to it. I had mine warm with a bit of sugar. While the smokiness from the Lapsang Souchong was present, I found that it didn't overwhelm me at all. Overall I think this is a nice tea and I will enjoy the sample packs I got in my recent free box as well!
Amazing. It really tastes like bourbon! This a perfect warm, sultry indulgence for early evenings when I’m avoiding drinking - plus I still get a little caffeine boost to carry me through to bedtime. I’ve tried this a couple times with CommuniTea and also purchased the mocktails set, of which this is my favorite blend.
Very flavorful. I tend to stick to herbal teas because I just drink coffee for large amounts of caffeine, but this is one I will probably buy again.
This is a really lovely rich tea with a full body. The bourbon flavor is really nice considering it's a non alcoholic tea.
Tried several bourbon-theme teas over the years, this is the only one that actually evokes flavor associated with good bourbon, and the only one I am buying again. Not particularly strong flavor, but distinct and pleasant.
When I first tried it, I was not entirely sold on the flavors. I think it really does taste like bourbon, which is not my favorite drink. However after half a cup, I find myself quite enjoying it. I may not purchase it regularly, but I will enjoy the sample bag I have.
Real bourbon flavor! I like to sweeten with a teaspoon of honey.
What great complex blend. I loved the smokey black tea with hint of chocolate, the nice whiskey flavor and the sweet candy apple and vanilla. Another blend that is now one of my favorites.
Amazingly smooth and a good alternative to the real thing (think - while working). Gives a nice buzz, too, but one that doesn't intoxicate. Very flavorful and I'll continue to enjoy this again and again.
I seeped this for a few minutes in hot water inside a tea pot, before pouring over ice in a cup. It's an odd taste, whisky adjacent? Or, as my father said, whom I had try 'It's like they dumped in in an oak barrel for ten minutes and called it good.'
Loved this! This a beautiful blend. Taste like you aged your black tea in a bourbon barrel. But perfectly balanced and not overwhelming. I add a small bit of honey.
I didn’t care too much for this one. The bourbon and tea combo seemed odd to me. It smelled good but I didn’t care for the taste.
Hard to describe but a new favorite! It is smoky and sweet without being overly so, it doesn't actually taste anything like bourbon to me but evokes a similar ~vibe~. The first steep is the best, resteeps 1-2 times ok but progressively weaker taste and not in a great way.
212 degrees for 5 minutes. WOW. This really is the taste of bourbon. Honestly, I was surprised at how similar it was to the real thing. This isn't one I would reach for on a regular basis, but I'd drink it as a special treat.
The flavor of this tea is amazing! I added a touch of honey to bring out the sweetness and chef's kiss! I enjoyed both hot and iced. Yum!
Very nice flavor with a bit of reminisce of Bourbon. I no longer drink bourbon due to health issues, but I do get a taste with this tea.
Really loved the little bit of smoke and sweet in this tea. Was a great change-up for a morning cuppa.
I thought I would love this since I’m a fan of bourbon. It really just tastes like I’m drinking smoked wood chips. I won’t order this one again.
4/5 Kentucky Bourbon: Rich and warming, with subtle notes of bourbon that add depth. A unique twist on traditional tea, perfect for cozy evenings
Gifted this to a co-worker. She said it is a nice mid-morning tea and the notes of bourbon seems to warm the body on cold days. She doesn't even like bourbon.