Bird Dog Whiskey – Latest Prices and Buying Guide

About Bird Dog Whiskey

Bird Dog Whiskey prides itself as the most award-winning flavored whiskey with a higher-than-typical proof at 80. It pioneered the flavored whiskey category starting with the blackberry flavor in 2010. Today, Bird Dog Whiskey has a variety of 15 award-winning flavors.

It is owned by the Western Spirits after they released a line of flavored whiskeys to selected markets only in 2009. After it gained warm reception from the consumers, it was branded as Bird Dog Whiskey which was launched the year after in 2010.

How is Bird Dog Whiskey Made?

The Bird Dog Whiskey has a simple, straightforward formula:

Real Bourbon + Higher Proof + Delicious Flavors

Their flavored whiskeys have won awards from prestigious spirit award bodies like IMPACT Hot Brand Awards, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, SIP Awards, and World Whiskies Awards — just to mention a few.

Real Bourbon

Just like the Bird Dog whiskey, most bourbons are made in Kentucky. Bourbon must be made in the U.S. and the to-ferment mash must contain at least 51% corn. That’s why compared to other whiskies, bourbons taste sweeter. Kentucky straight bourbons are aged in charred oak barrels for at least 2 years.

Bird Dog’s Kentucky bourbon tastes sweet and smoky, attributing to the corn composition and the charred oak barrels. Its distillery is with Bardstown Bourbon Company in Bardstown, Kentucky since 2017 when Western Spirits forged a partnership with them for the production of their whiskey brands.

Higher Proof

Compared to other flavored whiskeys with a typical alcohol content of 66 to 70 proof, Bird Dog Whiskey has a higher alcohol content at 80 proof (40% ABV).

Delicious Flavors

The unique selling point of Bird Dog are their 15 flavored whiskies, currently speaking. They are the first company to release a blackberry-flavored whiskey in 2010. In 2013, they released the peach and hot cinnamon flavors, followed by the maple flavor in 2014. Today, there are 15 flavors, with salted caramel being the latest. In 2021, the salted caramel-flavored whiskey earned Double Gold in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Gold in SIP Awards.

Where to Buy Bird Dog Whiskey?

Western Spirits produces and distributes Kentucky bourbons, vodka and rum brands throughout the U.S.A and Puerto Rico. For convenience, you can buy Bird Dog Whiskey products through online retail stores like Reserve Bar, Drizly, Caskers, Minibar, Saucey, and SipWhiskey.

If you are frequent shoppers at grocery stores, depending on availability, you can chance upon stocks in supermarket chains like Walmart, Costco, Safeway, and Kroger, among others. Some large pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens also sell distilled spirits.

But you’ll likely be able to find Bird Dog Whiskey in liquor stores such as Total Wine and Bevmo, for example.

Bird Dog Whiskey Prices

Kentucky Bourbon in 15 award-winning variety of flavors that will suit tastes for different seasons. There is a seasonal market for Bird Dog’s flavored whiskies. For example, the peach flavor is in demand during summer, while the cinnamon flavor is in demand during winter.

If flavored whiskies are not your thing, Bird Dog also has straight bourbons that are aged in new, fire-charred, American white oak barrels. The 88 proof bourbon has a characteristic taste of golden raisins, honey, and caramelized sugar. Meanwhile, the 84 proof bourbon has a characteristic taste of spice and honey.

A complex set of whiskies made for shots and cocktails

• Devil Dog — blended flavors of creamy chocolate and spicy cayenne
• Crazy Dog — whiskey with a mix of herbal flavors like licorice and sweet anise
• Mountain Dog — minted whiskey for a refreshing and warm sensation

How Good is Bird Dog Whiskey?

Bird Dog’s flagship line of products is its flavored whiskies. It appeals the most to people that are beginners to the whiskey game. The higher alcohol content of the flavored whiskies gives balance to the bourbon’s sweetness. So it’s neither harsh nor sweet. The flavors are made enticing for whiskey beginners. It’s a great prelude to trying out straight whiskeys.

The black cherry flavor was the first flavored whiskey released by Bird Dog. It also has the most number of awards among all of Bird Dog’s flavored whiskies. Though its taste is quite likened to a medicinal cough drop, it is balanced out by the caramel and vanilla notes with a smooth finish. Other recognized flavors are peanut butter and the latest salted caramel.

However, when it comes to straight bourbons, customers find better value in other brands. Much of the reasons lie with the company background and branding. In the whiskey industry, 10 years in the business places you as a rookie player. Plus, Western Spirit doesn’t have its own distillery — they only source out bourbon from partner Kentucky distillers.

Since Bird Dog’s flavored whiskies are already savory enough, you can drink it neat or with some ice. You can also garnish it with fresh fruits or herbs. For example, you can drink strawberry-flavored Bird Dog whiskey with fresh strawberries.

Or, depending on your taste, you can also mix different flavors of Bird Dog’s portfolio of flavored whiskies. For starters, they recommend mixing 1.5 oz. of peanut butter and 1 oz. of blackberry flavored Bird Dog whiskies.

Then again, you can easily mix it with cocktails because of its sweetness such as:

1) Peanutini

Bird Dog Peanut Butter Flavored Whiskey mixed with Godiva white chocolate liqueur, and Half & Half. Serve in a martini glass rimmed with chocolate syrup.

2) Black Cherry Kentucky Mule

Bird Dog Blackcherry Flavored Whiskey mixed with ginger beer, garnished with lime or maraschino cherry.

3) Orchard Old Fashioned

Using Bird Dog Apple Flavored Whiskey, mix in dashes of bitters, and orange wedge.

More cocktail recipes with Bird Dog Whiskey can be found in their website’s Mixology.

If you’re looking for alternatives to the flavored whiskies of Bird Dog, here are similar-tasting ones:

• Knob Creek Smoked Maple — the only maple-flavored whiskey of its brand. Although they have the same alcohol content with Bird Dog Whiskey, the Knob Creek Smoked Maple is a little less sweeter with a smoky finish of vanilla and caramel.
• Wild Turkey American Honey — has a lower alcohol content of 71 proof (35.5% ABV). So, the honey flavor is bolder in both its aroma and taste. But still, its whiskey has been aged well for 4 years.
• Ram’s Point Peanut Butter Whiskey — a product of the Sazerac company who also onws the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Sazerac is quite vague when it comes to their whiskey-making process. We only know that they use natural flavors and caramel colors.
• Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple — a blend of the sweet and oaky Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 and real green apples to make an apple-flavored whiskey.
• Crown Royal Salted Caramel Flavored Whisky — a Canadian whisky with creamy notes of caramel on the palate and a subtle salty finish that compliments with the Crown Royal Whisky.