Blood Oath is John Rempe's annual experiment, and the rules of the series are what make it worth chasing: every Pact is a one time blend, released once, and never made again. The label says so directly. Pact No. 9, the 2023 release, is built from three Kentucky straight bourbons distilled to the same ryed mashbill of 78 percent corn, 10 percent rye and 12 percent malted barley, then aged very differently and married together. The first is an oaky sixteen year old, the oldest whiskey Rempe has put into a Pact to that point, carrying brown sugar and a spicy anise edge. The second is a luscious twelve year old that brings leather and vanilla on the nose and fresh honey and caramel on the palate. The third is a seven year old, and it is the only one of the three given a secondary maturation, finished in Oloroso sherry casks sourced from the Sherry Triangle in southwest Spain. That distinction matters more than it sounds. Finishing an entire blend in sherry risks burying the bourbon under fortified wine sweetness, but running only one component through the casks lets the sherry contribute dark fruit, molasses, chocolate and a tobacco note without taking over, while the two extra aged bourbons hold the structure. The result is deep dark amber with long legs, and it drinks with real fruit and baking spice depth rather than reading as a sherry bomb. Bottled at 49.3 percent alcohol by volume, the 98.6 proof every Pact shares, a reference to body temperature. Total production was 51,000 bottles, of which 1,400 were held back for a future Trilogy Pack. Each Pact carries its own label colour; Pact 9 is crimson.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
49.3% |
| Proof |
98.6 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
| Producer |
Lux Row Distillers, Bardstown, Kentucky |
| Master Distiller |
John Rempe |
| Category |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Expression |
Blood Oath Pact No. 9 |
| Release Year |
2023 (MMXXIII) |
| Age |
Blend of 16 year, 12 year and 7 year bourbons |
| Mashbill |
78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Finish |
Oloroso sherry casks, Sherry Triangle, southwest Spain, applied to the 7 year component only |
| Release Size |
51,000 bottles, 1,400 held for a future Trilogy Pack |
| Label Colour |
Crimson |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep dark amber with long legs.
Nose: Sweet sherry leads, with ripe and dark fruit, brown sugar, maple and a peppery edge, plus leather and vanilla from the twelve year old.
Palate: Dark fruit, molasses and chocolate over honey and caramel, with figs, brown sugar and a clear tobacco note through the middle.
Finish: Long, with pronounced pepper and baking spice against lingering dark fruit and oak.
FAQ
Q: Will Pact No. 9 be made again?
A: No. Every Blood Oath Pact is a one time blend released once and never repeated. The label states it directly.
Q: Is the whole blend finished in sherry?
A: No. Only the seven year old component is finished in Oloroso sherry casks. The sixteen and twelve year old bourbons are unfinished, which keeps the sherry from dominating.
Q: Why 98.6 proof?
A: Every Blood Oath Pact is bottled at 98.6 proof, a reference to human body temperature. It is consistent across the entire series.
Q: How limited is it?
A: Total production was 51,000 bottles, with 1,400 held back for a future Trilogy Pack release.
Q: How is it different from other Pacts?
A: Each Pact uses a different blend and a different finishing cask. Previous releases have used Calvados, Sauternes, Cognac, Caribbean rum, toasted barrels, Cabernet Sauvignon and port. Pact 9 is the Oloroso sherry release.
Q: Where can I buy Blood Oath Pact No. 9 online?
A: Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
