Cedar Ridge Barrel Proof Bourbon

I’d like to thank the folks at Cedar Ridge and their PR team for providing this sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Small 50ml sample bottle of Cedar Ridge Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 116 proof, on a wooden deck rail with blurred green trees in the background.

If everything has gone according to plan, I am currently spending the evening in my rented RV at a winery in western Washington State—which makes this particular sample of bourbon especially topical for me (or at least future me, as I’m typing this the day before we leave for our road trip, feeling the stress of being almost on vacation).

I’ve been aware of Cedar Ridge and their bourbon for almost as long as they’ve been selling it. I visited back in 2012, reviewed a bottle of their whiskey from that trip in 2013, and then forgot about them for a few years, covering them now and again. In May, I took a “practice” RV trip to Tennessee for a long weekend. (I wanted to see if a trip of two weeks-plus was doable for me in a small RV.) We stayed at campgrounds, hotels, and Harvest Hosts. Harvest Hosts are great. You pay a fee to access their service, and then you can reserve a spot at farms, breweries, wineries, churches, and distilleries where you stay for free. It’s a really cool idea. The only catch is that they ask you to make a purchase while you’re there. Honestly, that’s no hardship for me—on a road trip, a bottle of wine or a meal is something I’d probably buy anyway. This way, I get a place to stay and some wine.

So, back to why this is topical. The first night on that trip, I actually stayed in the Cedar Ridge parking lot for our initial night on the road. We had a nice meal there, drank some wine, had a glass of Cedar Ridge Barrel Proof Bourbon, and headed back to the RV. Honestly, it was a wonderful evening. If you’re an RVer passing through eastern Iowa, I highly recommend checking it out.

So now that we’ve covered my entire history with Cedar Ridge, both the winery and the distillery, let’s get into the bourbon of it all, shall we? According to the PR email I received:

Cedar Ridge Barrel Proof Bourbon – Crafted from 100% Iowa corn and aged in char #3 barrels, this non-chill-filtered bourbon develops its bold character inside non-climate-controlled rickhouses. Exposed to Iowa’s dramatic 100-degree annual temperature swings, the whiskey takes on a flavor profile impossible to replicate elsewhere. As the first licensed distillery in Iowa since Prohibition, Cedar Ridge has become a nationally recognized leader in craft spirits, winning awards such as Best American Craft Whiskey at the New York World Spirits Competition. The result is an authentic grain-to-glass bourbon that celebrates the best of Iowa farming, family tradition, and craftsmanship.

So let’s see how I liked it when I wasn’t at the distillery. (It is different—ambiance really does elevate how much you enjoy things. This is why I tend to do my tastings in a cement room with blinking fluorescent lights, just to strip out any positive ambiance. Kidding, obviously.)

Cedar Ridge Barrel Proof Bourbon

Purchase Info: This sample was provided to me at no cost for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $48.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.27

Details: Aged in #3 char white oak barrels. 58% ABV.

Nose: Cherry, vanilla, dried grain, nutmeg, brown sugar, caramel, and oak.

Mouth: Hot and spicy with a thick, syrupy mouthfeel. Notes of cherry, dried grain, caramel, cinnamon candies, and oak.

Finish: Long and hot with lingering notes of dried grain, caramel, and baking spice.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn neutral face that denotes that while this isn’t for me, there is nothing wrong with the product. It just doesn’t align with my palate.

Thoughts: This is a well-crafted, grain-forward bourbon. Unfortunately for me, while I appreciate grain-forward bourbons, I don’t particularly like them. So I’m neutral on this one, but think a lot of folks will love it. I’d pour this now and then, but the bottle would last multiple years in my house.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy.

Whiskey Jypsi Tribute Double Barreled Bourbon

I’d like to thank the folks at Whiskey Jypsi and their PR team for providing this sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Small sample bottle of Whiskey Jypsi Tribute Double Barreled Bourbon, with a bright yellow label, on a wooden deck rail and greenery blurred in the background.

My friends, I am going on vacation. And you can’t imagine how excited I am to get two weeks with just my wife and myself—no guest dogs, no clients, nothing. Just the RV and the open road. Oh, and a football game. My beloved Golden Gophers are playing at Cal on our wedding anniversary, so I had to get us tickets since we’ll be in the right part of the state for at least part of the trip.

And yes, my wife is a fan as well. I’ve been married a long time and have already learned the lesson of not dragging her to something she wouldn’t enjoy on our anniversary. Just in case anyone was worried for my safety.

Whiskey Jypsi is a… you know what? I’m writing the next three weeks of these posts tonight. Let’s let the PR people handle the description on this one. Why let their hard work go to waste?

Whiskey Jypsi Tribute Double Barreled Bourbon - Born from the collaboration between country music icon Eric Church and entrepreneur Raj Alva, Tribute Whiskey reflects the spirit of adventure and freedom at the heart of the “JYPSI Spirit”, the idea that we’re all born beautifully wild. Designed with creativity and quality in mind, Tribute Double Barreled Bourbon is crafted from rare, heirloom grains, including reclaimed Cherokee White Corn from small family farms. Distilled under the guidance of master distiller Ari Sussman, it’s aged a minimum of four years in new charred American oak, then re-barreled for 3–6 months to extract maximum flavor. Bottled at 86-proof, the result is a smooth, complex bourbon with rich vanilla and caramel notes, perfect for sipping neat, on the rocks, or in a late-summer cocktail.

So there you go. That’s what I know about this one. I’m not usually a fan of “vanity brands” in the whiskey world. Sometimes they’re good, but most of the time they leave a lot to be desired. Let’s see if this one is just branding or if it actually tastes good.

Whiskey Jypsi Tribute Double Barreled Bourbon

Purchase Info: This sample was provided to me at no cost for review purposes. The Suggested Retail Price is $44.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.00

Details: 4-years-old. 43% ABV.

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, nutmeg, and oak.

Mouth: Spicy with notes of almond, vanilla, caramel, baking spice, and oak.

Finish: Medium in warmth and length. Herbal notes, vanilla, almond, and baking spice linger.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn smiley face which denotes that I like the product.

Thoughts: I found the nose very reminiscent of Evan Williams. The mouth was initially much hotter and spicier than I expected from the nose. Under the heat are fairly stereotypical bourbon notes. The finish adds an herbal note that was unexpected at first but melded into the whole after a few sips. All in all, I like the whiskey.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy.

Coppercraft 9 Year Old Straight Bourbon

I’d like to thanks CraftCo and their PR team for sending me this sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: A bottle of Coppercraft Distillery 9-Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 90.6 proof, from Holland, Michigan, sitting on a wooden railing with a blurred green yard and trees in the background.

When I first published a review of Coppercraft Bourbon back in May of ’24, most of the comments I received told me that if I ever got the chance to grab one of their 9-year-old single barrels, I should do it. Well, I never did see one of those, but I recently was offered a sample of their new 9-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon, which I happily accepted.

Coppercraft Distillery is a craft distillery in Holland, Michigan, a small city on the shores of Lake Michigan. It was founded in 2012 and is slated to reopen in August of 2025. It produces gin, vodka, applejack, rum, canned cocktails, a partially sourced rye, and sourced bourbons. Coppercraft is part of the CraftCo portfolio, which also includes Fox & Oden (reviewed here back in October of last year). CraftCo, in turn, is owned by the DeVos-backed Windquest Group based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. According to an email from their PR team, this bourbon is “Distilled in Indiana,” much like its portfolio mates. The company doesn’t provide much more information than that. However, I don’t know about you, but for me, “Distilled in Indiana” on an unknown bourbon is a plus. If it’s coming from MGP, it will probably fall somewhere between pretty darn good and great.

So what makes this different than any other bourbon sourced from Indiana? To find out, I asked their PR team about the “brandy-inspired” slow proofing of the barrels. They explained that it takes a few weeks to bring the whiskey down to proof, and they do this in the barrel by adding what is known in the cognac world as “petites eaux.” Not knowing what that was (I’m not the Cognac Guy, after all), I did some digging online and found what I believe to be a great definition.

“For an added layer of intrigue, there is something unique that can be used in place of or in combination with water called petites eaux. Petites eaux (“little water” in French) is water that has been placed to “age” in an empty, used Cognac barrel. The water will slowly pull any remaining alcohol out of the barrel staves. According to Nicholas Faith’s book ‘Cognac: The Story of the World’s Greatest Brandy,’ this water solution can get up to around 20% ABV after several months, which shows how much alcohol can potentially still be left inside the barrel staves. Petites eaux is used as a slower method of lowing the proof and, in a way, adding different aromas or flavors.” — CognacReverie.com, accessed July 23, 2025

So basically, it’s adding water to a barrel that previously held bourbon and using it to pull out more whiskey trapped in the wood. Essentially, they’re proofing it down with something akin to an extremely low-proof bourbon. Jim Beam uses a similar process for Devil’s Cut, which, in my opinion, is an improvement over standard Jim Beam White (or at least it was the last time I had either, which was a few years ago).

So, let’s see how it tastes, shall we?

Coppercraft 9 Year Old Straight Bourbon

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent to me by the producer, at no charge, for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $37.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $2.53

Details: 45.3% ABV. 9 years old. Distilled in Indiana (from PR email, not on bottle).

Nose: Nutty, vanilla, almond, green apple, baking spice, and a hint of wintergreen.

Mouth: Mint, green apple, caramel, cinnamon, and almond.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Lingering notes of wintergreen, vanilla, green apple, and almond.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn smiley face which denotes that I like the product.

Thoughts: Total mint bomb—but not in a bad way. If you’re sensitive to mint notes, skip it. However, if you don’t mind mint, this is quite tasty. You might notice that there is one thing I didn’t call out above that I thought I’d notice in there. And that is oak. At nine years old, I expected more of it, but nine years—while a decent length of time to age—isn’t twelve or fifteen, where oak tends to dominate. Overall, I like it. I especially appreciate seeing an age-stated bourbon for under $40.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Woodinville Whiskey: Tequila Barrel Finished Bourbon

This sample was provided by the producer with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Bottle of Woodinville Special Limited Release bourbon finished in tequila barrels, labeled 100 proof, sitting on a wooden deck with a green backyard in the background.

I am an outlier in my family. I do not like tequila. At all. Not in a margarita, not in a cocktail, not in a glass on its own. I’ve tried expensive tequilas and inexpensive ones. It just doesn’t mesh with my palate. So when a bottle of Woodinville Bourbon that had been finished in tequila barrels landed on my doorstep, I was a little concerned about how this review would go. But I persevered and did the tasting anyway. I mean, there’s no way it would be as bad as some of the TerrePure bourbons I used to occasionally review. And I went into this review with an open mind, even though I’ve been known to describe a margarita as “lovely sweetened lime juice ruined by tequila.”

So, what is this bourbon? And where can a person get their hands on a bottle if they adore both tequila and bourbon? Well, I’m going to let the producer tell you a little story about that. They went through all the trouble to write a wonderfully transparent story. It would be a shame to let it go to waste.

“Tequila and Bourbon, together— a pairing Woodinville co-founder and head distiller Brett Carlile could not wrap his mind around. “It’s something I always wanted to try but was afraid to take a stab at. Eventually, curiosity got the best of me. So, I went for it and was blown away by how well Tequila and Bourbon play together,” says Carlile.

 Brett’s experimentation landed on what he and Orlin see as a real winner: Tequila Finish Woodinville Flagship Bourbon. It’s a Bourbon that’s made quite the trek. It started with grains grown in Quincy, WA where the Omlin family has farmed for four generations. Then those grains headed across the Cascade mountains to our distillery in Woodinville, WA, to be distilled in this Western Washington town where nearby wineries and breweries send their wild yeasts into the air— lending a distinct terroir to the whiskey.  That new-make whiskey heads back across the mountain pass, again, where it’s placed in new American Oak barrels built from wood that seasoned in the elements for 18-24 months. 

 Brett tasted that Bourbon, and once it reached nearly 6 years, he deemed it ready for a fun project in the top-secret Warehouse 1. (It’s an original barrelhouse on the farm that’s home to numerous experiments.) Brett sourced some Extra Anejo Tequila barrels, and the team filled those emptied barrels with Woodinville Bourbon. And there it sat. Orlin and Brett revisited it, during the sweltering summers and frigid winters of Central Washington. And, a few months back, they tasted it and knew it was ready to release.”

According to the press release, 2,000 bottles were produced. 500 of them will be available at the distillery on May 3rd starting at 10 a.m. On May 5th, the rest will become available on their website, woodinvillewhiskeyco.com. The price will be $69.99 per 750 mL bottle.

Let’s see how it tastes, shall we?

Woodinville Whiskey: Tequila Barrel Finished Bourbon

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided by the producer for review purposes at no charge. The suggested retail price is $69.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.67

Details: 50% ABV. Aged for over 5 years.

Nose: Green apple, brown sugar, and woodsy notes.

Mouth: Dry and oaky—trending toward, but not reaching, astringency. Notes of agave syrup, baking spice, brown sugar, and vanilla.

Finish: Warm and on the shorter side of medium length. This is where the tequila influence appears strongest to me—notes of agave and cinnamon.

Thoughts: As mentioned above, I've been known to describe a margarita as “lovely sweetened lime juice ruined by tequila.” I do not care for tequila. So I am turning this over to my usually silent, tequila-loving tasting partner and wife so this one gets a fair shake.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn smiley face denotes a “like” rating. In this case it is because of how much my wife liked it.

"I like this. What stands out to me is how well the flavors produced by the yeast that Woodinville uses play with the tequila. I like the woodsy notes on the nose—kind of a cedar, oak, underbrush sort of smell. On the mouth, I like how the bourbon adds richness and baking spice to the product, flavors that tequila typically lacks. If I'm nitpicking, I could wish it was sweeter—not a huge fan of the dryness—but I can get past that. I like it, but am not sure I'd reach for it if I was looking for bourbon. But when I can't decide if I want bourbon or tequila, this will work well."

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

High West Bourye 2025

I’d like to thank High West Distillery and their partners at Lippe Taylor for sending this sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Bottle of High West Bourye whiskey on a wooden deck, featuring a jackalope on the label, with a backyard scene and bare trees in the background.

Hello friends! I hope everyone is having an amazing day today. I’ve been hobbling around on an injured foot after my deck bit me last night. I ended up with a five-inch-long sliver of wood stabbed about an inch into the ball of my foot. I was able to get it out just fine—just a little self-surgery with a sterilized X-Acto blade. It ended up looking like a cut. Not too bad... if it were anywhere but exactly where all my weight lands with every step. But hey! That just means I’m done with yard work for a little while. Not going to complain about that.

Especially when there’s whiskey in my glass.

Tonight’s whiskey is one from High West Distillery out of Park City, Utah. I’ve met some of the folks there a few times and always walk away impressed with their operation. In fact, what I love most about them is their willingness to let the consumer know exactly where the whiskey comes from—even if it wasn’t originally distilled by them.

For example, if you take a look at the press release for this particular bottle of Bourye (a blend of bourbon and rye whiskey), you’ll see the following:

Mashbill:
• Straight Rye Whiskey: 95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP; 80% rye, 20% malted rye from HWD
• Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt from MGP; 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley from MGP; 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley from KY

That’s pretty cool for a whiskey nerd like me. Plus, this particular release is over 10 years old. So, double-digit age and transparency? Yes, please.

The only thing I don’t love is the price. Trying to sell a $125 bottle of whiskey when folks are trying to figure out how to buy their groceries is... certainly a choice. But I wouldn’t doubt that their suppliers charged them an arm and a leg as well. And as a guy who sells things I make to people (see below), I get needing to make money on the things you’ve made.

One thing I did find odd: they specifically called out that this doesn’t do well with ice. And as someone who usually likes his whiskey with a small piece of ice, I can confirm—it doesn’t really take water well. Of course, at only 92 proof, it doesn’t really need it either.

So let’s dig in before I give everything away.

High West Bourye 2025

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $124.99 per bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $8.33

Details: 10 years old. 46% ABV. Mashbill: A blend of whiskeys that include: Straight Rye Whiskey from MGP (95% rye, 5% barley malt), Straight Rye Whiskey from High West (80% rye, 20% malted rye), Straight Bourbon Whiskey from MGP (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt and 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley), and Straight Bourbon Whiskey from and unnamed Kentucky Distillery (78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley).

Nose: Ripe banana and red fruits, sweet vanilla-caramel, and dusty oak.

Mouth: Caramel, vanilla, red fruit, black tea, ginger, and oak.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Lingering notes of floral vanilla, black tea, barrel char, and ginger.

IMAGE: This is a hand-drawn smiley face. It denotes that I like the whiskey.

Thoughts: This is a good whiskey. I’m really enjoying it. There’s very little chance I’ll be purchasing it—not at that price, and not in this economy. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a good product. I dig the spicy and oak notes. I just wish it had a bit more proof. The mouthfeel is a little thinner than I’d like for something that runs over $8 a pour. Overall, I like the whiskey—it’s just that I’d like it a lot more at about half to two-thirds of the price.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Heritage Distilling Co. Service to America Salute™ Whiskey - War Dogs & Battle of Iwo Jima

I’d like to thank Heritage Distilling Company for providing these samples with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Two bottles of Heritage Distilling Co.'s "Service to America Salute" bourbon, featuring Battle of Iwo Jima and War Dogs editions, displayed on a wooden railing outdoors.

Sorry about missing last week. I was having a mental health crisis brought on by homophobic comments left on the site. I don’t allow them to be posted, but I still have to see them. And mean comments are never fun—especially for someone who struggles with mental health on a good day. Even more so these days, when everyone seems angry and determined to “win” every conversation. Just remember, there’s a real person on the other side of the screen. Be kind.

Anyway, you’re not here for a lecture—you’re here to read about bourbon. So let’s get to it.

Tonight’s bourbons come from Heritage Distilling Co. out of Gig Harbor, Washington. They’re veteran co-founded and have built a solid reputation in the craft spirits world, racking up awards for ten straight years from the American Distilling Institute. As one of the biggest craft distilleries on the West Coast, they continue expanding through traditional sales channels and the Tribal Beverage Network—an interesting partnership with Native American tribes to create branded distilleries and tasting rooms. It’s a unique approach that not only grows their business but also supports tribal communities in the process.

These bourbons are part of Heritage Distilling Co.'s Service to America Salute™ line, which pays tribute to those who serve. Each edition honors a different community and raises funds for related charities.

Let’s dig in and see how they taste, shall we?

Heritage Distilling Co. Service to America Salute™ Whiskey - War Dogs

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $95 for a 750 mL bottle. As of writing, it’s available for purchase on the HDC website.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.33

Details: 49.3% ABV. Mashbill: 78% Corn, 12% Rye, 10% Barley. 5 years old. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Nose: Brown sugar, almond, cinnamon, and fresh mint.

Mouth: Cinnamon, oak, almond and mint.

Finish: Warm, sweet, and medium in length, with notes of almond/cherry, mint, and cinnamon.

IMAGE: hand drawn smiley face. It means I like it.

Thoughts: This is pretty tasty. It's just a good, solid bourbon. Sweet on the finish. Warm in the mouth. I like it.

Heritage Distilling Co. Service to America Salute™ Whiskey - Battle of Iwo Jima 80th Anniversary

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $95 for a 750 mL bottle. As of writing, it’s currently sold out on the HDC website, but you can sign up to be notified when available.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.33

Details: 52.5% ABV. Distilled by Heritage Distilling Co.

Nose: Black tea, cinnamon, and citrus.

Mouth: Cinnamon red hots, nougat, and a touch of chocolate.

Finish: Warm and on the longer side of medium. Lingering notes of cinnamon and black tea.

IMAGE: a hand drawn face with a neutral expression. It means it is a perfectly fine whiskey, just not to my tastes.

Thoughts: Very warm—think Cinnamon Red Hots or Atomic Fireball candies. Lots of cinnamon. The note I’m describing as black tea on the nose and finish is the same as the one I call nougat in the mouth. It just presents differently in different areas. Since I’m not a fan of black tea, this gets a neutral rating. And as we all know, a neutral rating doesn’t mean anything is wrong with it—it just isn’t meshing with my palate. A lot of folks will like this one, though. It’s rich and sweet.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Woodinville Bourbon, Port Finish

I’d like to thank Woodinville Whiskey Company for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: A bottle of Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Casks, featuring a detailed label with rustic imagery, set on a wooden railing with a blurred backyard view.

Hi everybody! (Every time I think of those words, I think of Dr. Nick from The Simpsons. “Well, if it isn't my old friend Mr. McGreg, with a leg for an arm and an arm for a leg!” Man, I’m sidetracked already, and I haven’t even really started yet.)

Recently, Woodinville Whiskey made a lot of their products available for purchase on their website, WoodinvilleWhiskeyCo.com. In honor of this news—and let’s be honest, to help get the word out—they sent me a bottle of their Port Finish bourbon. Since this is one of their products I’ve never tasted before, I thought it would be a good use of all of our time to give it a proper review. Especially since you don’t have to go online to buy it—it’s also nationally available at retail.

So, what is it? Well, as the name says, it’s Woodinville bourbon that has been finished in Port casks. Originally launched as a special release in 2017, it was so well received that it became the third full-time member of their lineup. Now, if you’re like me, you want more details than that. Well, never fear—the company is ready to tell us. This bourbon starts with a mash bill of 72% corn, 22% rye, and 7% malted barley. It then spends at least four years in barrels sourced from Independent Stave before spending another six months or so in Port casks, specifically Port casks sourced from Portugal’s Douro Valley.

But enough with all of that—let’s get to the important part. How does it taste?

Woodinville Whiskey Company Bourbon, Port Finish

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent to me at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $44.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.00

Details: 45% ABV. Mash bill: 72% corn, 22% rye, and 7% malted barley. Finished for 6 months in Port casks.

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, red fruit, and fresh-cut oak.

Mouth: Brown sugar, red fruits, nutmeg, clove, and oak.

Finish: Warm and on the longer side of medium length. Notes of brown sugar, red fruit, chewable vitamins, nutmeg, clove, and oak.

IMAGE: I like this whiskey so I gave it a like rating. Those are represented by this hand-drawn smiley face.

Thoughts: This is a very good whiskey. I really like the fruit notes that I assume the Port finish is bringing. The oak notes are more like fresh-cut oak than aged and dried oak. The nutmeg and clove are lovely on the mouth and finish. In fact, the complex finish is the best part of this. I'm really enjoying it.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.