The Top Seven Special Barrel-Finished Bourbons 2023

The Top Seven Special Barrel-Finished Bourbons 2023

In the fiercely competitive world of bourbon, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) and the New York World Spirits Competition (NYWSC) stand as premier showcases of excellence. In 2023, these esteemed events witnessed a record-breaking influx of entries in the bourbon category, with over 500 submissions. Reflecting the bourgeoning landscape of craft distilleries, the bourbons showcased a remarkable array of quality and diversity, showcasing innovative approaches to grain selection, maturation environments, and cask finishes. With the number of bourbon producers soaring from a handful in 2009 to approximately 1,000 today, bourbon enthusiasts are spoilt for choice, offering a wealth of superb expressions to elevate any home bar.

15 Stars Sherry Cask Finish Bourbon, 57.5% ABV

The 15 STARS Sherry Cask Finish is a masterful blend of 13 and 10-year-old bourbons hailing from Kentucky and Indiana. These bourbons, after aging, undergo a unique finish in sherry casks, resulting in a bourbon of remarkable richness. The sherry casks contribute robust dark fruit nuances, seamlessly intertwined with the time-honored oak characteristics from the aged bourbons. In a notable achievement, the bourbon was awarded the title of Best Overall Bourbon at the New York World Spirits Competition in September 2023. The tasting experience unveils an intricately layered aroma featuring notes of raisin, dried fig, clove, toffee, creme brulee, and leather. On the palate, the indulgent fusion of fruit cake, plum, bananas foster, sherry, charred oak, and cacao beans creates a sensory delight. The finish is characterized by a burst of dark fruit and oak, followed by enduring notes of dried cherry, raisin, and seasoned oak. Buy now for $179.00.

Doc Swinson’s Exploratory Cask French Toasted Bourbon, 55.4% ABV

Exploring the intricate world of barrel aging, distillers leverage the transformative power of oak to impart nuanced flavors and textures to their spirits. By introducing their creations to new or previously used oak barrels sourced from diverse origins, distillers achieve a delicate equilibrium of minerality alongside robust expressions of sweetness and spice. This artful interplay between wood and spirit yields unique tasting profiles, inviting enthusiasts to savor novel and enticing flavors that transcend tradition. Buy it now!

Fox & Oden, Double Oaked Straight Bourbon, 49.5% ABV

Fox & Oden Double Oaked Bourbon exemplifies the artistry of bourbon craftsmanship. Initially aged in premium, high-rye mash bill bourbon barrels, this whiskey gains complexity over years in charred oak. Yet, its allure deepens with a second maturation in newly charred oak barrels. Here, vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak mingle with spicy, peppery undertones, enriching its flavor profile. At 49.5% Alc./Vol. (99 Proof), its nose evokes cocoa, caramel, and leather, inviting enthusiasts to savor its layered nuances. Buy it now!

Art of the Spirits, Ruby Port Finish - Cask Strength Final Run Straight Bourbon, 56% ABV

Art of the Spirits Cask Strength "Final Run" Straight Whiskey offers a unique journey through its carefully curated maturation process. Aged for 7 years in a 53-gallon new American oak barrel, it then undergoes a finishing period in a 4Square Rum cask, imparting additional depth and complexity. This limited-edition release celebrates the work of renowned artist David Uhl, whose oil painting inspired by the Great Depression-era outlaws Bonnie and Clyde adorns the label. With a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 5% malted barley, this whiskey strikes a harmonious balance between richness and subtlety, resulting in an extraordinary cask strength expression. Buy it now!

Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series - Chateau de Laubade II

The sequel to the esteemed Chateau de Laubade arrives. Its artful blend of bourbon boasts Kentucky’s daring oak and Tennessee’s subtle citrus, dancing elegantly with Armagnac’s flamboyant fire. This unique composition awakens an intoxicating bouquet of baked pear, seasoned with nutmeg, cinnamon, and sage, intertwined with toffee, brown sugar, and almond whispers. Upon tasting, the palate is seduced by vanilla bean, dignified oak, and golden raisin, converging into an opulent finale of elevated flavors. A rendezvous for the discerning palate. Buy it now!

Everwild Seekers Toasted Oak Cask

We've elevated our already exceptional four-year aged high-rye bourbon by giving it a second aging in a hand-crafted, heavy toast, #1 char new American oak barrel made exclusively from Ohio-grown oak. This unique process imparts sweet and complex flavors of toffee, brown butter, and cocoa, complemented by a subtle nuttiness that transitions into a finish rich with oak and baking spices. Buy it now!

Neeley Family Distillery, The Old Jett Brothers, Sauternes Finished Bourbon, 57.2% ABV

This bourbon reflects the heritage of a traditional Kentucky family brand. Crafted from a mash bill featuring wheat and aged for five years, it undergoes a unique finishing touch in Barbados rum barrels for an additional nine months, imparting distinctive flavors and character.