Bourbon reviews feature wine and French oak cask finishes

Recent reviews highlight two distinct cask-finished bourbon expressions.

Hinterhaus Distilling has released its Calaveras Cask Finish Bourbon (Batch 23). Produced in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California, this 92-proof bourbon utilizes local wine casks from the surrounding Calaveras County region. The mashbill consists of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. The spirit is noted for delivering ripe red fruit and cherry pie notes while maintaining its core bourbon identity.

Maker's Mark has released a 2023 Cask Strength version of its No. 46 French Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky. This uncut expression is bottled at 55.15% ABV and is finished with ten virgin French oak staves. The profile features deep notes of chocolate, almond, caramel, and baking spices, offering a more intense experience than the standard 94-proof version.