Big Bottom Port Cask Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 2 Years
45.5% ABV/91 Proof
$34.99
Available in stores in Oregon and soon to be Georgia, online in additional states
What the Distillery/Bottler Says:
It needed to be a port cask, but not just from any port – a 10 year old Tawny Port from St. Helena, California. With the maturity of the port cask, it needed something that it could tame and compliment, not complicate. A youthful bourbon would suit it well.
Aged 2 years in charred new white oak barrels, this Straight Bourbon whiskey took a few lessons from the mature port cask and the result – a seamless match on the palate creating a long, pleasurable finish.
Non-chilled filtered and proofed at 91°, this bourbon consists of 60% corn, 4% malted barley and 36% rye. This limited production finished bourbon only comes around once in a while. So savor every pour, since it may be a while before you see it again.
What Richard Says:
Nose: Sweet with a meaty/savory kind of note.
Palate: Dark (like 70% cacao) chocolate and dried fruit. The sweeter port notes come through and make the palate very mellow. That rye spice hide more in the background.
Finish: Smooth with just a bit of rye and oak on the finish. Surprisingly much smoother than the standard 3 year old expression.
Comments: The port finishing actually works pretty well here. This is a noticeable improvement over the 3 year old despite being younger. Still, $35 for two year old whiskey is a hard pill to swallow. The flavor is promising but there are still a number of better values out there for the same, or less money.
Rating: Average
We would like to thank Ted Pappas for providing us with review samples.