2025

Barrell Triple Rum Cask Finish Whiskey

Whiskey Finished in Jamaican, Barbados & St. Lucian Rum Casks

71.12% ABV
$200
Website

We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

The BCS team created this unique blend by selecting a diverse set of whiskeys sourced from both the United States and Canada, with some barrels aged for as long as 25 years. Each of these whiskeys was then meticulously finished in a distinct rum cask originating from one of three Caribbean nations—Jamaica, Barbados, or St. Lucia—imparting unique tropical and molasses-driven characteristics to the spirit. After the individual finishing processes were complete, the team skillfully blended the various components, harmonizing the bold spice of the whiskey with the rich, exotic sweetness of the rum casks to create a complex and layered final expression.

• Distilled in Indiana, Tennessee and Canada
• Finished in Jamaican, Barbados and St. Lucian Rum Casks
• 142.24 proof

FLAVOR NOTES
A multitude of rummy esters swirl about this whiskey. A first whiff may yield geranium, but the second will be all orange zest and the next whiff full of kiwi and strawberry. The palate follows suit but with this whiskey’s corn-rich texture evoking creme anglaise and tahini. Each splash of water added volatilizes more aromas and reveals another fruit, be it banana, pineapple, or pomegranate.

​Neat
Appearance: Pale gold.
Nose: The esters inherited from the Jamaican rum are dense and prickly. At first the aroma is all orange flower water, buttercup and vanilla. There’s a strong waxy side and even a whiff of petrichor. In time, the citrus follows the flowers, and in its place comes pineapple, passionfruit, and strawberry.
Palate: Matcha, rosehip, and clove echo the floral opening of the nose. The flavors of fresh sugarcane and molasses highlight the rum. Hints of slightly burnt popcorn and roasted peanut reveal the spirit’s cereal origin. It grows more tropical the longer it’s held on the tongue, tasting of lychee, kiwi, and honeydew melon.
Finish: Rich pina colada is deftly balanced by limestone, salt, and a splash of mezcal. Contemplation is rewarded with honeysuckle, lime zest, and a bit of lingering peanut butter.
With a few drops of spring water
Cucumber and green banana burst forth with youthful exuberance. The nose is extremely sweet, displaying saltwater taffy, pandan chiffon cake, and maraschino liqueur. There’s also quite a vivid note of butter and some rootbeer adding a welcome herbal complexity before coffee ice cream takes over the finish.

What Gary Says

Nose: Rummy w/ notes of molasses, orange blossom, vanilla, tropical fruit notes of pineapple and kiwi.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, warm with honey, cinnamon, cloves, rosewater, molasses, nutty with a hint of caramel.
Finish: Moderate in length with coconut, pineapple and a bit of molasses.
Comments: The nose on this one is not as hot as you’d expect for a hazmat bottling. The palate is sharp and warm, and improves with some time in the glass. I prefer this dram with a bit of water, which thickens up the mouthfeel nicely and brings out some lovely notes of butterscotch and turtle brownies. The rum influence here is unmistakable, and risks masing the underlying spirit. Water helps bring out more of those whiskey notes of caramel. If you are fan of rum AND whiskey, this is a pretty unique offering and might be right in your wheelhouse, where if you’re a whiskey fan but not crazy about rum – well, this is triple rum cask finished so what you might expect.

Rating: Stands Out

Ōlta Mexican Whisky

40% ABV
$55
Website

We would like to thank Ōlta Whisky for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Denver, CO — Olta Whisky, a pioneering corn-based Mexican whiskey, is now available throughout Colorado and California in fine retail locations including Total Wine and Molly’s Spirits and is preparing for expansion into Texas and Florida retail locations in the coming weeks. The award-winning brand’s 3-year expression is also currently available in a fast growing list of Latin American restaurants nationwide. Olta plans to release 4-year and 7-year expressions in 2026.

Produced and bottled in Michoacán, Mexico, Olta is made from locally-picked ancestral corn and is earning its reputation as a quality spirit, alongside Mexico’s premium tequila and mezcal brands. It won a bronze medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in May 2025.

The 80% corn, 20% malt mixture is double-distilled and aged in American oak barrels for three years in a small mountain village that sits at 7,000 feet of elevation. Olta barrels were originally used in the United States for traditional whiskey, then in Mexico for agave-based spirits like tequila, and now for corn-based Mexican whiskey. This process gives Olta a unique flavor profile unlike any other whiskey on the market. Olta, which means “to inebriate” in the Irish language, has notes of agave, vanilla and spice and slight smokiness.

“Olta was inspired by my daughter’s half-Mexican and half-Irish heritage. I wanted to create a spirit that celebrates the beauty of blending cultures while showcasing the incredible versatility of Mexican ancestral corn. Whiskey became the perfect bridge, a way to honor tradition, innovation, and pride in a single bottle,” said Olta founder and CEO Selene Nestor. “Olta is more than just a spirit; it’s a tribute to heritage, community, and craftsmanship. Every sip carries that story, and I’m proud to say it stands apart as something truly unique in the world of whiskey.”

Nestor, who is based in Colorado, has a long history in the hospitality, food and beverage industries and is co-founder of the Hispanic Restaurant Association. She researched and experimented with corn-based whiskey production for two years before she found the ideal recipe, ancestral corn, barrels, knowledgeable distillers, and climate for aging the product. She employs a team of female farmers and distillers in Michoacán to help her produce Olta.

Olta Whisky is also available online nationwide at https://oltawhisky.com/ and has a suggested retail price of $55.00

What Gary Says

Nose: Grilled corn, vanilla, honey with notes of agave – nearly tequila.
Palate: Sweet with a smokey funky corn note, honey, vanilla and a bit of an earthy note.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with smoked honey.
Comments: This is a very interesting dram to be sure.  The tequila maturation is quite clear – in fact on the nose my brain thought tequila over whiskey but the palate brought it back. I think this is the first Mexican whisky I’ve tried, so I can’t provide comparisons to the category at large but if this is a fair representation than I’m excited about the possibilities! It isn’t trying to be like American corn whiskey or bourbon in terms of profile – a truly unique product that takes the senses on a trip to Mexico in every sip. Hoping that distribution grows so others can experience this for themselves!

Rating: Stands Out