Broken Barrel California Oak
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Broken Barrel Staves
44% ABV
$35
Website
We would like to thank Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.
What the Producer Says
TWO WORLDS COLLIDE
Born in Northern California, raised in Southern California, our founder Seth has California running through his blood. Enamored with Kentucky, and loyal to home, he combined his two favorite states into one award-winning bottle of whiskey. Distilled in Owensboro Kentucky – this Straight Bourbon whiskey is finished with 80% Central Coast Cabernet barrel staves, and 20% French Oak staves. The charred virgin French oak gives a common character found in the wine, while also rounding the sweet dark fruit flavors bleeding from the freshly dumped wine barrels. The marshmallow forward, cherry center, and oak-heavy finish lingers, while remaining balanced and approachable. As our Founder says:
“California Oak was created as a bourbon that could seamlessly bring the wine drinker into the world of whiskey. This is a step into our world and a every day sipping whiskey made to be drank neat, and often.”
Mash Bill:
70% Corn
21% Rye
9% Malted Barley
Oak Bill™
20% French Oak Staves
80% Central Coast Cabernet Wine Barrel Staves
Broken Barrel California Oak Bourbon was awarded the Gold Medal in 2020 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for finished bourbon.
Batch 001 | Launched March 2020
What Gary Says
Nose: Soft oak, red wine cask, corn bread, dark fruit notes with subtle cherry.
Palate: Sweet with vanilla, light caramel, nutmeg, subtle baking spices with red wine notes.
Finish: Short to moderate in length, damp with spice notes and tannic oak.
Comments: This tastes like fairly young whiskey to me. That’s distinctly different than what I would call ‘small barrel craft’, as there isn’t anything objectionable, but it also isn’t very exciting. Very easy to drink, and not priced outrageously. When ‘straight bourbon whiskey’ is on a label of a bottle of whiskey without an age statement, that should mean it is 4 years old. I reached out and was informed that this product (and the other bourbons to be reviewed here forthcoming) are registered with the TTB as Distilled Spirits Specialty (DSS), and because it is stave finished versus barrel finished, it is not allowed to have any further age statement beyond “Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey”. If that is how the TTB handles this, put me squarely in the camp of believing they are doing a disservice to consumers, as this only leads to confusion. But I digress – this is younger than 4 years old (2-3 years old, and I’d guess closer to the 2 year mark). As there are more and more bourbons with cask finishes (which this isn’t exactly that, being finished with staves rather than IN various casks), this doesn’t stand out like it might have 5 years ago. The immaturity of the spirit may disappoint whiskey enthusiasts expecting something resembling a four year old bourbon.