Oaklore Story Series: Prohibition Oak Cask Finished Four Grain Bourbon
Double-Oaked Bourbon Finished with Prohibition-Era Oak Staves
48% ABV
$70
Website
We would like to thank Oaklore Distilling Co. for sending us a sample to review.
What the Distillery Says:
A whiskey more than a century in the making. This limited Story Series release begins with Oaklore’s signature Four Grain Bourbon, crafted from a mash bill of corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley. The whiskey is initially matured for more than four years in new charred American white oak barrels before spending an additional two-plus years double-oaking in a second set of new American white oak casks.
To complete the maturation journey, the bourbon undergoes a secondary finishing of six to 12 months with toasted oak staves crafted from timber originally harvested and dry-aged since the Prohibition era. The result is a richly layered bourbon with more than seven years of maturation and a remarkable physical connection to American whiskey history. Double Gold Winner at the 2026 New York World Spirits Competition, bottled non-chill filtered at 96 proof.
Official Tasting Notes:
Nose: Bit-O-Honey™, Fresh Leather
Palate: Brandied Oak, Spiced Marmalade
Finish: Sweet Walnut Bitters
What Gary Says
Nose: Musty oak, graham cracker, caramel, apricot, honey and leather.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with caramel, vanilla, honey, cinnamon, cocoa, nutmeg, oak, apricot, mandarin orange, and walnuts.
Finish: Moderately long, with oak, honey, caramel, and wood spices.
Comments: Nicey done! When you hear about dry-aged timber harvested during Prohibition being used to finish a double-oaked bourbon, it’s easy to wonder if it’s more about marketing romance than what’s actually in the glass. While none of us truly know what those staves tasted like fresh a century ago, the age of the wood doesn’t take away from the intrigue here. At the end of the day, it’s about the whiskey – and it turns out to be a pretty well-executed one. The non-chill filtration comes through in the mouthfeel as well.