As many enthusiasts do, over the last holiday season I received quite a few bottles as gifts. I am often hesitant to open these bottles, as they are typically unknown brands or from distilleries, which I have not enjoyed in the past. Today’s review is of the last bottle that I have yet open from the holiday season and is unfortunately from a distillery that I typically do not enjoy; again, I should have left it on the shelf. From the Barton 1792 Distillery, today’s review is of Thomas S. Moore’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Chardonnay Casks.

Unable to find a website and relatively no information on this bourbon, this excerpt comes from the original Thomas S. Moore Press release: Their signature high rye recipe bourbon is aged for many years in new charred oak barrels before filling other casks that previously matured various wines or spirits from around the world, ranging from Cognac to Cabernet to Port and more. In these fabulous casks, the bourbon aged an additional one to three years. This extended cask-finishing method results in elegant whiskeys, each displaying a distinct flavor profile, reflecting nuances of both the bourbon and the finishing cask.

This bottle is now very available in NoCo, probably for the fact that it is a bit overpriced and in my opinion, a below-average experience. Overall, the nose on this bourbon excited me, but the rest of the experience was a disappointment. Being overpowered by dry and tart oak from the finished casks, and ending in pure mushroom earthiness, I, unfortunately, do not have much more to say about this bottle. Over the past several months I have now shared this bourbon with several people, and surprisingly, most of them did not experience the same finish as I did. So, I would recommend that if you are interested in wine-finished bourbon, you at least try this at a bar before purchasing a bottle. With that said, let’s get our taste on!

• Nose: Fruity White Grape Sweetness! Additional Notes of Vanilla, Dry Barrel Oak, and Butterscotch
• Palate: Dry Tart Oak, Vanilla, Leather, Earthiness, and Buttery
• Finish: Medium to Long and all Earthy Mushrooms!
• 2023 MSRP: $69
• 2023 National Average: $99
• Proof: 97.9
• My Rating: Pour It! (For me, this is great bourbon until the finish hits… I can not get past the earthy mushroom finish on my palate!)

Please remember, drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman