Chattanooga Whiskey Barrel Finishing Series: Tawny Port Cask Finish

A distillery co-founder discussed the switch in branding with me, explaining the old label was for sourced product and the new one marks their own sourcing. We briefly talked about age statements and their importance, as they now offer a Solera line. I ended up buying the limited Port finish bourbon because it seemed scarce. He mentioned there are six different mash bills, identified by numbers on the bottles, and hinted that the Port barrels were quite "wet," ensuring a strong finish. He also pointed out that their own mash bills consistently use more malt, which they seem to be focusing on for the brand, and hinted at future wheated expressions. Initially, the aroma offers the expected sweet purple grape notes, confirming the Port influence. The scent carries the full sweetness of tawny and undertones of darker malt. It's quite pleasing. The initial taste brings malt and tawny sugars. It's sweet, yet complex, with corn sugars and barrel tannins mingling with the dark malt and wine. Towards the end, the dark chocolate malt dominates, but the Welch's grapes persist. This is an unusual and unique expression; a heavily dark malted bourbon with tawny port sugars is not common. The distillery deserves credit for achieving a distinct dark chocolate malt note. If you enjoy that combined with sweet grape juiciness, you'll appreciate this. My sample, after being open for a week, is now near the bottle's shoulder. The details: Mash Bills: B0001, B0005, SB055, BL8025, BL8016 BL7113. Cooperage: 55-gallon, Toasted and Charred Oak. Filtration: Non-chill. Finish: Tawny Port for 6+ months. Age: 3+ years. Batch Size: 6-7 barrels. I dislike that they don't specify the exact mash bill, but I appreciate the abundance of other details, which I complimented the founder on. My assessment is that your enjoyment will depend heavily on your preference for dark malt notes and Port sugars. I find the profile very enjoyable, though it differs from my usual bourbon preferences. If it sounds appealing, the around $50 price is reasonable for such a distinctive, limited edition. Cheers!

Sampled neat. The initial pour presents a vibrant port aroma, bringing a lovely sweet jam on top of everything else. I also appreciate the foundation of this expression. Toasted and charred barrels combined with high malt content create a very peppery, savory character, reminiscent of a grill rub with salt, pepper, and various spices. Numerous fruit notes are present – beyond the port, I detect apples and orange, even some charred pineapple. It's an unusual aroma when considered closely, possessing characteristics more typically associated with scotch than bourbon. Despite only being 95 proof, it offers a pleasant, creamy mouthfeel. Initial flavors include pepper, cinnamon, clove, and brown sugar. The fruit notes emerge mid-palate, and the port influence becomes more prominent. The finish is brief, again featuring pepper and that charred pineapple essence. This is simply a dependable, finished daily drinker. Not many of those are available. When comparing port-finished options, I would prefer this over Angel's Envy or Bowman.

Appearance: deep maple brown. Smell: sweet cocoa; reminds me of a chocolate peppermint scent. Taste: Initially, a tartness like red wine appears, but the flavor develops into smoky chocolate. Many floral notes emerge in the aftertaste. The finish has a strong burn but includes a trace of chocolate again.

Amazing aroma, sweet with a touch of cherry. Smooth on the palate with a bit of dryness. The finish is direct, with a subtle leather note.

This is alright, but I expected more. I reside in Chattanooga and truly wish I enjoyed their products more, but they all strike me as too young and unpolished.

The port wine's tannin notes arrive on the finish. I am really liking this. It's not too much. This could easily become a regular drink.