Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon Cabernet Sauvignon Finish

Posted this previously under the French Oak Finish, so here it is again. The DC French Oak was one of the year's great surprises for me. Remarkable stuff. As I mentioned in that review, it's comparable to Blood Oath at a lower cost. Let's see if Lux Row has succeeded with the other part of this pair. Nose: Predominantly corn. Vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, and toffee. Also red fruit. Red grape, blackberry, raisin, date, fig, and cranberry. Wintergreen and menthol. Gala/golden delicious apple and maple. Cocoa and new car leather. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, and oak. Palate: Vanilla, caramel, cooked apple, and toffee. Pistachio, brown sugar, and walnut. Red grape, blackberry, raisin, fig, and date. Some mint chocolate. Sawdust and corn behind the sweet flavors. Tobacco smoke and black tea. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Cooked apple, pistachio, and mint chocolate. Fudge, caramel, vanilla, and cocoa. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Medium-long finish, leaning toward the longer side. Outstanding product from Lux Row. From beginning to end. The palate was the highlight, but everything was excellent. And at $48, this represents incredible value. A budget-friendly alternative to Blood Oath. I never had the chance to taste the Blood Oath aged in Cab barrels, but I am confident this will be adequate. The cabernet adds a substantial amount of fruit and complements an exceptional base distillate beautifully. Similar to the French Oak, rated 4.5/5.

The nose has berries and tannins, along with sweet grass and dry grain. It hits the palate with ripe fruit, dry tannins, and oak-derived vanilla, followed by a peppery-dry rye spice that persists through a long finish. The mouthfeel is lighter. I can understand why a reviewer might suggest a bit of water or ice to open up this very reserved bourbon. The sweetness is there and makes itself known, but it doesn't dominate, allowing the oak and rye to stand out. I sampled this alongside the Daviess County French Oak bourbon. Both highlight the oak's influence on their bourbon – they are robust spirits. However, the wine finish on this one truly rounds it out, adds another dimension, and complements the oak and their mashbills featuring wheat and high rye. However, I generally favor whiskies aged in wine, sherry, or port casks.

Finished bourbons are a gamble for me, and this one seems to lean towards a success. These Daviess County finished bourbons are not distributed here in Alabama, but a contact within Lux Row provided a bottle. Not nearly as arid as some wine cask finishes I've experienced, this one was dark and rich. I detected dark dried fruits and some tobacco notes. I only had a small sample, so I couldn't conduct a thorough assessment. Hopefully, I can acquire another taste soon.

Nose: pronounced oak with a blend of fruits. Bananas, cherry, apples, and plums. light caramel vanilla and toffee. Taste: strong oak with subtle notes of wine bitterness. Creamy banana finish with some bright cherry and very very light char / tobacco notes. Light caramel as well I don't really detect the wine finish, but it was an early pour.

Initially, the aroma is chocolate and nutty with subtle floral hints. The first taste has mild spice with char and slight oakiness. Adding a cube of ice brings out more floral notes and a light cherry flavor. It has a pleasant lingering quality; despite its spice, it doesn't last excessively long. This is suitable for a quick, moderate pour after a demanding workday.

Smells of freshly cut strawberries and a hint of vanilla. The initial taste is sweet berries, shifting to black pepper and clove. The finish is brief to moderate, with drying oak tannins and more clove. This bourbon offers a very intriguing experience, even if it's not quite my preference.