Barrell Craft Spirits 18 Year Finished in Cabernet Sauvignon & Sauternes Barrels Whiskey 750ml
About the Product: Two whiskeys. Two wine casks. One remarkably elegant result. This Black Label release pairs 18-year Kentucky bourbon finished in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels with Canadian whiskies aged 23 to 25 years finished in Sauternes barrels from Bordeaux. The Cabernet casks bring structure and a dark, brooding warmth — dark fruit, tannin, depth. The Sauternes casks pull in the opposite direction: golden, honeyed, and softly sweet. Neither overwhelms the other. Instead they meet somewhere in the middle, producing a whiskey of unusual sophistication — rich and layered, with enormous fruity complexity and a long, measured finish that earns every second of its 18 years.
About Barrell Craft Spirits: Barrell Craft Spirits was founded in 2013 by Joe Beatrice in Louisville, Kentucky — not with a distillery, but with a philosophy. Inspired by Scotland's tradition of independent bottling, Joe set out to source exceptional casks from established producers and elevate them through blending, releasing every expression at cask strength and without chill filtration. A decade of relentless experimentation followed, with the team personally tasting and blending hundreds of products each year. Leading blending operations today is Nic Christiansen, named Master Blender of the Year by VinePair and recognized on Beverage Dynamics' 40 Under 40 — a testament to how seriously Barrell takes the craft of assembling something greater than the sum of its barrels.
Bottle Info:
- Age: 18 Years (Kentucky Bourbon) / 23–25 Years (Canadian Whisky)
- Distilled: Kentucky & Canada
- Cask Finish: Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels & Sauternes Barrels
- Crafted & Bottled: Kentucky
Tasting Notes:
- Nose: A fistful of gummy bears with a whole jumble of different fruit notes. They start bright and simple: green apple, peach, cranberry. With time, they soften and commingle with the whiskey revealing pina colada, key lime pie, and Christmas fruitcake. Beneath all the exuberant honey and eucalyptus lies a trace of umami.
- Palate: Sauternes has tugged the profile in the direction of honey, Mirabelle plum, and pollen. The oak is unobtrusive and allows a creamy, mellow distillate to predominate in the form of coconut milk, roasted chestnut, and Belgian Tripel-style beer. A touch of acidity reinforces notes of fresh apple and watermelon candy to keep it tasting bright.
- Finish: Fresher fruit notes like Rainier cherry, white currant, and gooseberry. There’s a bit of resin lingering, the hops from that Tripel, a kiss of gentian, and a wisp of incense. As the fruit evaporates, it leaves behind the mineral prickle of chalk.
With a splash of spring water
The whiskey really starts to show its age here, gaining depth and an expanding earthy side. The fruits appear paradoxically more concentrated, such as apricot jam, golden raisin and orange creamsicle. The palate, no longer checked by heat, is almost liqueur-like in thickness. The cabernet notes float to the fore as hibiscus, pomegranate, and plum paste. Black pepper and graphite also bridge the gap between wine and whiskey.
