Rum Finished Bourbon & Rye Blind

Rum Finished Blind Flight

Poured a blind flight of 4 rum barrel finished bourbons and ryes, gave them a little spin, sip and here’s the results.

4) Breckenridge Rum Finished Blended Bourbon, Batch 12, 45% alc/vol

Smell - Bright green notes jump out, ethanol, mellow vanilla, marshmallows, oats, grain, young

Taste - Bright ethanol, dark sugar, slightly burnt caramel, young notes

Finish - Medium finish, hints of caramel, oak, harsh finish.

This bourbon is interesting but I think its youth steps over the overall full experience. It’s almost like it was aged in a Rhum Agricole barrel, the bright almost vegetal green notes jump out of the glass. This has natural flavors added so I’m curious on what those would be.

3) Blackened Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Double Cask Finished in Madeira and Rum Casks, 2022 release, 45% alc/vol

Smell - Coconut, light cinnamon, sharp caramel, ethanol, tropical hints, vanilla, oak, orange, citrus.

Taste - Light caramel, vanilla, citrus, oak, slightly youthful

Finish - Lighter finish, oak, vanilla, side pallet tingles

This rye had a decent amount of complexity that kept me coming back for another sip. I think the rum and Madeira barrels ad layers of flavor like layering music tracks on a song. The complete experience is a well balanced song this worth another visit and another listen. This was the 2022 bottle, I’ll need to compare this with the new 2024 release.

2) Sagamore Rum Cask Finish Rye, Batch 1C, 49% alc/vol

Smell - Rich aroma, oak, cherry, dry, metallic vanilla, slight tannin notes, rye spice hints

Taste - Cherry, caramel, Demerara sugar notes, smooth dark sugar notes

Finish - Longer finish, oak, burnt sugar, caramel

This rye had a more body and substance after its time in its barrel, the nose had more hints of rye but the rum finish did come though on the pallet and finish with notes of dark sugars and older aged rums. This is a nice sipper and I’ve been really impressed with the releases from Sagamore, can’t wait to try some more from their single barrel selections.

1)Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Rum Casks, 50 alc/vol

Smell - Maple nut clusters candy, circus peanuts, orange, light floral, marshmallows, toasted oak notes

Taste - Sweet, bright candy notes, circus peanut, vanilla, marshmallow, oak, light cherry

Finish - Medium/long finish, vanilla, oak, good Kentucky hug

This bourbon was the reason I decided to do this blind, I recently received it and gave it a quick taste, after enjoying it but thinking I wasn’t picking up on enough notes I decided to pit it against similar products and see where it all ends up. To be honest, rum finishes aren’t my tippy top favorite but among the 4 that I tried this one ended up being my personal favorite. The nose has an abundance of classical candy notes from my grandmothers cupboard. Maple nut clusters and circus peanuts were some of my initial notes, and I think overall this bourbon had the most effect from the rum barrel finish. I think it softened up the whiskey while adding sweet notes that don’t overload your pallet with actual sugar. The pallet carried though some of those same notes and brought in more of a classic bourbon notes. Really nice Kentucky hug on the finish. This is a really nice sipper, figures its the highest proof point in this blind. Cheers!