American

Dead Guy Whiskey Cabernet Wine Cask Finished

OVERALL
RATING

7

Whiskey Review: Dead Guy Whiskey Cabernet Wine Cask Finished

We review Dead Guy Whiskey Cabernet Wine Cask Finished, made from 100% malted barley, pot distilled, and finished in Cabernet wine casks.
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Tasting Notes:

About:
100% malted barley, 92 proof (46% ABV).
Appearance:
Golden tawny with a tinge of auburn.
Nose:
Generous floral and fruity notes permeate with lush influences of fresh wet grass, walnut, red rose, butterscotch, vanilla, and juicy ripe plums accompanied by hints of cinnamon, clove, and buttery peppermint.
Palate:


Finish:
Comments:
The broad flavor profile on the palate and the nose are fairly similar. Not much complexity in that it leans very sweet and just kind of keeps leaning in that direction. Moderately smooth yet viscous texture with a medium to long finish of warm pepper and red fruit, similar to the taste of cinnamon chewing gum. Very approachable and well suited for those who prefer their whiskey on the sweeter side.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link in this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.In September of 2022, Rogue Ales & Spirits released a new custom bottle design to go along with the expansion of their Dead Guy Whiskey portfolio with their three new expressions that include Dead Guy Whiskey Stout Cask Finished, Dead Guy Whiskey Wine Cask Finished, and Dead Guy Whiskey American Single Malt. This release also marks the expansion of Rogue’s American Single Malt portfolio. Their flagship, Dead Guy Whiskey, was released in 2006 and has earned the official designation of American Single Malt as it was made from a mash bill of 100% malted barley and pot distilled on-site at Rogue’s Oregon coast distillery.The Rogue Nation World Headquarters lies in the historic west coast town of Newport, Oregon. Established as a craft brewery in 1988, Rogue was founded by Jack Joyce, Bob Woodell, Rob Strasser and Jeff Shultz. Although Rogue’s first brewpub, located in Ashland, Oregon, was closed down due to flooding, it was not before the brand established several other Oregon-based pub houses in Newport, Astoria, and Portland. Some of these pubs include Rogue Bayfront Public House, Rogue Eastside Pub and Pilot Brewery, and Rogue Pier 39 Public House, to name a few.  Being that their distillery is located on the coast, Rogue is known for using what they call “ocean aging” in their spirits production, which essentially allows the whiskey to breathe the ocean air as it matures, infusing the final product with a “smooth, rich taste.”Fifteen years after we first bottled Dead Guy Whiskey, we are thrilled to expand our American Single Malt portfolio,” said Steven Garrett, VP of Business Development in a prepared statement. “As a leading producer of American Single Malt in the country, it is a wonderful time to add new expressions and double down on this emerging category that we’ve been working to perfect for almost two decades.”Garrett’s mention of an ‘emerging category’ refers to the fact that American Single Malt whiskey is a standard of identity that is fairly newAmerican Single Malt Whiskey Commission, which was established in 2016. In addition to the Dead Guy Whiskey expression series, Rogue Ales & Spirits also has a Single Barrel Project which focuses on the unique barrels, made from their onsite cooperage, utilized in the production of their whiskey lineup.This review will focus on Dead Guy Whiskey Cabernet Wine Cask Finished, which is the brand new expression to come from the 2022 release of the new custom bottles in Rogue’s Dead Guy Whiskey series. Bottled at 92 proof, it’s made from 100% malted barley, pot distilled, and finished in Cabernet wine casks. According to the official tasting notes, Dead Guy Whiskey Wine Cask Finished has notes of “Sweet and spicy, red fruit and leather [that] are splashed over toasted grains and cooked sugar.” In a prepared statement Steven Garrett, Rogue’s VP of Business Development said, “For our Wine Cask Finished expression we sourced freshly dumped wine barrels from the reputable King Estate Winery in Eugene, Oregon. Bold fruit notes are accentuated by a rush of dark plum, tobacco and peppercorn in this one-of-a-kind whiskey.”online shop.

Dead Guy Whiskey Cabernet Wine Cask Finished review
We review Dead Guy Whiskey Cabernet Wine Cask Finished, made from 100% malted barley, pot distilled, and finished in Cabernet wine casks. (image via Jennifer Williams/The Whiskey Wash)

Tasting Notes: Dead Guy Whiskey Cabernet Wine Cask Finished

Vital Stats: 100% malted barley, 92 proof (46% ABV). Appearance: Golden tawny with a tinge of auburn. Nose: Generous floral and fruity notes permeate with lush influences of fresh wet grass, walnut, red rose, butterscotch, vanilla, and juicy ripe plums accompanied by hints of cinnamon, clove, and buttery peppermint. Palate: The palate is very close to the nose with consistently present flavors of butterscotch, sweet clove, red grapes, and plums, with just the slightest hint of oiled leather.

Jennifer Williams

Jennifer Williams honed her appreciation for patrons with a discerning taste for fine whiskey during her 15-year tenure as a bartender in Dallas, Texas. Since relocating to Portland, Oregon in 2019, she graduated from Portland State University with a major in English Literature and a minor in Writing. During her final term at PSU, Jennifer served as the Arts & Culture editor for the university's monthly magazine, The Pacific Sentinel. A voracious reader, outdoor runner, and aspiring photographer, Jennifer also harbors a deep love for classic jazz. She always welcomes the opportunity to share a whiskey and engaging conversation with both her cherished friends from Texas and the many new companions she's made since settling in Oregon.

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