Bourbon

Chattanooga Whiskey White Port Cask Finished

$59.99

OVERALL
RATING

Whiskey Review: Chattanooga Whiskey White Port Cask Finished

by Nino Kilgore-Marchetti
April 1, 2024

Tasting Notes:

About:

A custom blend created from three bourbon mash bills and aged for five years, including two in ex-white port casks from Portugal, it is bottled at 95 proof and priced at $59.99.

Appearance:

The two-year port cask finishing does the color in glass major justice, giving it a red berry addition to the golden-amber visual. The legs and viscosity for this one are decent enough.

Nose:

The custom blend and port cask finish shine on the nose, with rich berry notes and a strong backbone of baked bread, vanilla, cherry pie, brown sugar, and a hint of molasses.

Palate:

If port and bourbon had a baby, this would be this whiskey. It’s like drinking cherry pie from a glass, with profound berry notes that dance with vanilla, oak, brown sugar, molasses, custard, and a hint of spice.

Finish:

This finishes clean and decadent, holding a nice sophisticated note as it fades off slowly.

Comments:

There are a lot of port-casked finished bourbons out there, but only so many like this one. Find yourself a bottle if you still can.

Chattanooga Whiskey White Port Cask Finished review — We review Chattanooga Whiskey White Port Cask Finished, a custom blend created from three bourbon mash bills and aged for five years, including two in ex-white port casks from Portugal. (image via Chattanooga Whiskey)

Editor’s Note: The party behind this whisky gave us a review sample. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Among the Tennessee whiskey distilleries not known as Jack Daniel’s or George Dickel, one that stands out with a diverse and attractive set of spirit offerings is Chattanooga Whiskey. Founded in 2011, Chattanooga is known for its Chattanooga Whiskey 91, Cask 111, and 99 Rye, as well as its Bottled in Bond Vintage Series and Barrel Finishing Series.

One of their more recent releases, which I’m reviewing today, is the latest from their Barrel Finishing Series, White Port Cask Finished. The fourth offering from this series, White Port Cask Finished takes ex-port casks from the Carrazeda de Ansiães region of the Douro Valley and uses them to finish for two years a custom blend created from three bourbon mash bills, including a wheated bourbon recipe containing three varieties of toasted and roasted wheat malts. This bourbon was initially aged for three years prior to the extended port cask finishing.

“Knowing that white port is characterized by a bright, fresh fruit-forward profile, we specifically chose a blend of our more delicate mash bills to highlight and support the cask finish,” said Chattanooga Whiskey head distiller Tiana Saul at the time of this bourbon’s release. “Our signature 91 bourbon mash bill brings honey and citrus notes; our wheated bourbon brings baked confections and vanilla; and a one-off green malt bourbon adds hints of tropical fruit and lemongrass.

“Together, the blend creates a dynamic and approachable whiskey with top notes of white peach, shortbread, and coconut, followed by an orange marmalade finish.”

Bottled at 95 proof, Chattanooga Whiskey White Port Cask Finished is priced at $59.99.

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