Cask-finished bourbon is a bourbon that has been matured in the traditional (and legally defined) virgin, charred American oak barrel, before undergoing a finishing period in a different type of barrel. These barrels have normally been used to mature a different spirit, wine, or beer. Sherry, port, and wine are among the most common finishing casks for bourbon.
There is no minimum “finishing” period for a bourbon. However, most finished bourbons will remain in the finishing barrel for at least six months. This gives the whiskey ample time to interact with the wood and take on the characteristics of the liquid that was previously matured in the cask, unlocking new flavors and profiles.
The practice of finishing bourbon is a relatively new venture in the United States, with finishing being far more common in Scotland. However, in recent years, many American distilleries have been experimenting with cask-finished bourbon.
There are many players in this emerging category. At the 2024 World Whiskies Awards, judges recognized the achievements of American distillers who have been dedicating time and resources to experimenting with cask finishing.
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Discussing origins, mash bills, and (of course) finishing casks, these are the best finished bourbons according to the World Whiskies Awards 2024.
NOTE: The World Whiskies Awards have a complex categorical structure. For this article, I will be focusing solely on Gold medal-winning cask-finished bourbons.
15 STARS Sherry Cask Finished 10 Year Old
Medal: Gold (Category Winner – Finished Bourbon, Kentucky)
Tasting Notes: Fruit cake, pum, bananas, sherry, charred oak, cacao beans
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15 STARS Sherry Cask Finished Bourbon took home a Gold medal at the World Whiskies Awards 2024, and was also named the category winner for the best Kentucky finished bourbon.
The whiskey is comprised of a blend of straight bourbon whiskeys from Kentucky and Indiana, aged for 13 and 10 years respectively. As a result of this, the expression carries a 10-year age statement (reflecting the youngest whiskey in the blend). Interestingly, I can find references across the web to this Sherry Cask Finished 10 Year Old containing 18 year old bourbon in the blend. However, this is not stated on the brand’s website. Was the 18 year old removed from the blend? Get in the comments if you know the answer.
The percentages of each whiskey in the blend are not disclosed, neither is the length of the finishing period, nor the type of sherry that was once matured in the cask. Whilst some drinkers yearn for transparency, others enjoy the mystery and intrigue. So, I can’t begrudge 15 STARS for choosing to keep its cards close to its chest.
Bottled at 115 proof (57.5% ABV), this bourbon certainly has a bit of a kick, but one that was much appreciated by the awards judges. In addition to the World Whiskies Awards, the 15 STARS Sherry Cask Finished.
15 STARS is a Kentucky-based blender that sources the finest casks of American whiskey and bourbon from Kentucky and Indiana for blending, finishing, and bottling. The brand is named for the 15 stars on the second iteration of the American flag, in recognition of the fact that Kentucky was the 15th US state to be recognized.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series – Goose Island
Medal: Gold
Tasting Notes: Dark chocolate, honey, toasted almond, malt, cacao, allspice
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Located in Bardstown, KY, the historic home of bourbon, Bardstown Bourbon Company has been producing whiskey on-site since its founding in 2016, as well as blending high-quality spirits from across the USA.
The Collaborative Series has seen Bardstown Bourbon Company work with various spirit, beer, and wine brands from across the world to finish its bourbons. This particular expression was created in collaboration with Goose Island Brewery to finish this bourbon blend in Bourbon County Brand Stout barrels.
The bourbon is a blend of 6 and 7 year old bourbons from Kentucky that was finished for 12 months in stout barrels. Then, it was married together with an additional 9 year old Kentucky bourbon prior to bottling at 100 proof.
Whilst the source of the bourbon is unknown (i.e. was it distilled at Bardstown or sourced from elsewhere in Kentucky), the distillery is open about the mash bills used to create this award-winning expression. The brand has also told consumers what percentage of the blend is comprised of each whiskey.
- 6 Year Old Bourbon – comprising 18% of the blend – 78% corn, 13% rye, 9% malted barley
- 6 Year Old Bourbon – comprising 26% of the blend – 53% corn, 26% rye, 21% malted barley
- 7 Year Old Bourbon – comprising 56% of the blend – 53% corn, 26% rye, 21% malted barley
Stout barrel-finishing is, perhaps, one of the more unusual cask finishes. However, it has clearly worked, as this expression went down a treat at the World Whiskies Awards 2024. And, as Bardstown Bourbon Company insists on its website: “If you want to create an entirely new bourbon experience, you can never stop exploring. Never stop discovering. Never stand still.”
Breckenridge Whiskey Port Cask Finish
Medal: Category Winner Gold
Tasting Notes: Sultana, maple syrup, spice, vanilla
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Breckenridge Distillery is nestled in the mountains of Colorado, west of Denver. Founded in 2008, the distillery has produced award-winning bourbons and other spirits. The distillery is also no stranger to cask finishing, with finishes in Madeira, stout, and rum under its belt.
The first of two Breckenridge Distillery expressions on the gold medal-winning list is the Port Cask Finish. The mash bill is described only as “a bourbon mash bill” by the promotional video on Breckenridge’s website. As such, the composition of the mash bill is unknown. However, there is a suggestion that the recipe might be high-rye.
Nevertheless, the bourbon whiskey is aged in new, charred American oak barrels before being “groomed” for several months in 59-gallon Tawny port casks. Bottled at a gentle 45% ABV, this whiskey, according to the founders, is a fan favorite among Breckenridge drinkers.
Breckenridge Whiskey PX Cask Finish
Medal: Gold
Tasting Notes: Fig compote, orange marmalade, licorice, sweet oak, vanilla
BUY NOW: $59.99
The Port Cask Finish is not the only expression from Breckenridge to receive a Gold medal at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards. Breckenridge Whiskey PX Cask Finish was also honored.
PX stands for Pedro Ximénez, a type of white grape grown in Spain and used to make sherry, known as PX Sherry. On Breckenridge’s website, the PX sherry is described as “highly viscous” and “syrupy”.
According to founder, Bryan Nolt: “We were able to find some barrels from an ancient Solera in the Andalusia region of Spain, and some of these barrels are 100 years old or more.”
Once again, the whiskey was “groomed” in the sherry cask for several months prior to bottling, also at 45% ABV. The mash bill is not disclosed, and neither is the exact length of finishing.
The Vast World of Cask Finishing
As I said, producers are free to choose how transparent they wish to be about the makeup of a particular expression. In this article, we have seen various levels of transparency about varying parts of the whiskey-making and cask-finishing process.
The world of cask finishing is vast, with numerous finishing options open to distillers. From sherry to beer to wine to honey, the world is a whiskey-maker’s oyster. As cask-finishing becomes both more common and more experimental, I for one am excited to see which brands continue to push the boundaries of bourbon.
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