Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon Cabernet Sauvignon Finish

I accidentally posted under the French Oak Finish, so here it is again. The DC French Oak was one of the great surprises of last year for me. Sensational stuff. As I said in that review, it’s like a Blood Oath on a budget. Let’s see if Lux Row has delivered with the other half of this duo. Nose: Corn heavy. Vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, and toffee. Red fruit as well. Red grape, blackberry, raisin, date, fig, and cranberry. Wintergreen and menthol. Gala/golden delicious apple and maple. Cocoa and new car leather. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, and oak. Palate: Vanilla, caramel, caramelized apple, and toffee. Pistachio, brown sugar, and walnut. Red grape, blackberry, raisin, fig, and date. Some mint chocolate. Sawdust and corn behind the waves of sweetness. Tobacco smoke and black tea. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Caramelized apple, pistachio, and mint chocolate. Fudge, caramel, vanilla, and cocoa. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Medium-long finish, leaning toward the latter. Amazing stuff from Lux Row. From start to finish. Palate was the highlight but everything was great. And at $48, this is an incredible value. Blood Oath on a budget. I never got to try the Blood Oath aged in Cab barrels, but I’m convinced this will suffice. The cab adds a ton of fruit and make for a beautiful compliment to an excellent base distillate. As with the French Oak, 4.5/5.

Berries and tannins on the nose, sweet grass and dry grain. Explodes in the mouth with ripe fruit, dry tannins and vanilla from the oak, and then a peppery-dry rye spice that lingers through a long finish. Lighter mouthfeel. I can see the Distiller reviewer's recommendation for a touch of water, or ice, to open up this really tight bourbon. Sweetness is there and shows up, but it's not overpowering, letting the oak and rye shine on. Tried this side by side with the Daviess County French Oak bourbon. Both play up the oak's influence on their bourbon--they are big drinks. But the wine finish of this one really rounds it out, adds another layer, and plays well with the oak and their wheated and high rye mashbill. But then, I'm often a fan of wine/sherry/port-casked whisk(e)ys.

Finished bourbons are hit or miss with me, and this one seems to be closer to a hit. These Daviess County finished bourbons aren't available here in Alabama, but a friend of a friend works for lux row and got them a bottle. Not nearly as dry as some of the wine cask finishes I've had, this one was dark and rich. I got dark dried fruits and some tobacco notes. I only had a small pour, so I didn't really get a good examination. Hopefully I can bum another dram soon.

Nose: heavy oak with a medley of fruit. Bananas, cherry, apples, and plums. light caramel vanilla and toffee. Taste: strong oak with slight notes of wine bitterness. Creamy banana finish with some bright cherry and very very light char / tobacco notes. Light caramel as well Don't really get any of the wine finish but it was a neck pour.

Chocolate and nutty on the nose at first with hints of floral. Mild spice on first taste with char and slight oaky. A cube of ice pulls out more floral and a light cherry note. Good linger that even with its spice it doesn’t last too long. This is good for a quick a two finger glass after a long work day.

Nose of fresh sliced strawberries with a bit of vanilla. Palate in the front is sweet berries but transition into black pepper and clove Finish is short/medium with drying oak tannins and more clove This is a very interesting bourbon journey even if it's not exactly my preference