McFarlane's Reserve 12 Year Finished in Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels

Another Christmas gift this is a Total Wine brand and high priced at $99.99. This is a 12 year sourced bourbon finished in Cabernet Sauvignon casks with a marketing story about someone getting shot over a whiskey tax back when Washington was prez. The juice is ok but the price is crazy. Plenty of rich red fruits and heavy spicy oak with a coconut milk vibe throughout. Tobacco and tannins close it out. Its a little thin but flavors are tasty. The Cab barrels are an interesting add and the bourbon itself is decent but the $$ is a non starter. I am enjoying this bottle but no chance for repurchase. This is a 3 star bourbon with a value hit .....75/100

A delicate, Kentucky Straight Bourbon made by adding wheat to the traditional mash bill of corn & barley; along with Kentucky limestone filtered water. It is aged for 12 years in American oak barrels before being finish for 9 to 12 months in Cabernet barrels.' It has an aromatic birth with notes of grain, red fruits, spices & wood; while a delicate life adds notes of wheat, corn, vanilla & cranberry; that led to a slightly dry death of medium length with notes of Sherry & oak. October 2021 / August / November 2022 / October 2024

Same as the 13. Perhaps not quite as rich, but really very little difference, as expected. Nose of cab barrel, grape, berry, vanilla, cedar, char, caramel. Flavors of cab barrel, grapes, vanilla and pepper. Sweet finish.

Nice sipper with a hint of Cab. A tad pricey at $100, but worth it in my opinion

Lil free taster at the local total wine.