Thomas S. Moore Chardonnay Cask Bourbon

With the introduction of Thomas S. Moore, the Barton 1792 Distillery dove headfirst into the world of wine finished bourbon. Of the three wine barrel types, chardonnay is a type that you typically don’t see bourbon producers use too often. While Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection 2007 release was finished in Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay barrels, not many mainstream releases have used a chardonnay finishing barrel since. In this case, the result is a bourbon that picks up a large influence from the chardonnay barrel while still retaining a decidedly whiskey base. The palate comes off as slightly unbalanced due to the buttery/dry combination that seems to slam into you after a few seconds, however, overall it does exactly what it sets out to do. Impart influences from the wine barrel into the whiskey and creating a unique and intriguing drinking experience. It may not be the best wine finished whiskeys in the marketplace, but it’s certainly one of the more intriguing ones.