We finally got my hands on the bottle of Bondstone Cask Strength, and honestly, it's a bit of a heavy hitter that caught me by surprise. I'd already been seeing the brand pop-up more frequently on liquor shop shelves lately, and since I'm the sucker for everything that's seen a second barrel, I figured it was time to see if the liquid lived up to the particular sleek, somewhat modest label.
There's something about a cask-strength bourbon that feels the little more private. It's the whiskey in the rawest type, just how it emerged out of the particular wood without someone at the distillery watering it straight down to a "palatable" 80 or ninety proof. When you pour a glass of this stuff, you're basically saying you're ready for whichever the barrel acquired to say after years of seated inside a warehouse.
Cracking the Bottle Open
The particular first thing I discovered when I put a dram associated with bondstone cask strength was the color. It's dark. We're talking serious mahogany or perhaps a very strong tea. That's usually a great sign when you're dealing with a double-oak process. It means the spirit hasn't just sat right now there; it's been definitely wrestling with all the charred wood for a long time.
The nose is where things get interesting. Sometimes, high-proof bourbons can simply smell like "hot" alcohol—that stinging sensation that clears the sinuses. But this? It's surprisingly approachable for being uncut. I picked up a ton associated with toasted marshmallow and dark brown sugar perfect away. It scents like a campfire where someone unintentionally dropped a handbag of caramels in to the embers. There's some leather and maple in there as well, but it's mostly that sweet, wealthy dessert vibe that pulls you within.
What Precisely is the Cask Strength Experience?
If you're new to the world associated with higher-proof spirits, a person might wonder why anyone would would like to drink something so intense. The magic of bondstone cask strength is based on the texture. When a whiskey is bottled at a decrease proof, it manages to lose some of the fatty acids and oils that give it a "chewy" mouthfeel.
With this bottle, you obtain all of that. It coats the tongue in the way that lower-proof bourbons just can't. It feels thick, almost syrupy, which is exactly what I look for when I'm sitting straight down for a gradual sipper at the end of a long week. You aren't just drinking this; you're experiencing the particular weight of this.
I'll be honest, though—it's got a give up. It usually clocks in around the 114 to 120 evidence range, with respect to the group. If you swig this down just like a standard rail bourbon, you're going in order to have a bad time. You have to take tiny sips and allow your palate change to the warmth. Once the initial "burn" fades, that's once the actual flavors start to dance around.
The Magic associated with the Double Oak Process
The big selling stage for Bondstone is definitely the double oak maturation. For individuals who aren't whiskey nerds, this just means they take bourbon that's currently aged and place it into the second brand-new charred oak barrel for a finishing period.
Why bother? Mainly because that second barrel or clip is like a fresh canvas. This injects a massive dosage of vanillin plus tannins in to the liquid. It's why bondstone cask strength tastes so much like a bakery. You will get those heavy notes of baking spices—cinnamon, nutmeg, and probably a little bit of clove.
I've tried a few double-oaked expressions from other big-name brands, and sometimes they overdo it. When the rum stays in that 2nd barrel too much time, it can start in order to taste like you're licking a 2x4 in a construction site. This seems to find a very decent balance. It's woody, for sure, however the sweetness from the corn crush bill manages to keep the tannins from becoming as well bitter.
Strolling Through the Taste Notes
Whenever I actually got that first actual sip, the taste buds followed the nasal area pretty closely, which usually isn't always the given. Sometimes the bourbon smells such as heaven and tastes like a disappointment, yet this held its ground.
- The Initial Hit: You obtain a rush of maple syrup and charred oak. It's very sweet perfect upfront, which helps mask some of that high ABV.
- The particular Mid-Palate: This is how the spice kicks in. It's a peppery, rye-forward spice that tingles the sides associated with your tongue. I also caught a bit of dark chocolate—the type that's about 80% cocoa.
- The Finish: This is the best component. It lingers. A few minutes once you swallow, you may still taste that will lingering caramel plus a hint of tobacco smoke. It's a "hug" within a glass, heating your chest as it goes down.
If you add the tiny splash associated with water—and I actually do mean tiny, like three drops—it really starts up. The drinking water breaks the surface area tension and enables the floral plus fruitier notes arrive to the surface area. I discovered a little bit of dark cherry and maybe a few dried orange peel once I dialed back the proof a little bit.
Is definitely it Too Hot to Handle?
Let's talk regarding the "heat. " Many people avoid cask-strength stuff because they don't want to feel like they're drinking gasoline. To be fair, bondstone cask strength does tell you it's right now there. It's not a "smooth" bourbon within the traditional, easy-drinking sense. It's bold.
Yet there's a distinction between "harsh" and "intense. " Severe whiskey is badly made and preferences like chemicals. Intense whiskey, like this one, is simply concentrated. If you find it's too much for you neat, don't feel accountable about putting a large ice sphere in the cup. As the snow slowly melts, the whiskey evolves. It starts off punchy plus bold, and simply by the end of the glass, it's a mellow, creamy deal with.
I actually prefer this on the large rock throughout the summer, but in the winter season, it's strictly a neat pour for me. It's the particular perfect companion to get a cold night if you just want to sit with an open fire (or a TV that seems like the fire) and decompress.
Final Thoughts upon the Value
Whiskey prices are already getting a very little ridiculous lately, so I'm always skeptical of new "premium" produces. However, considering the particular proof and the double-oak aging, bondstone cask strength in fact feels like a fair deal. You're getting a wide range of flavor per money here.
It's a "sourced" bourbon, which many people get picky in relation to, but I've never really cared as longer as the person carrying out the blending plus finishing knows what they're doing. The team behind this clearly had the specific profile within mind—they wanted something rich, dark, and heavy—and they strike the mark.
If you're the fan of things such as Old Forester 1910 or Woodford Double Oaked but a person wish they had a bit even more "oomph" and a higher alcohol content material, this is likely to be best up your alley. It's not a daily "crushable" whiskey, yet it's a wonderful container to have for the shelf for when you want something with a little more personality.
Just remember to get some time. This isn't a race, plus with something this high-proof, your persistence will definitely end up being rewarded with a lots of complex flavors you won't find within your standard 80-proof bottles. Whether you're a long-time collector or simply someone looking in order to branch out into the world of cask-strength spirits, this particular one is a solid addition to any bar cart. It's big, it's bold, and it's unapologetically bourbon.