Reviews: 5 Red Wine Cask-Finished Whiskies To Try

Wine and whisky find common ground in the use of wine barrels for finishing whiskies. Barrel finishing has long been a practice in Scotland and Ireland, particularly with port and sherry casks and also with still wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, and elsewhere. In the U.S. the practice was mostly unheard of until about 15 years ago, when pioneers like Angel’s Envy got things rolling. Here are 5 red wine cask-finished whiskies—from Ireland, Scotland, and New York state—reviewed in our Summer issue Buying Guide.

The Bushmills Bordeaux barrel-finished whiskey was initially aged 6 years in oloroso sherry and bourbon casks and then transferred into Bordeaux red wine casks. Virginia Distillery Co.’s cabernet cask-finished expression was aged in a variety of cabernet casks from France and California, while Aberfeldy’s 21 year old malbec cask-finished whisky was a collaboration with Argentine winemaker Finca Ambrosiana, representing Aberfeldy’s first foray into Argentina after its work in France and the Napa Valley. And New York City-based Great Jones Distillery worked with a New York state winery—Long Island’s Wölffer Estate—to create a cabernet franc finished bourbon, aged 4-7 years and re-casked and rested in Wölffer’s Caya cabernet barrels for more than a year.

In addition to these five, here are a few examples of wine barrel-finished whiskies we recently reviewed.

93 Bushmills 10 year old Private Reserve Bordeaux Barrel Finished Irish Single Malt, 46.5%, $60

Initially aged for 6 years in oloroso sherry and bourbon casks then transferred to bordeaux barrels for a 4-year finish. The nose is abundant with malty sweetness, though heaps of dried fruit, milk chocolate, flourless chocolate cake, and chocolate doughnut add a richer edge. Espresso and chocolate babka coat the palate, joined by cooked raspberry and a smooth dark chocolate drizzle. The finish is superb—lengthy and warming—and it leaves you with tiramisu, chocolate eclair, and dark fruits. bushmills.com

92 Virginia Distillery Co. Cabernet Cask Select American Single Malt, 46.5%, $45

A variety of cabernet sauvignon barrels from France and California were used to finish this American single malt that was aged for several years in first-fill bourbon barrels. Vanilla and baking spice aromas float from the glass, accompanied by cigar ash, grape, and tart red berries. The palate is feather light but flavorful, with fruity notes of Golden Delicious apple skin, raisins, and peach. There’s also a nice undercurrent of earthiness, and a dash of cinnamon spice. The finish seals the deal—bright, lovely flavors of grape jam, applesauce, Twizzlers, and cinnamon babka coat the mouth and linger on. vadistilleryco.com

91 Aberfeldy 21 year old Argentinian Malbec Wine Cask Finished Scotch Single Malt, 46%, $280

Distilled on November 14, 2001, and matured for just over 20 years in sherry and bourbon re-fill barrels and hogsheads, it then spent around 8 months in Argentinian vinter Finca Ambrosia malbec French oak wine casks. Dark chocolate, ripe cherries, clove, and evolving notes of kaffir lime leaves and sprigs of fresh rosemary. Flavors of soft cooked fruits, toffee, vanilla, honey-coated mixed nuts, black currant purée, ginger root, cinnamon, and hints of citrus before finally settling on a vanilla caramel note. The finish is long, with red apple, vanilla, and peppercorn. From a robust wine, the ginger and spice flavor indicate this finishing cask has produced an equally robust whisky. aberfeldy.com

91 Bushmills 10 year old Private Reserve Burgundy Barrel Finished Irish Single Malt, 47%, $60

Like the Bushmills 10 year old Private Reserve Bordeaux finished (above), this expression was matured for 6 years in bourbon and oloroso casks and underwent a 4-year finishing period, but in burgundy barrels. This single malt’s fruity notes sing loud and proud. Jammy berries, spiced apple cider, and nutty sweetness lead on both the nose and the palate, with vanilla ice cream and cream soda adding depth to the sip. The finish has good length and closes out this sweet treat with toasted sugar and sweet vanilla latte. bushmills.com

90 Great Jones Wölffer Estate Cabernet Franc Red Wine Cask Finished Bourbon, 44%, $50

Hamptons-based Wölffer Estate Vineyard's caya cabernet franc barrels were used to finish 4-7 year old bourbons that were distilled by Great Jones' sister distillery Black Dirt. The 1-year finish imparted an earthy minerality and vegetal pepperiness to this otherwise candy-sweet whiskey. With each sip, orange candies, fruit cocktail, and dark chocolate flecked with sea salt unfold around more earthy pepper and stone. The finish shifts the balance toward the whiskey’s sweeter flavors, with chocolate orange and toasty brown sugar. greatjonesdistillingco.com