6 Wine Barrel Finishes That Take Their Whiskies to New Places

The art of cask finishing has been elevated significantly over recent years. In wine cask finishing, we’ve seen whisky makers explore a variety of different regions in search of new flavor nuances, while an ever-increasing number of American whiskeys are taking the cask-finished route.

Ireland has long been a leader in the finishing game, and three Irish whiskeys in this selection offer some interesting options. The Spot whiskeys have chosen Italy for this year’s Gold Spot Generations Edition, a limited release that’s finished in casks that held sweet Italian wine Recioto di Valpolicella from northeast Italy's Valpolicella region. Fellow Irish whiskey Keeper’s Heart has a 10 year old expression that's finished in barrels from the Malaga wine region in Andalucia, southern Spain. And while marsala wine casks from Sicily have been used by Glenmorangie and Bushmills in the past, here Irish whiskey The Quiet Man ventures forth, putting them to use with its 10 year old marsala cask-finished expression.

On the American whiskey front, recent releases from Kentucky bourbon Blood Oath and California bourbon Ammunition both use traditional red wine varieties for their cask finishing, while Vermont-based WhistlePig has an unusual, 25 year old Canadian single malt, finished in cabernet sauvignon barrels.

6 Wine-Finished Whiskies to Try

92 points - Gold Spot 13 Year Old Generations Edition Irish Single Pot Still 46%, $165

First aged in bourbon barrels and sherry casks and then finished 16 months in Recioto della Valpolicella wine casks. These were first used to age the sweet wine native to the Veneto region in Northeastern Italy. The namesake Valpolicella is a mixture of Latin and Greek meaning “the valley of many cellars.” Thick and full-bodied with red apple, citrus peel, and pot still spices, supported by toasted oak leading to brown sugar, roasted nuts, and a superb pot still oiliness on the palate.

92 points - Keeper’s Heart 10 year old Malaga Wine Cask Finished Irish Single Malt 43%, $100

The brand’s first age statement expression is aged for 10 years in bourbon barrels, then moved to Malaga wine casks for an undisclosed amount of months. Creamy vanilla leads on a smooth palate, along with brown sugar and oatmeal cookies, accented by balanced pepperoncini spice. The finish is long and flavorful, with orange returning, melding with vanilla custard, peppery spice, and sweet oak. This one can stand with many quality single malts, having great flavor progression from nose to finish.

92 points - The Quiet Man 10 year old Barman’s Code Marsala Wine Barrel Finished Irish Single Malt 43%, $55

This Irish single malt from MGP's in-house brand The Quiet Man was first aged for 10 years followed by a 10-month finish in casks that previously held marsala, a fortified wine from Sicily that is commonly aged in a solera system. On the nose, there’s pineapple, passion fruit, cherry limeade, and peaches. Creamsicle, citrus sorbet, and subtle oak give the palate depth beyond the tropical fruits without throwing it out of balance. While this malt is straightforward, its well-defined flavors and breadth of fruits make it more than the sum of its parts.

91 points - Ammunition Cask Strength Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finished Bourbon 55%, $85

This expression is 4 year old bourbon composed of 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% malted barley finished for 6 months in French bordeaux barrels that previously held the label’s cabernet sauvignon out of Alexander Valley in Sonoma, California. The palate is quite hot, and not for the faint of heart, but there are flavors galore to appreciate: orange chocolate truffle, Big Red gum, clove, and walnut share the spotlight. The creamy, lengthy finish yields candied nuts, cinnamon stick, and chocolate fudge.

91 points - Blood Oath Cabernet Franc & Merlot Cask finished Bourbon (Pact 10) 49.3%, $130

From the Bardstown-based Lux Row portfolio, this label first featured a cask finish in the form of a port-finished rye in its blend from 2016 from this series. This one is comprised of two rye bourbons and one finished bourbon and is the first in this series of annual releases to boast a double finish: first in cabernet franc barrels followed by a secondary finish in merlot casks for an undisclosed amount of time. On the palate, the herbal austerity gives way to honeyed grains, French toast, and cinnamon bread. The finish is peppery, with notes of Mexican hot chocolate leading the way. This whiskey tells a complete story, with its flavors and aromas well integrated and cohesive.

88 points - WhistlePig 25 year old The Badönkådonk Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Canadian Whisky 45.5%, $2,000

Vermont-based WhistlePig's rare single malt is aged in new oak barrels for over a quarter of a century and finished in Silver Oak cabernet sauvignon barrels out of Alexander Valley. On the nose this is earthy and tangy, with potting soil and sautéing mushrooms intertwined with lime and orange juices, all kissed with a hint of salt air. With time, ripe fruits emerge with a sweet kick of allspice dram and bracing licorice.