Honey | Caramel | Floral undertone | Touch of spice | Light & inviting

Loads of honey | Light spice | Dried fruit | Easy-drinking for the proof

Honey | Graham cracker | Caramel | Milky Way candy bar | Baking spices develop as the sweet flavors dissipate | Very long

Behind Brother's Bond Bourbon was founded by two American actors - Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder. Probably most well known for their collaborative roles in the CW’s The Vampire Diaries, Wesley and Somerhalder’s friendship eventually led them to create Brother’s Bond Distilling Co. For their cask strength releases, of which we reviewed a previous batch, the company states that “Ian and Paul hand-selected 70 of the finest Brother's Bond Bourbon barrels to create this limited release for bourbon lovers.”

On the surface, Brother’s Bond may seem easy to dismiss. It’s a celebrity bourbon that most likely originates from MGP. But Wesley and Somerhalder seem genuinely interested in making a quality product, and their latest batch of Original Cask Strength is proof of that. Starting with a honey, caramel, a touch of spice, and a floral undertone on the nose, the bourbon reveals loads of honey on the palate. This is complemented by light spice and dried fruit, making for a light, easy-drinking sip up to this point. Honey continues into the finish and is joined by graham cracker, caramel, and Milky Way candy bar. Prominent baking spices develop as the sweet flavors dissipate, making for a surprisingly long finish.

This is a really enjoyable barrel proof blend, and its long finish is the factor that makes it most memorable. Brother’s Bond Bourbon hadn’t really gotten my attention until now, but this release has me excited for whatever they do next.

The bottle being reviewed is number 09938.