Leather | Cranberry | Raisin | Oak | Warm & inviting

Raspberry marmalade | Creme brulee | Cherry cobbler | Dessert in a glass

Spice develops on the backend | Raspberry | Cherry | Long

Located in Portland, Oregon, Bull Run Distilling Company offers a wide array of whiskeys. Their 13 year finished whiskey, which has increased in age as they have released ongoing batches, is (presumably) a light whiskey that’s finished for 5 months in pinot noir casks. The end result is nothing short of fantastic, offering what I can only describe as “dessert in a glass.” The focus is on the raspberry notes, but the sweetness is kept in check unlike finished whiskeys such as Angel’s Envy Caribbean Rum Finished Rye, which is arguably too sickly sweet for some people.  

Starting with a base light whiskey that’s been aged in ex bourbon barrels for 13 years, the obvious question here is why isn’t everyone finishing light whiskey like Bull Run is? Is this a fluke, or did Bull Run discover the perfect storm of base whiskey combined with a wine (or other...to be determined) finishing process? Even better, this whiskey is available for only $40, which suggests the combination is not only a good one, but a cost effective one at that. Hands down, this is unequivocally one of the best whiskeys I’ve tasted so far this year.