Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Batch 035: Centenary Cask is the third release from the company that uses their centenary cask to finish the bourbon for 12 months. This cask derives its name from the fact that it is a 100 year old Oloroso sherry puncheon that originated around 1915. A sherry puncheon is usually 450-500 liters in size (119-132 gallons), and in this case, is used in the solera style, meaning that each batch will always be wholly unique.

‍‍The company states that “this year's release sees the addition of two unique barrels, chosen for exhibiting characteristics that would enhance flavors derived from the centenary cask itself, including Chattanooga Whiskey’s signature “Barrel 91” recipe and a singular recipe made with a wide variety of malted barley and rye. After these hand-selected barrels were married for over a year in the antique cask, 100 gallons were removed for bottling before new barrels were selected to top up the solera-style barrel once more.”

The bourbon opens with a predominantly sweet aroma that showcases the time it spent in the 100 year old Oloroso sherry cask. Scents of light red berries, brown sugar, and hints of vanilla leap to the forefront. Layered in are additional scents of gentle aged oak with the slightest hint of tea. This is a gentle yet beautiful aroma that opens the sip on a great note.

A quick burst of sweet berries and vanilla powder transitions the sip to the midpoint. These notes are quickly followed with doses of dry aged oak, tobacco leaf, a pinch of black peppercorn, and a prominent cigar box note. The palate turns drier the more you explore and tease out its flavors, resulting in a dynamic flavor profile full of sweet and dry notes. Once again, this portion of the sip nicely highlights the barrel finish influence.

The culmination of the sip goes all in on drier notes and fully embraces this identity. Chewy dry oak, ground pepper, leather, and tobacco leaf kick are immediately noticeable. As these take a moment to settle, the faintest hint of red berries and vanilla powder appear in the background. Transitioning to a dry oak and leather combo, the bourbon rides out these flavors to the end, which tends to only last for a short period. I wish the bourbon would have embraced some of the sweetness displayed before, but still ends things on a nice note.

Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Batch 035: Centenary Cask is one of those whiskeys that seems familiar yet slightly different as you drink it. It starts off with the color of the whiskey, which can best be described as quirky, coming across as not quite light, not quite dark, and a specific shade of color I haven’t run across before in a whiskey. From there, though, this concept can also be applied to each part of this whiskey.

Chattanooga is known for not only having unique-tasting products, but also pushing the boundaries of experimentation. While the brand has done many finished whiskeys in the past, none of them quite tastes like Experimental Batch 035, which melds its sweet and dry notes in a distinctive and cohesive way. There is a clear barrel finish influence, even after being on its third solera style. The result is a complex yet easily approachable sip that threads the needle between enjoyment by a casual drinker and appreciation by a whiskey enthusiast. There have been an overabundance of finished whiskeys over the last few years, yet Experimental Batch 035 is one of those whiskeys that reminds you that if done right, the right barrel chosen to finish enhances the base whiskey versus trying to be the star of the show itself.

Limited experimental releases by large distilleries usually cost well over $100, with two good examples being the Parker’s Heritage Collection and the Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection. However, Chattanooga tends to take the opposite approach with their experimental line when it comes to pricing. With a $70 price tag, Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Batch 035: Centenary Cask falls in line with the brand's past experimental releases, which can range in price but tend to stay under this $100 mark.

Whether a whiskey is good or bad, brands often force consumers to pay for the one-off or experimental nature of a whiskey because, quite frankly, they can. Thankfully in the case of Experimental Batch 035, the whiskey delivers a really good sip for the price. Fans of sherry barrel finished bourbons will be pleased with the flavor profile and will most likely enjoy the fact that they can say they tried a whiskey finished in a barrel that started its life in the 1910s.

Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Batch 035: Centenary Cask continues the tradition of Chattanooga Whiskey’s creative streak. Utilizing a 100 year old Oloroso sherry cask would be enough for most distilleries, however, because they’ve turned this into an ongoing release utilizing this barrel in a solera style makes the end result that much more dynamic. Experimental Batch 035’s balance of sweet and dry notes results in an enjoyable sip that’s hard to dislike, even for those who tend to shy away from barrel finished bourbons. It’s a whiskey that makes you wish more brands would push the envelope of experimentation, because when done right, whiskey drinkers everywhere benefit from the end results.