Rye bread | Lush red fruits | Raisin | Date | Charred oak | Cinnamon powder | Plum | Syrup | Layered aroma

Charred dry oak | Raisin | Rye spice | Dry vanilla | Walnut syrup | Underlying stone fruits | Hint of brown sugar crumble

Dry chewy oak | Leather | Rye spice | Raisin | Lingering dry oak

Founded in 2008, Middle West Spirits is based out of Columbus, Ohio, and states that they’re “focused on elevating the distinctive flavors of the Ohio River Valley.” The company produces bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskey, along with barrel finished versions of each. In order to produce this Double Cask Collection release, the company first aged their bourbon in heavy toast new American white oak barrels before finishing in sun-blackened Spanish Solera Sherry Casks. 

Middle West Spirits produces a range of spirits, but in particular, their Pumpernickel Rye produces a unique sip, and that same grain makes a noticeable impact with their Double Cask Collection: Sherry Cask-Finished Bourbon release. The sip kicks off with noticeable rye bread and lush red fruits, followed by varying drier notes of spice, fruit, and oak. Its wheat component helps to tamper down the spice midway through the sip, and allows notes of charred dry oak, walnut syrup, and underlying stone fruits to have their time in the spotlight. Finishing on drier notes, you’re left with a lingering dry oak note to enjoy while you contemplate the overall sip. 

The time that the bourbon spent being finished in the Spanish Solera sherry casks is evident throughout the sip. The sweet and dried fruit notes play nicely against each other while classic rye and oak add to the dynamic range. The downside however, is that the finish displays what can sometimes be the issue with barrel finishing, and that is a very noticeable dryness that dominates. It’s enough to hold the bourbon back from higher heights; however, overall this is a good sherry finished bourbon, if you don’t mind a drier finish. 

The bottle in review is from Batch No. 006.