Rich baking spices | Creamy oak | Roasted cocoa beans | Pipe tobacco | Dark caramel | Spiced vanilla | Barrel char | Burnt sugar syrup | Lightly herbal

Molasses | Bold rye spice | Dark caramel | Brown sugar | Light baking spices | Toasted sugar | Heavy charred oak

Barrel char | Aged oak | Rye spice | Burnt sugar | Dark cocoa bean | Faint dark roasted coffee bean | Lingering rich spice

Pursuit United Bourbon is produced by Pursuit Spirits, whose two co-founders got their start in the world of American whiskey as part of the podcast team at Bourbon Pursuit. The latest release from the company introduces a new Pursuit United XS Double Oak line, with XS standing for extra special. The company’s goal for the new line is to elevate their products “by re-barreling the final blend into curated, premium, full-sized finishing barrels built in partnership with craft cooperages around the world.” Kenny Coleman, Co-Founder and COO of Pursuit Spirits, states that “Every release under XS Double Oak will feature barrels that are specifically curated for this project."

The first release in the line is a rye whiskey, which sees the company take their base Pursuit United Barrel Proof Rye and finish it for 2 years in custom American oak barrels from Seguin Moreau Napa cooperage. Pursuit Spirits commissioned multiple barrels from Seguin Moreau using American oak and char #3 with toasted heads. The extended barrel finishing produces noticeable results.

The first thing you’ll notice when you lift the glass to take in the aroma is how incredibly dark the whiskey is. Befitting its color, XS Double Oak rye opens with a rich aroma full of earthy and sweet scents. Rich baking spices, creamy oak, and spiced vanilla mingle with roasted cocoa beans, pipe tobacco, and dark caramel. Burnt sugar syrup and a light herbal scent lead the way to a palate full of molasses, bold rye spice, and sweet brown sugar and toasted sugar. The whiskey wraps up by focusing on its double oak name thanks to barrel char, aged oak, rye spice, and pleasing notes of burnt sugar, dark cocoa bean, and faint dark roasted coffee bean.

Pursuit United XS Double Oak Rye is an incredibly rich whiskey from start to finish. It’s clear that the Seguin Moreau barrels had a noticeable impact on the base Pursuit United Barrel Proof Rye, and it takes it to the next level. The end result is that this whiskey is easily the best release from Pursuit Spirits to date. Pursuit United XS Double Oak Rye shows that the company has elevated their product to the next level, and consumers are reaping the rewards.

The rye in review is one of 720 bottles from Batch 10CG.