Cherry cough syrup | Roasted malt | Chocolate | Rose petals

Brown sugar | Caramel | Vanilla | Sweet oak | Mixed red fruit

Roasted malt | Coffee bean | Chocolate | Seasoned oak | Rye spice | Dark fruits | Rose petals | Slightly dry

Wheel Horse Bourbon was one of the first bourbons to come out of the O.Z. Tyler Distillery, which has since been acquired and renamed the Green River Distillery. The brand, owned by independent bottler Latitude Beverage Co., consists of core bourbon and rye releases. Wheel Horse Bourbon Finished in Baltic Porter Beer Barrels is a collaboration with Narragansett Beer, also based in Rhode Island. The two companies, which are “located just minutes down the road” from each other, shared barrels for this project. First, Narragansett used bourbon barrels from Wheel Horse to age their new Narragansett Barrel-Aged Baltic Porter, then returned the barrels to Wheel Horse to finish their Green River-sourced bourbon.

A Baltic porter is a strong, dark, and malty beer, in a similar vein to an imperial stout, except that it is brewed as a lager with lager yeast. The result is noticeably crisp, malty, and, at times, even floral-tasting bourbon.

It’s been a while since we’ve picked up a cherry cough syrup note, but this bourbon begins with it in its aroma. It quickly transitions to roasted malt, chocolate, and the aforementioned rose petal scent. The palate is quite sweet, with Green River’s brown sugar note upfront, followed by caramel, vanilla, sweet oak, and a mix of red fruits. The finish is the star of this bourbon, and it’s complex. A gentle roasted malt note opens it, followed by coffee bean, chocolate, and seasoned oak. Near the end, rye spice and dark fruits emerge along with a light and lingering rose petal note again.

Narragansett is known as a PBR alternative, a crushable beer brewed since 1890. Likewise, Green River Distilling, once known as O.Z. Tyler Distillery, with roots dating back to 1885, is steeped in history. Stout- and porter-finished bourbons aren’t new (though there are many more stout-finished than porter-finished bourbons), and they can sometimes be polarizing depending on the degree of finish time and proof used. Wheel Horse Bourbon Finished in Baltic Porter Beer Barrels is an easy sipper and drinks much lower than its 101 proof suggests. Thankfully, the porter finish isn’t heavy-handed and imparts a tempered yet flavorful influence. Once again, Wheel Horse prices their whiskey right, with this release being an affordable $40.