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Please read and drink responsibly.
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Classification: Blend of Bourbons Finished in Oak, Sherry, Port, and Maple Syrup Barrels
Company: Windows Distillery
Distillery: Sourced from an undisclosed Indiana distillery(ies)
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 102
Age: Blend of 5 and 7 year old bourbons
Mashbill: Undisclosed
Color: Honey
SRP: $90 / 750mL (2026)
Floral | Stone fruits | Toffee | Savory undertone | Complex yet subtle with individual scents hard to pin down
Ripe pear | Dried apricot | Vanilla frosting | Toasted marshmallow | Nuanced
Light warming spice | Apricot | Stone fruits | Tropical fruits | Light toasted oak | Long
Finishing in four different barrels, then topping off with charred oak staves, Windows Four Barrel is a surprisingly well-integrated sip that focuses more on drinkability than discovery of new flavor territory.
Windows Distillery is a recently launched craft spirits company based in Sycamore, Illinois. Founded by Chris Mayer and Mike Weckerly, the company is a non-distiller producer (NDP) with a hyper focus on “post-distillation manipulation,” so much so that they trademarked the term “Spirit Bending.” Four Barrel is Windows Distillery’s flagship product. Blended then finished across four different casks, the flavors are integrated “with a touch of smoke from charred oak staves,” according to the brand.
Considering the number of finishing barrels and the use of charred oak staves, Four Barrel has a surprisingly subtle delivery of flavors. It starts on the floral side, with stone fruits and toffee giving way to a savory undertone on the complex yet subtle nose. The palate brings ripe pear and dried apricot along with sweeter notes of vanilla frosting and toasted marshmallow. It’s all very nuanced, with the flavors tightly fused. A light warming spice emerges on the long finish, with pops of apricot, stone fruits, and tropical fruits against a backdrop of light toasted oak.
Windows Four Barrel meets the stated company goal by delivering a well-integrated flavor profile. On the flip side, the nuance also makes for a less distinct pour than you might expect with four finishing barrels plus charred oak staves. While I always appreciate the detail being provided in terms of barrel finishes, Windows Four Barrel is more of an exercise in subtle blending and finely-integrated flavors than big, bold ones one might expect from four finishing barrels, making it less about the components and more about the end result. Those looking for a subtle yet complex bourbon that’s probably a lot easier to drink than it should be at 102 proof will find a lot to like with Windows Four Barrel.
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