Lonerider Spirits is the sister distillery of Lonerider Brewing Company, which is known for their standout gunslinging label design of their beers and their award-winning Sweet Josie Brown Ale. They are also Raleigh, North Carolina’s first-in-market bourbon whiskey according to the company. Their backstory may be laying it on a bit thick, but their label design is unique and their sherry cask finished whiskey is worth a taste.

The nose is sweet with a focus on dark fruits and grain, with moments of pronounced punchiness. It’s a quite inviting aroma with its additional notes of honey, vanilla, and toffee. The palate’s heat is mild, giving its dark rich notes of cocoa, raspberry, and cherry a chance to shine. Its finish is mildly dry and features a lasting sherry and oak aftertaste. Its 90 proof may be lower than desired for some bourbon enthusiasts, but it’s a nice sweet spot for the intensity of its cask finish.

Overall Lonerider Sherry Cask Finish is an easy sipper thanks to its fruitful sherry finish and on-the-mark proof. Its graininess is surprisingly noticeable for a MGP bourbon, and while not overbearing, it does provide a welcoming contrast to its finish. It’s hard to get too excited for a craft distillery sourcing a MGP bourbon and then finishing it, yet Lonerider Sherry Cask Finish is an enjoyable pour which is nicely constructed.

Lonerider Sherry Cask Finish is available in ABC stores throughout North Carolina with out-of-market expansion expected this year.

‍The sample used for this review is from a production bottle and was provided at no cost courtesy of Lonerider Spirits. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.