For part 21 of my finished whisky series I’m taking a look at Bull Run. Bull Run is a distillery in Portland Oregon who finishes MGP bourbons and light whiskies among other things. They recently released a straight bourbon whiskey finished in cognac casks which sounded like something I would like. Thankfully A friend of mine from back in Seattle introduced them to me back when I used to travel up there for work and was able to get me a bottle of this release.
I also tasted this blind against Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch 19 and Bardstown Bourbon Company Chateau De Labade.
Review #250 Bull Run Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Cognac Casks
Age: 12 years
Finish: 1 year in Hennessy Cognac casks
Abv: 124.64 proof
Price: $125
Neat
Nose: Dark fruit, vanilla, warm spice and fainter herbal notes.
Taste: A little hot with cinnamon, dark fruit, leather, grapes, and something sticky sweet towards the end. Viscous mouthfeel as I would expect at that proof.
Finish: Long, warm and dry with lingering dried fruit, cinnamon and oak.
Conclusion
That was good, if a bit too hot/spicy for my tastes but there were a lot of great flavors too. This one isn’t going to be a daily drinker for me but I’m glad to have this bottle. It’s definitely one of the more distinct finished bourbons I have.
TL;DR: A little too hot and cinnamon for my taste but otherwise great. I think I’ll like it better in the fall/winter
8 - an excellent bottle I’d like to have at home
Scale
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