It is freezing here in the Indianapolis area, and what better way to warm up than with a little Bourbon? We all know the answer, there isn’t one, so that was not really a question. Warming us up today is Bondstone Triple Oak Bourbon Whiskey. This is Bondstone’s Double Oak finished with toasted oak staves. There is not a lot of info out there regarding this Bourbon, not even a website. What we did find was that it is owned by I.J.W. which is a Kentucky-based producer that sources its spirits from multiple distilleries in the state. And that is about it, so not much to go on, no age statement and no mash bill.
What we can say is that Bondstone Triple Oak sells for $60, is 100 proof, comes in a classy looking corked bottle, and is not the easiest thing to find.
At times these “finished” Whiskeys, whether it is putting in some toasted staves at the end of the aging process, another aging in oak barrels, or extra aging in some other type of used barrel like port, can come off as gimmicky. Or if not, just have too much wood flavor or too much of whatever type of barrel they used for the extra aging. Other times it can be a nice addition, adding some smoothness and depth. We have never had this before so let’s find out which direction this stuff takes.
NOSE
TB: Sweet aroma upfront with molasses, caramel, and brown sugar. Also getting a lot of oak and some hickory. Behind these are scents of vanilla, orange, leather, apple, and cherry. Lastly, a slight bit of toast. Ice calms the wood down and brings out more of the fruit and caramel.
TASTE
TB: Very oaky, almost too much, with more of the caramel and leather. A little hot neat and we all lost the fruit that was on the nose. We did get some spice, tobacco, and a bit of butter. Ice softens the whole experience by making it less hot but also muting the flavors a bit.
FINISH
TB: Medium to medium long with more oak, sweetness, and bit more spice.
OVERALL
TB: We all enjoyed the nose and thought it was more complex than the taste. The extra wood flavor is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but we generally liked it.
Nose 4.25 out of 5
Taste 6.5 out of 10
Finish 3.25 out of 5
Total score 14 out of 20 barrels.
While we all enjoy a good aroma from our glass of whiskey, and this had a good aroma, in the end it is about the taste. And in the end, the taste was above average but not real complex. It is a unique drink given the strong wood flavor and at $60, not going to break the bank.
Since it is a different tasting drink, can be hard to find, not too pricey, and comes in a nice-looking bottle, we recommend buying a bottle of Bondstone Triple Oak Bourbon. We will definitely buy again.