Buzzard’s Roost Toasted French Oak Bourbon – Batch 2

Distillery: Buzzard’s Roost—Louisville, KY (Sourced from Ross and Squibb Distillery)

Proof: 100.0 (50.0% ABV)

Age: Four years plus 6-12 months secondary finish

Mashbill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley

MSRP: $95

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Buzzard’s Roost Toasted French Oak Bourbon – Batch 2: An Experiment in Innovative Finishing

Buzzard’s Roost is a relatively young name in the world of American whiskey, but the brand has made a strong impression with its focused commitment to . Buzzard’s Roost doesn’t distill its own whiskey—instead, it sources mature barrels from Ross & Squibb Distillery (aka MGP) and re-casks them using custom barrel finishes.

Batch #2 of Buzzard’s Roost Toasted French Oak Bourbon builds on that Secondary Finishing strategy, aiming to deliver a unique flavor profile by using toasted, lightly charred French oak barrels—a departure from the heavily charred American oak barrels that are typically used in bourbon. These barrels are crafted from French oak sourced from the Limousin forest, a region in central France. 

What is special about the Limousin forest you might ask….yeah, me too.  Doing some research, Limousin oak has a much more open structure than the American oak counterpart.  The open structure allows for deeper penetration of the whiskey into the wood during the aging process. This exposure creates more interaction between the whiskey and the oak, which can result in more robust flavors. Limousin oak also has a higher tannin content than does the American oak. Tannins introduce elements that make the whiskey seem dry on the Finish or create astringent notes on the Nose or Palate.  Notes which help to balance sweetness and enhance mouthfeel.

Buzzard’s Roost works closely with cooperages to custom toast each barrel to precise specifications, using lower heat over longer durations to nuance the oak’s characteristics.  With Batch #2, reportedly the goal was to spotlight the complexity of French oak while preserving the sourced bourbon—all of which aimed to create a whiskey that offers something unique from a traditional bourbon Finish.

Buzzard’s Roost Toasted French Oak Bourbon – Batch 2 Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 4/5

The aroma opens with green apple and toasted cereal—think something like Toasted Oats or Cheerios.  There’s a layer of freshly sawed oak that is endearing. After a brief rest, light notes of caramel come out along with some fresh rye bread.

Palate – 4/5

From first sip, a light oily texture and a balance of honey sweetness along with a slight bitterness of roasted rye grain. Mid-palate notes include toasted nuts, orange peel, and a touch of wood notes. The toasted French oak influence is apparent as there is a gentle dryness accompanied by slight spice character more akin to white pepper than the typical rye-forward heat.

Finish – 3/5

The finish is dry and mellow.  Notes of dried citrus and toasted wheat bread along with some oakiness lingers on the back palate.  It’s not a long Finish, but it’s clean and well-balanced.

Value – 3/5

While the price point indicates this is not aimed at a value pour, the secondary maturation using French oak clearly delivers a profile different from a traditional rye bourbon. If you’re looking for a toasted finish that’s more refined and spice-driven than sweet and heavy, this bottle will likely appeal to you. That said, the proof and oak-forward style will not appeal to those seeking a toasted yet traditional bourbon profile. 

A $95 MSRP seems a little steep price to pay for this expression and drags down the Value.  An $80 price point would significantly improve the Value score.

Buzzard’s Roost Toasted French Oak Bourbon – Batch 2 Review: The Verdict

Buzzard’s Roost Toasted French Oak, Batch #2 highlights the dry and spice complexity of Limousin oak. The base bourbon’s identity remains, but its flavors seem to be elevated from the Secondary Finish.

This isn’t a pour built for broad appeal—it’s for the enthusiast who enjoys exploring what a specific oak finish brings to the table. If that’s you, Batch #2 is a good example of creative barrel finishing.

Verdict – 3.5/5

We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.

Scoring System:

• Platinum – 4.5 – 5
• Gold – 4 – 4.5
• Silver – 3 – 4
• Bronze – <3