Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask (2025 Release) Review

Distillery: Bardstown Bourbon Company, parent company of Green River Distilling—Owensboro, KY

Proof: 113.86 (56.93% ABV)

Age: Minimum of Three Years

Mashbill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley

MSRP: $65

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A young bourbon elevated by a unique honey cask finish

Blue Note has steadily built a reputation for barrel-finished, cask strength releases that lean into bold flavors.  The 2025 Honey Cask Release takes Blue Note’s straight bourbon—distilled by Bardstown Bourbon Company using the same mashbill as Green River—and gives it a secondary finish in honey barrels.  The result is a whiskey that blends a unrelenting youthfulness, rye spice, and natural sweetness.

Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask (2025 Release) Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 4/5

Honey graham cracker.  Sweet hay after it’s baked in the sun.  Maple sugar.  Smoke.
Strengths:  A fragrant Nose with a distinct balance of sweet honey and classic bourbon notes.  Spice and smoke notes are easy to pick up.
Why It’s Not Higher:  The youthful edges still come through.  Some additional age would be interesting to see on this one.
Rating Justification:  The aromas are lovely, inviting and lively.  There’s a clear influence from the honey finish.

Palate – 3.9/5

Honey syrup.  Brown sugar.  Molasses.  Black pepper.  Char.
Strengths:  The Palate carries a strong honey sweetness layered over the bourbon backbone.  Spice and char plays nicely with the honey influence.
Why It’s Not Higher:  The sweetness sometimes mute the rye grain.
Rating Justification:  A flavorful sip.  Clearly identifiable influence of the secondary finishing.

Finish – 3.75/5

Honey glaze.  Vanilla cream.  Black pepper.  Dry oak.
Strengths:  A long, warm Finish that continues the honey profile with a not-so-subtle spice undertone.
Why It’s Not Higher:  The Finish goes sweet before tapering to tart dry notes.
Rating Justification:  Pleasant length and warm.  The tapering to tart detracts from the Palate.

Value – 4/5

At cask strength, the Honey Cask offers enthusiasts a compelling specialty bottle.  The $65 MSRP sits above standard bourbon pricing, but the uniqueness of the honey-barrel finish and stellar reputation of the distillation partner provides a solid justification for the price point.  For those seeking barrel strength, secondary-finished bourbon, this bottle is fairly priced in today’s market.

Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask (2025 Release) Review: The Verdict

Blue Note Honey Cask Bourbon 2025 showcases honey-finished bourbon by delivering bold sweetness backed up by rye spice and oak.  While it leans more toward honey-driven character than deep complexity, its proof makes it a rewarding pour.  That said, it would be interesting to have more time in the barrel to allow for greater depth of the flavor profile. Shop now.

Verdict – 3.9/5

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