Field & Sound Straight Bourbon Finished in Rum Casks Review

Distillery: Long Island Spirits—Baiting Hollow, NY

Proof: 120.0 (60.0% ABV)

Age: Two Years + Eight Months in Used Rum Casks

Mashbill: 60% Corn, 33% Winter Rye, 7% Malted Barley

MSRP: $60

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High-Proof Bourbon Meets Long Island Rum

Field & Sound is a relatively new label for many bourbon drinkers, but behind it is Long Island Spirits, the same folks behind the Rough Rider expressions (see below for links to other expression reviews).

With its roots in Baiting Hollow, New York, Field & Sound aims to highlight local ingredients—and this release, finished in the distillery’s own pot-distilled rum casks, seeks to offer one of their most flavor-forward expressions yet.

The whiskey starts with a mashbill of 60% field corn, 33% winter rye, and 7% malted barley, and the spirit is double pot distilled before aging in Char #2 barrels. After initial maturation, the whiskey is transferred into used rum barrels—casks that previously held eight-year-old rum made by Long Island Spirits made from blackstrap molasses and pure cane sugar.

Other Field & Sound expressions:

Rough Rider Bull Moose Rye Whiskey

Rough Rider Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Brandy Casks

Field & Sound Straight Bourbon Finished in Rum Casks Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 2/5

Notes of a humid morning on the coast, with an inward blowing breeze, punches you in the Nose.  It’s that sea salt kind of morning where you want to love it but just can’t.  The redeeming qualities are notes of molasses and burnt brown sugar, followed by a little charred oak.

Palate – 2/5

This is where the rum cask influence really shows up. The sip starts viscous and dense, leading with a mixture of sea salt and cane syrup, oak char, and a bit of peppery rye spice.

Finish – 1.75/5

A long drawn-out Finish with lingering notes of oak and cinnamon. The high-rye mash bill continues to show its influence with a peppery kick, adding to the uniqueness of this pour.

Value – 1.75/5

At $60, Field & Sound Cask Strength Rum Cask Finished Bourbon positions itself in a competitive price range—but the whiskey just doesn’t deliver on that promise. While the specs are appealing on paper—high proof, non-chill filtered, and a rum cask finish—the expression falls short. The flavor profile lacks harmony. Enthusiasts looking for a rich, complex pour with sweetness and structure will likely walk away underwhelmed.

Field & Sound Straight Bourbon Finished in Rum Casks Review: The Verdict

I love how the industry is evolving and trying experimental innovations to enhance their original bourbon or whiskey.  But sometimes the results just doesn’t come together. Field & Sound’s Cask Strength Rum Cask Finished Bourbon is an example of a whiskey that sounds exciting but ultimately misses the mark in the glass. The Nose is off-balance, the Palate leans salty and muddled, and while the Finish lingers, it doesn’t offer much reward for the wait.

This bottle may find a niche among drinkers who enjoy experimental cask finishes or who are curious about the Long Island whiskey scene—but for most enthusiasts, this pour is more frustrating than it is satisfying.

Verdict – 1.9/5

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