Distillery: Undisclosed—Distilled in North Carolina and Kentucky
Proof: 95.0 (47.5% ABV)
Age: Six Years + 12- 18 Months Secondary Aging
Mashbill: 70% Corn, 10% Rye, 10% Wheat, 10% Malted Barley
MSRP: $100
A patient secondary finish that deepens, rather than disguises, Oaklore’s original bourbon.
Oaklore Distilling’s Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish begins with their signature four-grain bourbon—a whiskey with a significant balance of sweetness, spice, and structure. After six to eight years of aging, the bourbon goes through a secondary aging of 12 to 18 months in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks. The result isn’t an attempt to hide questionable whiskey behind a secondary barrel, but rather it takes an already great whiskey in a new direction—a patient experiment that reflects Oaklore’s confidence in its own foundation. Does it produce another winner in the glass? Let’s find out…..
Oaklore Distilling Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes
Nose – 4.5/5
Dried cherries. Almonds. Light cocoa. Very delicate honey.
Strengths: Opens with layers of fruit—mostly deep layers of dried cherries. Subtle nuttiness. The delicate honey notes provide some “sophistication” to the Nose giving you a confidence in what’s to come.
Why It’s Not Higher: A faint ethanol tick makes it difficult to pick up the cocoa notes.
Rating Justification: Expressive. Mature. Clear Oloroso influence. Doesn’t cover up or discard the goodness from the base bourbon.
Palate – 4.75/5
Warm raisin nut bread. Roasted pecans. Dusting of cinnamon sugar.
Strengths: Terrific example of how the sherry and bourbon integrate and elevate the bourbon w/o covering it up. Bright fruit gives way to warmth and spice.
Why It’s Not Higher: A touch of dryness mid-Palate. Depending on the drinker’s tendencies, this will be endearing or off-putting, but it will push you one way or the other.
Rating Justification: Deep, flavorful, and cohesive from start to finish. Sherry presence is obvious but nuanced, not overdone.
Finish – 4.6/5
Baking spice. Cacao nib. Licorice. Dry leather.
Strengths: Elegant. Sweet and oak.
Why It’s Not Higher: A little more life from the spice notes would extend arc of the Finish.
Rating Justification: Balanced and rewarding. Solid blending.
Value – 4.5/5
At $100, this bottle targets drinkers who appreciate secondary aging done right. The 12–18 months in Oloroso wood delivers added dimension rather than dominance over the base bourbon. For enthusiasts who like to trace where an already good bourbon ends and the sherry aging begins, this bottle is a go-to. For enthusiasts who simply are looking for a good whiskey that has a non-traditional lineage, this is a strong contender for your shelf space.
Oaklore Distilling Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish Bourbon Review: The Verdict
Oaklore’s Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish stands out. It’s neither showy nor overdone. It is a nicely done evolution of the Oaklore’s core whiskey. The sherry casks lend character complements the base rather than competing with, or overdoing, it. A refined, fruit-tinted bourbon that rewards in the glass.
Verdict – 4.6/5
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
Mike Long is a staff writer at Bourbon Inspector and has an Executive Bourbon Steward designation from the Stave and Thief Society. He’s a former “wine guy” who discovered his love for bourbon years back at a spur-of-the-moment bourbon tasting he attended. He also loves traveling throughout America with his wife of over 37 years, Debby.
