Shortbarrel Bourbon Co Sapsquatch Straight Bourbon Finished in Maple Syrup Barrels and Toasted Barrels Review

Proof: 110.0 (55.0% ABV)

Age: Blend of 6–8+ Year Kentucky & Indiana Bourbons

Mashbill: Blend of 70/21/9 and 75/21/4. Finished in Maple Syrup-Conditioned Kelvin Toasted Barrels 

MSRP: $95

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A Maple-Driven Bourbon That Still Remembers It’s Bourbon

Shortbarrel Bourbon’s Sapsquatch enters a crowded space of flavored finishes and secondary aging where bourbon can sometimes lose itself.  Maple barrel finishing can raise some fair skepticism.  Too much sweetness can quickly overpower the foundational whiskey beneath, while aggressive secondary finishing risks turning bourbon into novelty.  Shortbarrel appears to understand that tension.

Built from a blend of 6–8+ year Kentucky and Indiana bourbons and bottled at 110 proof, Sapsquatch signals confidence from the outset.  Its higher proof and higher rye mash bills suggests a backbone to the whiskey.  And yet, its unusual secondary finishing process signals something more intentional than simply resting whiskey in a flavored barrel.

Shortbarrel first conditions the bourbon with sugar maple infusion spirals before transferring it into toasted barrels that previously held maple syrup.  In other words, this whiskey is trying to become a maple-shaped bourbon rather than merely a bourbon with maple layered on top.

That ambition comes with risk.  On paper, there is reason to wonder whether Sapsquatch will become too sweet, too engineered, or too proof-forward for its own good.  But what emerges is a whiskey that initially feels unexpected and rewards patience.  If the first sip creates hesitation, the second and beyond delivers familiarity and reveals a pour that feels intentional, complete, and surprisingly grounded in traditional bourbon structure.

Shortbarrel Bourbon Co Sapsquatch Straight Bourbon Finished in Maple Syrup Barrels and Toasted Barrels Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 4.5/5

Toasted oak.  Warm maple syrup.  Honey grain sweetness.  Buttered wheat toast.  Caramelized sugar.

Strengths:  Unfolds in layers.  Makes you be patience as it reveals itself.  Oak and darker sweetness arrive first.  Maple and grain sweetness slowly emerge with time in the glass.  Feels like bourbon first, with maple shaping the experience instead of overtaking it.  Oak is supportive rather than feeling dry.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Carries only moderate intensity.  Never fully develops the spice influence suggested by the rye-forward mash bill and proof point.
Rating Justification:  Inviting.  Rewards patience in the glass.  Successfully balances maple influence against mature bourbon character.  Doesn’t drift into novelty territory.

Palate – 4.5/5

Warm maple syrup.  Brown sugar.  Dense caramelization.  Seasoned oak.

Strengths:  This is where Sapsquatch begins to justify its higher proof.  While the first sip initially feels unexpected as sweetness flashes quickly before the proof makes itself known, familiarity allows the whiskey to settle into itself.  Maple clearly leads the experience, but in an endearing way that never buries the bourbon beneath it.  Proof pays dividends by preserving concentration and richness of notes instead of overwhelming flavor.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Finds its lane early and stays there.  Doesn’t build or deepen, instead it holds steady and gradually settles.
Rating Justification:  Rich.  Flavorful.  Confidently maple-forward without losing its bourbon identity.  Proof is surprising at first but ultimately serves to maintain the flavor.

Finish – 4.2/5

Seasoned oak.  Baking spice warmth.  Toasted barrel char.  Lingering maple.

Strengths:  Naturally transitions toward oak spice which helps the bourbon to quietly reassert itself after the sweeter, maple-forward Palate.  Progression feels like a natural continuation of a well-made bourbon.  Medium length.  Leaves behind enough warmth and oak to encourage you for another sip.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Fades steadily without significantly deepening or evolving.  Does not develop enough to become particularly memorable.
Rating Justification:  Succeeds because it feels like its delivering on the whiskey’s intent.  Reinforces a bourbon identity.  Pulls the sweeter elements back toward bourbon character and oak.

Value – 4.1/5

At $95, Sapsquatch sits firmly in enthusiast territory.  The mature sourced bourbon blend, intentional secondary finishing process, and the limited-release positioning help justify the asking price.  That said, this is not a universally appealing pour, which is a good trait in today’s crowded finishing market.

The higher proof requires acclimation, and interestingly, proofing the whiskey down introduced an odd tart, varnish-like note that disrupted the pour.  

This feels like a whiskey that wants to be consumed neat and at full proof.  For enthusiasts interested in thoughtfully executed maple finishing that still behaves like bourbon, the value feels fair, even if not inexpensive.

Shortbarrel Bourbon Co Sapsquatch Straight Bourbon Finished in Maple Syrup Barrels and Toasted Barrels Review: The Verdict

Shortbarrel Sapsquatch succeeds because it aims for boldness while also holding itself to its bourbon roots.  This is not a novelty maple whiskey, or a dessert pour masquerading as bourbon.  Instead, it feels like a bourbon intentionally reshaped by maple influence while still preserving the structure, oak, and identity expected from mature bourbon.

What ultimately makes Sapsquatch work is that nothing feels disconnected or disjointed.  The maple remains dominant but never gimmicky, the oak provides needed structure, and the higher proof eventually proves necessary rather than excessive.  

While the first sip may create uncertainty, patience pays dividends.  For enthusiasts willing to spend time with it, Sapsquatch is rewarding expression that confidently walks the line between uniqueness and bourbon tradition.

Verdict – 4.3/5

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