Town Branch Maple Stout Barrel Finished Bourbon Review

Distillery: Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co—Lexington, KY

Proof: 94.0 (47.0% ABV)

Age: At least four years

Mashbill: 72% Corn, 15% Rye, 13% Malted Barley

MSRP: $70

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Maple Finish in Name Only

Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co wears two hats—equal parts brewer and whiskey-maker under the Town Branch Distillery name.   Many distilleries tout collaborations with local breweries or experiment with creative finishes, only a select few can claim to be both producer and finisher of the barrels they use.

That dual identity gives Town Branch a unique character, especially when it comes to a whiskey expression that combines the worlds of stout and spirit.  Their latest limited release—Maple Stout Barrel Finished Bourbon—is just such an example.

At first glance, this expression reads like a trendy Secondary Finish:  Kentucky straight bourbon, rested in barrels that first held maple syrup and then aged like a stout beer.  The secondary barrels housed the brewery’s ever popular “Maple Barrel Stout,” a rich imperial beer aged in maple syrup barrels.

Once emptied, those same barrels were repurposed for a two-year finishing period with Town Branch bourbon.  The result is a whiskey significantly influenced by flavor transfers—first from the maple syrup, then the stout, and finally into the bourbon itself.

What makes this project of particular interest for enthusiasts is that Town Branch controls the entire cycle.  They produce the foundational bourbon, brew the stout, then finish the whiskey in-house using their own ex-beer barrels.

Whether it succeeds depends largely on your expectations.  Those expecting a dessert-like pour may be surprised.  While there is some sweetness, the beer’s roasted malt and dry character take the lead.  This is less a “maple bomb” and more a stout-forward bourbon.  Read on for our Bourbon Inspector detailed review….

Town Branch Maple Stout Barrel Finished Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 3.5/5

The Nose opens with caramelized grain, light butterscotch, and vanilla cream. What makes it stand out is a distinct herbal brightness—green, slightly minty, rose-like with hints of citrus.

Palate – 3/5

There is a clear influence from the stout—dark chocolate, espresso, and mild cherry notes.  The mouthfeel is viscous.  The Palate is surprisingly dry and bitter—which may appeal to stout drinkers but it feels slightly off-balance for a bourbon context.  The maple contribution is minimal and doesn’t round out the roasted malt notes or the bitterness.  Sweetness is underdeveloped and not at all in keeping with the expectation of the maple barrel influence.

Finish – 2.5/5

Some nice complexity with dry oak, leather, and burnt sugar.  There’s slight toasted walnut and dark roast coffee notes.   The Finish is short-to-medium with tannic dryness and slight bitterness—elements that could be enjoyable in a beer but not for a bourbon.  The expected maple signature notes never really emerge, and a hop-like note at the end may feel distracting to most bourbon-focused drinkers.

Value – 3/5

There’s authentic craftsmanship here—Town Branch controls the full lifecycle of the barrel from brew to Finish.  The concept for the expression is unique, and the $70 price point is on par with other craft secondary finished bourbons.  The unfulfilled maple expectations may disappoint.  This is not a pour for a wide audience.  Rather, it is a niche experiment, but not a must-have.  

Town Branch Maple Stout Barrel Finished Bourbon Review: The Verdict

Town Branch Maple Stout Barrel Finished Bourbon is a layered, beer-forward whiskey that challenges expectations.  Rather than bringing maple sweetness, it emphasizes roasted, dark, and dry characteristics that are presumably from the stout barrel.   This isn’t for a wide berth of whiskey drinkers, props for the vision of a niche expression and Town Branch’s control over its own process from distillation to barrel to finish.

Verdict – 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