Wheel Horse Narragansett Baltic Porter Beer Finished Bourbon Review

Distillery: Green River Distilling—Owensboro, KY

Proof: 101.0 (50.5% ABV)

Age: Five Years + 4.5 Months Secondary Aging

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

MSRP: $43

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Bourbon Meets Dark Malt Influence

Wheel Horse merges a heritage production with a modern transparency.  For this limited release, Wheel Horse partnered with Narragansett Beer, a storied New England brewery whose roots stretch back to 1890.  The base whiskey—aged five years in Kentucky—was transferred into beer casks for roughly four to five months of secondary aging.  2,100 bottles were produced.  At 101 proof, the goal was to integrate the dark malt of the porter with the caramel-spice profile of the bourbon. The result is a curious intersection…..

Wheel Horse Narragansett Baltic Porter Beer Finished Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 4.3/5

Roasted malt.  Cocoa nibs.  Vanilla cream.  Toasted oak.

Strengths:  Immediate sense of depth.  Gentle chocolate and malt sweetness show up over the bourbon’s core notes.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Malt notes take a while to unfold.  Be patient with this one and give it a rest in the glass.
Rating Justification:  Inviting and distinctive.  The beer barrel secondary aging is apparent but not gimmicky.

Palate – 4.4/5

Toffee.  Chocolate malt.  Brown sugar.  Baking spice.

Strengths:  The secondary finish creates a dark and layered expression without losing the bourbon’s core  identity.  Mid-Palate sweetness.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Mid-Palate dips before the Finish.
Rating Justification:  Balanced expression.  Complexity of malt notes and Kentucky sweetness.  The porter cask adds to the richness without moving excessively sweet.

Finish – 4.2/5

Roasted cocoa.  Oak char.  Vanilla bean.  Espresso.

Strengths:  Clean, mildly drying close with roasted malt and spice that lingers.  Proof point is neither sharp nor flat.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Could linger longer.  Some sweetness fades too quickly leaving a touch of oak tannin.
Rating Justification:  Solid close that feels consistent with the beer-cask influence—structured, dark, and just a touch of enjoyable bitterness.

Value – 4.6/5

At $43 and bottled at 101 proof, this limited release offers strong value.  Here, both brands’ legacies—Green River’s precise distillation and Narragansett’s malt history—come through with clarity.  The Finish enhances without distracting.  For enthusiasts who appreciate experimental finishes that respect the base whiskey, this is an affordable standout.

Wheel Horse Narragansett Baltic Porter Beer Finished Bourbon Review: The Verdict

Wheel Horse’s Narragansett Baltic Porter Finish succeeds in flavor integration.  This limited release demonstrates that beer cask finishes can add genuine dimension.  It’s an inventive and satisfying pour that earns its Gold rating with ease.

Verdict – 4.4/5

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