Jeppson's Straight Bourbon Maple Syrup Finish 750ML

Jeppson's Straight Bourbon Maple Syrup Finish 750ml is a barrel-finished straight bourbon whiskey from CH Distillery in Chicago, Illinois. Built on the same foundation as the core Jeppson's Bourbon — which earned a 91-point Gold Medal from the Beverage Testing Institute — this expression adds a secondary finishing step in maple syrup barrels, introducing a distinctive sweetness layered over the bourbon's grain-forward character.

Quick Facts: Origin: Chicago, Illinois (sourced from Indiana and Kentucky)  |  Type: Straight Bourbon, Maple Syrup Barrel Finish  |  Distillery: CH Distillery  |  Size: 750ml

Production & Heritage

CH Distillery, located in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, is the brand steward behind the Jeppson's line — a name most widely known for its polarizing Malört bitter liqueur. The bourbon side of the portfolio takes a different path entirely. The base liquid is a blend of straight bourbon whiskeys sourced from Indiana's MGP distillery and Kentucky's O.Z. Tyler distillery, each aged a minimum of four years in new charred American oak barrels. The mashbill for the core Jeppson's Bourbon runs 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, and the whiskey is non-chill filtered and originally barreled at 100 proof. For this Maple Syrup Finish expression, the aged bourbon undergoes a secondary maturation in barrels that previously held maple syrup, allowing residual sugars and wood-absorbed maple character to integrate into the whiskey over time.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Warm maple sweetness arrives first, followed by toasted oak, vanilla bean, and a subtle rye-spice undertone. There is a confectionery quality — think maple candy — balanced by the bourbon's inherent grain depth.

Taste: The entry is noticeably sweet, with maple syrup and caramel corn leading into a mid-palate of baking spice, light cinnamon, and brown sugar. Rye grain asserts itself as the palate develops, preventing the sweetness from becoming one-dimensional. The non-chill filtered texture gives it a fuller, slightly oily mouthfeel.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering maple, charred oak tannins, and a hint of black pepper. The sweetness fades gradually, leaving a dry, warm close.

How to Drink Jeppson's Maple Finish

Neat or with a single large ice cube allows the maple influence to show clearly against the bourbon's grain and oak backbone. This expression is also a natural cocktail ingredient where its maple character replaces or complements traditional sweeteners.

• Old Fashioned: The maple finish substitutes some or all of the simple syrup, creating a more layered and autumnal take on the classic.
• Maple Whiskey Sour: Pairs naturally with fresh lemon juice, letting the maple sweetness balance the citrus acidity without additional sugar.
• Brown Butter Manhattan: The maple and rye spice notes integrate seamlessly with sweet vermouth and a few dashes of walnut bitters.

Best For

• Bourbon drinkers exploring barrel-finished expressions beyond wine or sherry cask variants
• Fall and winter cocktail experimentation where maple is a natural seasonal flavor
• Gifting to someone who enjoys breakfast-inspired or dessert-adjacent whiskeys
• Side-by-side tasting alongside the core Jeppson's Bourbon to isolate the finishing effect

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Jeppson's Maple Finish taste like? It leads with prominent maple sweetness and caramel, balanced by rye spice and charred oak from the base bourbon. The non-chill filtered texture gives it a fuller body than many flavored or finished whiskeys in this category.

How does Jeppson's Maple Finish compare to Knob Creek Smoked Maple? Knob Creek Smoked Maple is classified as a flavored bourbon with added natural flavors, while Jeppson's Maple Syrup Finish derives its character from secondary barrel maturation rather than added flavorings. This production distinction typically results in a more integrated and less overtly sweet maple presence in the Jeppson's expression.

Is Jeppson's Maple Finish good for sipping neat? Yes — the barrel finishing method integrates the maple character into the whiskey's structure, making it suitable for neat sipping rather than tasting like syrup over bourbon. A single ice cube will tame the sweetness further if preferred.

Where is Jeppson's Maple Finish made? The bourbon is produced under the Jeppson's label by CH Distillery in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. The base whiskey is sourced from MGP distillery in Indiana and O.Z. Tyler distillery in Kentucky, then finished and bottled under CH Distillery's direction.

What foods pair well with Jeppson's Maple Finish? Smoked pork belly or bacon benefits from the maple mirror effect. Pecan pie and maple-glazed walnuts complement the bourbon's sweetness directly. Blue cheese provides a sharp, salty counterpoint. Cornbread with butter echoes the corn-forward mashbill, and apple-based desserts like tarte tatin align with the autumnal flavor profile.

What sizes does Jeppson's Maple Finish come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle. Availability of other sizes may vary by market.

Is Jeppson's Maple Finish worth the price? Jeppson's Maple Syrup Finish positions in the mid-range value tier for barrel-finished bourbons. The use of sourced four-year-aged straight bourbon as a base and a genuine barrel finishing process — rather than added flavoring — represents solid production credibility for the category.

Why Jeppson's Maple Finish?

What separates this expression from the crowded field of maple-adjacent whiskeys is the finishing method itself. Rather than adding maple flavoring post-distillation, Jeppson's uses actual maple syrup barrels for a secondary maturation, allowing the bourbon to absorb maple character through the wood over time. The base bourbon — built on a high-rye mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% barley and aged at least four years — provides enough backbone that the maple influence complements rather than overwhelms. For drinkers who find flavored bourbons too sweet or artificial, this barrel-finished approach delivers maple presence with the structural integrity of a straight bourbon.