Brother's Bond Cask Strength Bourbon 750ML

Brother's Bond Cask Strength Bourbon 750ML is a barrel-proof bourbon bottled uncut and unfiltered at 57.55% ABV (115.1 proof) in a 750ml bottle. This expression earned a Double Gold Medal at both the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the 2023 New York World Spirits Competition, making it one of the more heavily decorated cask strength releases sourced from Indiana's MGP distillery.

Quick Facts: ABV: 57.55% (115.1 proof; varies by batch)  |  Origin: Lawrenceburg, Indiana, USA  |  Barrel Proof, Unfiltered  |  Distillery: MGP (Ross & Squibb)

Production & Heritage

Brother's Bond Bourbon was co-founded by actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley. The cask strength expression is distilled at the MGP (Ross & Squibb) facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana — one of the most prolific bourbon distilleries in the United States — using copper column stills with a copper pot-doubler. The mashbill is a distinctive four-grain recipe: 65% corn, 22% rye, and 13% wheat and malted barley, an uncommon combination that bridges the gap between high-rye and wheated bourbon profiles. For each batch release, approximately 70 barrels are hand-selected from the broader Brother's Bond inventory, then bottled at full barrel strength without cutting or chill filtering. Proof can vary slightly between batches, typically landing between 115 and 120 proof.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe banana and walnut surface immediately, followed by warmed rye bread, leather, and a ribbon of subtle smoke. Beneath those primary notes, vanilla and dried fruit deepen as the bourbon breathes in the glass.

Taste: The entry coats the palate with rich caramel and honey, giving way to building rye spice and cinnamon across the mid-palate. At full proof, layers of cocoa, dried fruit, and floral undertones emerge while sturdy oak structure holds everything in balance without veering tannic. A few drops of water reveal additional citrus and fig character.

Finish: Long and warmly persistent, with honey, vanilla, and steady rye spice that lingers well past the last sip. The barrel-proof intensity delivers a satisfying heat that gradually settles into leather and toasted grain.

How to Drink Brother's Bond Cask Strength

Start neat to appreciate the full barrel-proof intensity, then add water in small increments — even a few drops will open up the aromatic range considerably without flattening the whiskey's weight. This expression also brings serious backbone to cocktails: an Old Fashioned benefits from the high proof cutting through ice dilution while keeping caramel depth intact; a Boulevardier pairs well because the bourbon's intensity stands toe-to-toe with Campari's bitterness; and a Gold Rush lets honey syrup and lemon amplify the natural sweetness and spice already present in the whiskey.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who gravitates toward barrel-proof expressions
• Building a cask strength bourbon collection alongside other MGP-sourced releases
• Hosting a proof-comparison tasting night with friends
• Exploring the four-grain mashbill category in its most uncompromised form

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Brother's Bond Cask Strength taste like? It leads with rich caramel and honey, layered with rye spice, cocoa, and dried fruit, finishing long with vanilla and warming barrel-proof heat. The unfiltered bottling gives it a full, oily texture that carries flavors across the entire palate.

How does Brother's Bond Cask Strength compare to Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered? Both are MGP-sourced, barrel-proof bourbons bottled without chill filtration, but they differ in grain recipe — Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered tends to lean heavier on baking spice and dark fruit from a high-rye mashbill, while Brother's Bond Cask Strength brings a softer, broader sweetness from its four-grain formula that includes wheat. Brother's Bond holds Double Gold medals from both SFWSC and NYWSC in 2023, giving it strong competition credentials in the category.

Is Brother's Bond Cask Strength good for sipping neat? Yes — the inclusion of both rye and wheat in the mashbill creates a surprisingly approachable texture for a bourbon above 115 proof. Adding a few drops of water further tames the heat and reveals additional dried fruit and floral character.

Where is Brother's Bond Cask Strength made? It is distilled at the MGP (Ross & Squibb) distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, one of the most respected and widely sourced whiskey producers in the United States. The bourbon is distilled using copper column stills paired with a copper pot-doubler.

What foods pair well with Brother's Bond Cask Strength? Smoked brisket complements the leather and smoke notes; dark chocolate truffles mirror the cocoa and vanilla layers; pecan pie echoes the nutty caramel sweetness; aged cheddar provides a savory counterpoint to the honey richness; and bananas Foster amplifies the distinctive ripe banana aromatics found on the nose.

What sizes does Brother's Bond Cask Strength come in? Brother's Bond Cask Strength Bourbon is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Brother's Bond Cask Strength worth the price? It positions in the mid-premium tier for barrel-proof bourbons, and its strong showing at major competitions — including Double Gold medals at both SFWSC and NYWSC in 2023, plus Platinum at the American Spirits Council of Tasters in 2022 and 2023 — supports solid value relative to similarly sourced cask strength releases.

Why Brother's Bond Cask Strength?

The consecutive Double Gold medals at both the San Francisco and New York World Spirits Competitions place this bourbon among the top-performing barrel-proof releases in recent years. Its four-grain mashbill — blending rye and wheat alongside corn and malted barley — is genuinely uncommon and delivers a complexity that neither pure high-rye nor standard wheated bourbons achieve independently. Each batch is drawn from just 70 hand-selected barrels and bottled without dilution or filtration, preserving every nuance the distillate developed during aging. For drinkers seeking a barrel-proof bourbon with verified competition results and a grain bill that stands apart from the pack, this expression backs up its credentials.