Chattanooga Whiskey Port Cask Bourbon 750ML

Chattanooga Whiskey Port Cask Bourbon 750ML is a 95-proof (47.5% ABV) Tennessee straight bourbon finished in Tawny Port barrels from Portugal's Douro Superior region. What distinguishes this release is its foundation: a custom blend of six different Tennessee High Malt mashbills, each built with over 25% specialty malted grains, creating a layered complexity rarely found in port-finished bourbons.

Quick Facts: ABV: 47.5% (95 Proof)  |  Origin: Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA  |  Port Cask Finished (6+ months)  |  Distillery: Chattanooga Whiskey  |  Non-Chill Filtered

Production & Heritage

Chattanooga Whiskey operates out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, where the distillery has focused on reviving the city's pre-Prohibition whiskey legacy. The Port Cask expression begins with six distinct Tennessee High Malt mashbills — designated B001, B005, SB055, R18025, R18106, and R17113 — each incorporating over 25% specialty malted grains including malted rye, caramel malted barley, and honey malted barley. These bourbons are initially aged in 53-gallon toasted and charred oak barrels, then married and transferred to Tawny Port barrels sourced from the Douro Superior region of Portugal for a finishing period of greater than six months. The whiskey is bottled non-chill filtered, preserving the full body and texture imparted by both the malt-forward base and the port wine casks.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a lush, fruit-filled character reminiscent of a deconstructed fruit pie. Ripe strawberries, berry jam, and fig emerge alongside light leather and a faint earthiness from the malt backbone.

Taste: On entry, fig jam and blackberry notes coat the palate, transitioning into chocolate syrup and toasted sugars at the midpoint. Baked pie crust, caramel malt sweetness, and light oak develop through the mid-palate, while dried raisins and honey-malt warmth round out the peak.

Finish: The finish is medium-long with a layered sweet wine quality, carrying toasted marshmallow, dried fruit, and gentle toasted oak. Light leather and earthy malt linger beneath the berry-forward sweetness, keeping the close balanced rather than cloying.

How to Drink Port Cask Bourbon

The non-chill filtered 95-proof bottling holds up well neat, where the port cask influence and malt complexity are most apparent; a few drops of water will open the fruit-forward aromatics further. For cocktails, the berry and chocolate notes make it a natural fit: try it in a Manhattan, where the port-influenced sweetness complements sweet vermouth without overwhelming it; in a Boulevard (a Boulevardier riff), where the dark fruit profile plays beautifully against Campari's bitterness; or in an Old Fashioned with a cherry garnish, letting the fig jam and baked fruit flavors shine through the simplicity of the build.

Best For

• Bourbon collectors exploring cask-finished Tennessee whiskey
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who appreciates unusual mashbill experimentation
• After-dinner sipping alongside chocolate or berry-based desserts
• Side-by-side tastings comparing port cask finishing across different bourbon brands

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Chattanooga Port Cask taste like? It delivers rich fig jam, blackberry, and chocolate syrup flavors layered over baked pie crust and toasted oak, finishing with a sweet wine quality from the Tawny Port barrel aging.

How does Chattanooga Port Cask compare to 1792 Port Finish? Both are port-finished bourbons, but Chattanooga Port Cask uses a blend of six high-malt mashbills with over 25% specialty malted grains, resulting in a more malt-driven, fruit-pie character compared to 1792 Port Finish's more traditional corn-forward bourbon base. The Chattanooga is also bottled at a higher proof (95 vs. 88.9) and is non-chill filtered.

Is Chattanooga Port Cask good for sipping neat? Yes — the non-chill filtered, 95-proof bottling retains substantial body and texture that rewards slow, contemplative sipping, especially for those who enjoy fruit-forward, dessert-leaning bourbon profiles.

Where is Chattanooga Port Cask made? It is distilled and bottled by Chattanooga Whiskey in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with the port finishing casks sourced from the Douro Superior region of Portugal.

What foods pair well with Chattanooga Port Cask? Dark chocolate truffles complement the chocolate syrup and berry notes; aged blue cheese plays against the port cask sweetness with savory contrast; blackberry cobbler echoes the whiskey's fruit-pie aromatics; charcuterie with fig preserves mirrors the fig jam character; and pecan pie aligns with the toasted sugar and baked crust flavors.

What sizes does Chattanooga Port Cask come in? The standard release is available in a 750ml bottle.

Is Chattanooga Port Cask worth the price? It positions as a mid-premium cask-finished bourbon, and the combination of six blended high-malt mashbills, Portuguese port cask finishing, non-chill filtration, and 95-proof bottling represents genuine production complexity that justifies its price point within the cask-finished bourbon segment.

Why Chattanooga Port Cask?

The defining feature here is the Tennessee High Malt approach — blending six distinct mashbills each containing over 25% specialty malted grains before finishing in Tawny Port barrels creates a depth of flavor that single-mashbill port-finished bourbons rarely achieve. The use of caramel malted barley and honey malted barley in the base whiskey contributes a natural sweetness and textural richness that amplifies the dried fruit and berry character imparted by the Portuguese casks. Non-chill filtration at 95 proof ensures nothing is stripped away in the process. For drinkers who find standard port-finished bourbons one-dimensional, Chattanooga's multi-mashbill blending strategy and commitment to specialty grains deliver a genuinely layered alternative.