Kinnard And Drake Toasted Barrel Bourbon 750ML

Kinnard And Drake Toasted Barrel Bourbon 750ML is a 90-proof high-rye Indiana bourbon finished in a new toasted oak barrel, bottled at 45% ABV. Scored 87 points by Tastings.com, this expression distinguishes itself through its secondary toasted-barrel maturation, which draws additional sugars from fresh wood to amplify the whiskey's caramel and confectionary character.

Quick Facts: ABV: 45% (90 Proof)  |  Origin: Lawrenceburg, Indiana  |  Aged 4+ Years, Toasted Barrel Finish  |  Distillery: Boone County Jail Distillery / MGP Ingredients

Production & Heritage

The bourbon itself is sourced from MGP Ingredients in Lawrenceburg, Indiana — one of the most prolific and respected contract distilleries in American whiskey. The mashbill is a 36% high-rye recipe, which provides a pronounced spice backbone. After initial maturation for over four years in new charred American oak barrels, the whiskey undergoes a secondary finish in a new toasted barrel. Unlike charring, which carbonizes the wood surface rapidly, toasting heats the staves at a lower temperature for a longer period, unlocking deeper caramelized sugars, vanilla compounds, and nutmeg-like warmth from the oak. This additional step sets the Toasted Barrel expression apart from Kinnard and Drake's standard straight bourbon.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet honeysuckle opens the nose, followed by baking spice notes of cinnamon and clove. A thread of vanilla custard and faint nutmeg emerges as the whiskey breathes.

Taste: The entry is soft and creamy, leading with rich butterscotch and ripe apricot. Mid-palate, the 36% rye asserts itself with a warming spice that lifts the sweetness. The body feels round and full, with a surprisingly low alcohol sensation for 90 proof, along with touches of lime citrus and spearmint that add complexity.

Finish: Medium in length with a confectionary quality — powdered sugar, caramel, and dried raisins linger alongside dark cherries and a final dusting of cinnamon. The toasted barrel influence is most evident here, leaving a smooth, dessert-like fade.

How to Drink Toasted Barrel Bourbon

The creamy body and layered sweetness make this bourbon rewarding neat or with a single large ice cube, which opens up the apricot and honeysuckle aromatics without diminishing the spice. Three cocktails worth trying:

• Old Fashioned — The butterscotch and caramel core pairs naturally with a sugar cube and Angostura bitters, creating a seamless, dessert-inflected classic.
• Boulevardier — The high-rye spice stands up to Campari's bitterness while the toasted-barrel sweetness balances the sweet vermouth.
• Gold Rush — Honey syrup and lemon juice amplify the honeysuckle and citrus notes already present in the whiskey.

Best For

• Exploring the effect of toasted-barrel finishing on a well-known MGP high-rye mashbill
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert or a cigar
• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who enjoys secondary-barrel finishes
• Building a comparative tasting flight of toasted versus charred barrel bourbons

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Toasted Barrel Bourbon taste like? It leads with butterscotch and apricot sweetness, transitions into cinnamon and rye spice at mid-palate, and finishes with confectionary sugar, caramel, and dried cherry. The overall impression is creamy and round with moderate warmth.

How does Toasted Barrel Bourbon compare to Woodford Reserve Double Oaked? Both bourbons use a secondary barrel finish to add sweetness and complexity, but Kinnard and Drake starts with a high-rye MGP distillate at 90 proof, while Woodford Reserve Double Oaked uses Brown-Forman's own lower-rye mashbill at 90.4 proof. The result is that the Kinnard and Drake expression carries more baking spice alongside its caramel notes, whereas Double Oaked leans further into chocolate and dark fruit.

Is Toasted Barrel Bourbon good for sipping neat? Yes — the creamy mouthfeel, round body, and relatively gentle 90-proof heat make it comfortable to drink without dilution, while the toasted-barrel sugars provide enough sweetness to stand on their own.

Where is Toasted Barrel Bourbon made? The bourbon is distilled at MGP Ingredients in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, one of the largest and most respected whiskey distilleries in the United States. It is produced under the Kinnard and Drake label by Boone County Jail Distillery.

What foods pair well with Toasted Barrel Bourbon? Pecan pie complements the caramel and nutmeg sweetness. Smoked pork belly matches the oak-driven vanilla. Sharp cheddar contrasts the butterscotch richness. Crème brûlée mirrors the confectionary sugar finish. Dark chocolate with dried cherries echoes the fruit and spice notes on the palate.

What sizes does Toasted Barrel Bourbon come in? The standard offering is the 750ml bottle.

Is Toasted Barrel Bourbon worth the price? It positions as a mid-range bourbon with an additional production step — the toasted-barrel finish — that typically justifies a modest premium over standard straight bourbons. The 87-point score from Tastings.com and the well-regarded MGP source distillate support its value within the toasted- and double-barrel-finished bourbon category.

Why Toasted Barrel Bourbon?

The defining feature here is the new toasted barrel finish applied to a proven 36% high-rye MGP bourbon aged over four years. Toasting — as opposed to charring — coaxes a different set of compounds from the oak, emphasizing caramelized sugars and baking spice over smoke and char. The result, validated by an 87-point rating from Tastings.com, is a bourbon that balances dessert-like sweetness with enough rye-driven bite to keep it engaging. For anyone interested in how barrel treatment shapes flavor, this expression provides a clear and well-executed demonstration at a accessible proof point.