Hannah’s Daviess County Cabernet Sauvignon Finish Review
Original review written May 17, 2022
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Dry wine, wood, and occasional dark fruit, this is unlike any bourbon I’ve had before – finish or no. It’s decent, and I remain intrigued by the line. Would I buy this particular special finish again? Perhaps not, but I won’t struggle to finish this bottle. 86/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Bardstown, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Lux Row Distillers (specific distiller undisclosed)
– Classification: Special Finish Blended Bourbon
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: blend of ryed and wheated mash bills (specific volume ratios undisclosed)
Ryed: Corn=78%; Rye=10%; Malted Barley=12% (for spice)
Wheated: Corn=68%; Wheat=20%; Malted Barley=12% (for smoothness)
– Casks: undisclosed char; finished for six months in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon barrels
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed
– ABV: 48% (96 proof)
– Price: $49.95 USD in Idaho in 2022
Visit daviesscountybourbon.com for more information
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with sister, as well as father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
This bourbon is reminiscent of drought, where each sip makes you want more – not necessarily ever feeling entirely quenched. Instead of choosing a setting to balance this dryness, I wonder if finding someplace perhaps even drier would push this bourbon to perform with the potential I know it is capable of. Find dry earth with dusty air and let this bourbon stretch its legs with depth, fruit and richness – I know it can do it.
Photo by Micaela Parente on Unsplash
NOSE:
Despite this being a special finish, this is immediately recognized a bourbon even on the first inhale. It smells sweet with corn and deep with age. There are plenty of dark, dried fruits – like dry raisins, fig, prunes, currants, and a hint of ripe plum as well. These are coupled with a mixture of cinnamon and ginger that brightens the tone of this bourbon. There is earth here also with leather, and of course, the aforementioned grain. Caramelized oak and waffle cone round out the complex nose, absorbing any kind of alcohol burn right along with it. It’s a nose that’s right up my alley with fruity darkness, and I’m looking forward to taking a sip. This doesn’t necessarily smell like wine, but the wine influence is certainly there.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: There is a bit of raspiness, but it doesn’t cling to the palate at all.
– Balance: It’s on the simpler side with the notes it provides, but the flavors are unique to our bunker, all the same.
– Visual: Honey in color, there are many long legs that fall from a well-defined ring. They don’t cling much, but they are thick.
– Taste: There is little to no alcohol to be found on the palate, and I can sit with it for some time before feeling any kind of urge to aggravate it at all. When I do, I am met with a staunch black bread heavy with dark bittersweet molasses. The wine barrel tannins are more pronounced here on the palate than they were on the nose, and that depth is backed by sharp currants and a type of sweet custard spread, like what you’d find in a Boston Cream Pie. Additional richness comes from a nutty essence, like unsalted, chopped peanuts.
The fruitiness of wine influence isn’t as apparent as it was on the nose; however, the dryness coupled with oak, yeast, and earth is very strong. None of this affects the alcohol, which is inoffensive and gentle. At its most aggressive with a Kentucky chew, wood dominates and very little else comes through.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Medium. I find a little remaining warmth at the back of the throat, and minor aftertaste.
– Between Sips: Yeast and wood are the most pronounced between sips, and it does feel a little like a one-note wonder, but it’s decent enough.
– No More: This grows a bit simpler and drier the further into the glass I get, with the pre-existing, minimal fruit becoming even more faint. It’s disappointing, as I was hoping for the fruit to be more intense.
The empty Glencairn smells like a pure bourbon with heavy rye, and spicy oak. I wish a bit more of that bite was in the pour itself, as this smells heavenly.
WORTH THE PRICE?
While this is decent, and while I also appreciate that each of the Daviess County offerings received by our stores hover at $50, I would say this is not their strongest pour. If you like dryness with oak and bread, this is beyond worth the price, but if you’re buying this, thinking that you’ll find a great deal of fruit, prepare to be a little let down. I won’t have any difficulty finishing this bottle, and despite this being unique to our collection, I’m not entirely convinced I’ll need another. That being said, I would be intrigued to try the French Oak Finish of this line just to know what it offers. $50 isn’t an offensive price (to me), and it’s an experimental price I don’t usually mind paying.
DAVIESS COUNTY CABERNET SAUVIGNON FINISH REVIEW RATING: 86/100
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