Finished Bourbon

The April Lineup: Which Whiskey Earned the Top Spot?

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Welcome back to Your Bourbon Journey! 🥃

It’s that time of the month again! With the “Road to the Sweet 16” in full swing, we have curated an absolute powerhouse lineup for our April Whiskey of the Month. This month, we went bold—tasting five unique expressions that span the entire spectrum of flavor and finish. From Finished Rye and Wheat whiskeys to high-proof American Light Whiskey and Kentucky Straight Bourbon, we are all over the map!

We put these contenders to the ultimate test in a blind tasting format to see which bottle has what it takes to advance toward our Whiskey of the Year title. The competition was fierce, the legs were luscious, and the results? Let’s just say we were genuinely stunned.

In this episode: We dive into five distinct expressions, evaluating them on the nose, palate, and finish. We break down the unique profiles, discuss the impact of finishing casks (Armagnac, Madeira, Port/Sherry), and score them live to see who reigns supreme this month.

Featured Candidates:

  • Dark Arts Cask Strength Bourbon (Armagnac Finish)
  • Dark Arts Blunt Blend (Batch 3)
  • Knob Creek Blender’s Edition 1
  • Penelope American Light Whiskey (18 Year)
  • Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series 2

Stay tuned until the end for the Big Reveal! We break down the math, discuss the “Sweet Sixteen” leaderboard implications, and find out which of these bottles are destined for our Whiskey of the Year tournament.

If you enjoy our blind tasting series, hit that SUBSCRIBE button and join us on our journey! 🔔 Don’t forget to like and comment: Which of these bottles would be your top pick? Are you a fan of the finishes in this lineup?

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📊 SEE THE LIVE LEADERBOARD: Want to see where these bottles rank against the rest of the field? Check out our real-time leaderboard here: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/the-live-leaderboard-road-to-the-sweet-sixteen/

🥃 OUR NEW SCORING PROCESS: We’ve revamped our scoring to be more transparent than ever. Read the full breakdown of our new rubric and the “Sweet Sixteen” bracket process on our website: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/decoding-the-pour-the-new-your-bourbon-journey-scoring-woty-process/

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

Dark Arts Cask Strength Bourbon (Armagnac Finish)

  • Classification:  Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distilled: Sourced from MGP in Indiana  
  • Produced by: Dark Arts Whiskey House LLC
  • Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
  • Age: 10 Years
  • Proof: 113 (Cask Strength)
  • Released: Early 2026
  • Other: Finished in Armagnac Cask; Batch AT2; Bottle 132
  • Original Review:

Dark Arts Blunt Blend (Batch 3) Dank Arts

  • Classification: Rye Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Dark Arts Whiskey House
  • Distillery: Distilled in Indiana; Blended/Bottled in Sparta, KY
  • Mash Bill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
  • Age: 8 Years
  • Finished: Madeira Cask and Armagnac Cask
  • Proof: 113.8
  • Released: Late March 2026
  • Other: Bottle 3370
  • Original Review:

Knob Creek Blender’s Edition 1

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Beam Suntory
  • Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Co. (Clermont/Beam, KY)
  • Mash Bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
  • Age: 10 years
  • Proof: 106
  • MSRP: $44.99
  • Released: March 2026
  • Original Review:

Penelope American Light Whiskey 18 Year Limited Release

  • Classification:  American Light Whiskey
  • Company: Penelope Bourbon (A subsidiary of MGP/Luxco)
  • Distillery: MGP (Lawrenceburg, IN)
  • Mash Bill: 99% Corn, 1% Malted Barley
  • Age: 18 Years
  • Proof: 140.2
  • Released: 2026
  • Original Review:

Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series 2

  • Classification: Straight Wheat Whiskey
  • Distillery: Ross & Squibb Distillery
  • Mash Bill: 95% Wheat, 5% Malted Barley (LKSV formula/rare)
  • Age: Distilled in 2017 – Approximately 9 years
  • Quattro-Finish: (separately) Tawny Port, White Port, Oloroso Sherry and Ruby Port Casks (then blended)
  • Proof: 113
  • Released:  March 2026
  • Original Review:

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

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NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us.We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

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Shortbarrel Cigar Batch vs. Single Barrel: Which is Better? 

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Whether you’re a seasoned cigar aficionado or a high-proof bourbon hunter, this week’s “Wednesday Small Pours” is one you can’t miss! 🥃

Join Wayne and Rebecca from Your Bourbon Journey as they dive into two powerhouse expressions from Shortbarrel Bourbon. First up is the complex Cigar Batch (Gauge 36), a masterfully blended bourbon finished in four distinct casks—Armagnac, Cognac, Rum, and Tawny Port. Is it the ultimate pairing for your favorite full-bodied cigar?

Then, things get intense with a Watch Hill Proper Single Barrel clocking in at a massive 134 proof. We’re breaking down the legs, the “pops of pepper,” and that surprising minty finish. Plus, find out which bottle we’d actually “pull the trigger on” for our own collection!

Special thanks to Michael and Dawn from Chasing Neat for the bottle exchange at Bourbon Con!

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✴️ Shortbarrel Cigar Batch (Guage 36)

  • Classification: Finished Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskeys
  • Company: Shortbarrel Bourbon
  • Distillery: Blend of MGP (Indiana) and Bardstown (Kentucky) sourced barrels
  • Mash Bill: Blend of 36% Rye (MGP) and a lower-rye Kentucky bourbon
  • Age: 8-Year-Old MGP blended with various KY barrels; finished for 1–3 years
  • Proof: 114
  • MSRP: approximately $90–$95
  • Other: Non-chill filtered; finished in four distinct casks: Armagnac, Cognac, Rum, and Tawny Port. Designed specifically to pair with full-bodied cigars.

✴️ Shortbarrel Single Barrel (Watch Hill Proper)

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Single Barrel)
  • Company: Shortbarrel Bourbon
  • Distillery: Sourced (Likely MGP/Indiana based on the 7.8-year age and proof)
  • Mash Bill: Likely 21% or 36% Rye (Shortbarrel frequently picks high-rye MGP barrels)
  • Age: 7.8
  • Proof: 134
  • MSRP: approximately $80–$100 (Single barrel pricing varies by retailer)

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits in this review were provided to us by friends.We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

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Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish: The East-West Blend Explored

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After a 20-month journey, the seal is finally broken! We’re thrilled to present the extraordinarily rare, limited-edition Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish Blend (114 Proof). This isn’t just a bourbon tasting; it’s an exploration of liquid artistry. Witness the magic of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey elevated by a finish in Spanish Oak sherry casks, previously home to Suntory’s iconic Yamazaki Single Malt. Discover the “first-of-its-kind” complex flavors born from this revolutionary East-meets-West collaboration between Fred Noe and Shinji Fukuyo.

From Press Release: Partnering with Fred Noe, Seventh-Generation Master Distiller of James B. Beam Distilling Co, on Legent Bourbon was an honor and an exciting opportunity to create something special that represents East meets West,” said Fifth-Generation Chief Blender of Suntory Whisky Shinji Fukuyo. “Taking it one step further to create this limited-edition release that is finished by the climate of Yamazaki Distillery, creating its unique matured aroma, and reimagined with our blending techniques has been an exciting endeavor. The result is a first-of-its-kind whiskey with new layers of rounded and complex flavors.”

We’ve waited 20 months for this moment, and now the Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish Blend is finally under the microscope. We’re putting it to the ultimate test: Will its promised symphony of aroma truly explode on the palate? Will this unique East-meets-West creation deliver an unforgettable finish that lingers long after the last drop?

More importantly, the burning question remains: Is this the unicorn bottle your collection desperately needs? We’re diving deep to give you our unfiltered, definitive verdict. Don’t miss it – your next favorite pour might just be revealed!

Don’t miss out on this groundbreaking Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish Blend review! Click play ▶️ now for our completely unfiltered tasting notes.

Are you as passionate about whiskey as we are? Show us some love by giving this video a thumbs up 👍, hitting that subscribe button 🔔 so you’re always first to know about the most exciting whiskey releases, and sharing this with your fellow enthusiasts and tasting buddies! ➡️

#bourbon #JimBeam #Yamazaki 

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

✴️ Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish Blend

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Suntory
  • Distillery: James B Beam Distillery
  • Mash Bill: Undisclosed
  • Age: 8 Years
  • Proof: 114
  • MSRP: $199.99
  • Released: August 2023
  • Purchased: 09/17/23 for $210 at Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, KY

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

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NOTE: The spirit in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes – Episode 1 Jim Beam

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What Happens When You Visit Jim Beam for the FIRST TIME?

In Episode 1 of Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes, we reflect on the moment we acquired our Kentucky Bourbon Trail stamp book, April 22, 2022, marking the beginning of our exciting journey with our very first stamp collected and the unforgettable experiences we had that day. This remarkable adventure unfolded at none other than the historic and iconic James B. Beam Distilling, where we recount our first visit, share our favorite memories, and delve into the delightful flavors we tasted for the very first time. To top it off, we explore a tasting of a bottle we purchased that day, Legent, showcasing the essence of our Bourbon Trail journey.

In this series, Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes, we navigate the rich tapestry of our memorable experiences on the Bourbon Trail, a journey that has undeniably enriched our appreciation for this iconic American spirit. We tackle intriguing questions such as: What stands out as the most profound memory of that bourbon trail experience, one that has etched itself firmly in our minds? What exceptional and bourbon or whiskey did we discover during this journey, perhaps one that surprised us with its intricate and delightful flavor profiles? What lasting impressions do we have of that bourbon or whiskey today, as we reflect on its complexities and how they resonate with our evolving palates and preferences? Through this exploration, we passionately recount our adventures and celebrate the stories and connections we’ve forged along the way, highlighting the essence of the Bourbon Trail.

Legent

Jim Beam’s Master Distiller, Fred Noe, collaborated with Shinji Fukuyo of Suntory to create Legent Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Legent is a blend of 5 year old, unfinished bourbon from Jim Beam and bourbon that has been finished in ex-wine casks and ex-Sherry casks sourced from Spain. Sources indicate that the finished component is about 60% ex-wine and 40% ex-Sherry. 

94 Proof

Price paid $49.99 (2022)