The honey-finished bourbon trend is taking over the whiskey world, but which bottles actually deliver on their sweet promises? In this episode of Your Bourbon Journey, Wayne and Rebecca crack open four highly anticipated, freshly unsealed honey cask finished bourbons for a completely blind taste test. We evaluate each pour on a five-point scale, diving into their rich viscosity, complex tasting notes, and overall finish to see which barrel treatment stands out.
From estate-harvested honey hives and historical pot stills to deep-aged sourced blends and wheated bourbon bases, these craft distilleries are pushing the boundaries of secondary aging. We break down the unique mash bills, regional profiles, and surprising palates—ranging from rich confectionary sugar and creamy vanilla custard to hot-stinging white pepper and toasted wood notes.
Are these bottles all buzz, or do they showcase the ultimate harmony between traditional straight bourbon and honey barrel finishing? Grab a glass, hit that subscribe button, and join us on this ultimate blind lineup!
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Casey Jones Barrel Finished Series: Honey Bourbon (“Brown Beauty”)
- Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in a Honey Barrel
- Company & Distillery: Casey Jones Distillery (Hopkinsville, KY)
- Mash Bill: Undisclosed
- Age: Undisclosed
- Proof: 102.7 Proof (51.35% ABV)
- Released: Spring 2026 (Featuring the commemorative “250 Years Strong / United We Stand” neck wrap.
- Purchased: May 9, 2026 for $89.99 at BBQ & Barrels in Owensboro, KY
Dark Arts “A Long Strange Drip” Honey Cask Finish (Batch 2)
- Classification: A Blend of Sweet & Sour Mash® Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in a Honey Cask
- Company: Dark Arts Whiskey House
- Distillery: Sourced from undisclosed distilleries
- Mash Bill: A blend of two distinct mash bills: (1) Kentucky Sweet Mash: 64% Corn, 24% Rye, 12% Malted Barley; (2) Indiana Sour Mash: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
- Age: A blend of 5+ Year Old (Kentucky) and 8+ Year Old (Indiana) bourbons.
- Proof: 110.3 Proof (55.15% ABV)
- Released: Early 2026
- Purchased: May 30, 2026 for $79.99 at Cox’s Evergreen (Bardstown, KY)
Starlight Distillery Honey Reserve Bourbon (Batch 1)
- Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Honey Barrels
- Company: Huber’s Starlight Distillery
- Distillery: Starlight Distillery (Borden, IN)
- Mash Bill: Blend of two estate-distilled sweet mash bills: a 3-grain (60% Corn, 20% Rye, 20% Malted Barley) and a 4-grain (51% Corn, 20% Rye, 20% Malted Barley, 9% Wheat)
- Age: 5 Years (Minimum age before finishing)
- Proof: 106 Proof (53% ABV)
- Released: Early 2026
- Purchased: April 11, 2026 for $69.99 at Starlight Distillery
Wenzel Honey Cask Finished Bourbon (Batch 1)
- Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Honey Casks
- Company: Wenzel Whiskey LLC
- Distillery: Sourced
- Mash Bill: Wheated Bourbon
- Age: 7 Years
- Proof: 104.1 Proof
- Released: May 2026
- Purchased: May 1, 2026 for $109 at Wenzel Distillery
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NOTE: The spirits in this review were 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.
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