High West Cask Collection Chardonnay Finished Bourbon
In-Depth Review
A few years ago, High West debuted its all-new Cask Collection without much fanfare – an usual step from a company known for love to make a splash. Since then, these Cask Collection expressions have continued to pop up on shelves across the country, promising unique takes that go beyond High West’s core range. The Cask Collection includes Barbados rum finishes, numerous wine finishes, and even cask strength bourbons. After years of growing success, these more Cask Collection releases seem to be a return to High West’s more experimental past.
But today, we are going to dive into a slightly unusual finish – chardonnay barrels. Unlike the typical red wine finishes you see from most brands, High West has decided to source casks that previously held a lighter, easy sipping white wine to further age their straight bourbon whiskey. This limited-edition Cask Collection release from 2023 is rumored to take 4-9 year bourbon and finish for as much as 11 months in these chardonnay casks. Bottled at 50% ABV, and featuring a pretty reasonable MSRP of around $70, let’s dive in and see if it’s worth getting a bit weird.
Age: Non-Age Stated (Supposedly a blend of 4-9 year bourbon)
ABV: 50%
Cask: New oak then finished in Chardonnay casks
MSRP: $70
Distillery Name: High West Distillery
Review Date: 3/3/26
Color: Deep Mahagony (with almost a red tint throughout)
Nose: Off the bat, it’s a big nose full of red fruits, warm butter, honey toast, layers of oak, and topped off with herbaceous green grass. As it settles in the glass, more peanut brittle and burnt pizza crust come through. It’s a deep and layered nose with a surprising amount of richness throughout.
Palate: The palate first hits the tongue with a dollop of ethanol that’s eventually smoothed out by a velvety texture featuring notes of pecan, citrus, muscovado sugar, and toffee. It’s brighter than I expected, with a great mouthfeel and well-balanced heat.
Finish: Medium length finish that embodies a mellow character with white grape, cream, and a slight sweetness as it fades.
Final Thoughts: I haven’t always had the best luck with High West’s wine finished products – but it looks like I’ve found an exception with this chardonnay finished Cask Collection bourbon. The nose is full of big red fruits that you’d expect from something like cabernet – but the palate is lighter, more buttery, and removes some of the harsh edges that can sometimes be found in when bourbon is finished with heavier wines. The lightness of the chardonnay seems to have balanced out the tannins and left a more nuanced profile, making it a dangerously crushable bottle for those looking for something a little off the beaten trail. And while it’s rare to see bourbon finished in white wine – High West has succeeded in bringing something to market that satisfies an itch I didn’t realize I had.
