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Please read and drink responsibly.
Classification: Straight Malt Whiskey FInished in Cabernet Sauvignon Casks
Company: Chattanooga Whiskey Co.
Distillery: Chattanooga Riverfront Distillery
Release Date: January 2023
Proof: 95
Age: 4 Years
Mashbill: Undisclosed blend of R18077, R18087, R18088, R18096, R18097 mashbills
Color: Mahogany
MSRP: $60 (2023)
Ripe dark berries | Dark chocolate | Rhubarb | Toasted oak | Hint of toffee | Juicy | Clear influence from additional finishing barrel
Malted grain | Juicy dark berries | Dry baking chocolate | Charred oak | Dried leather | Hint of tobacco leaf
Peppery spice tingle | Aged oak | Touch of dark berries | Leather | Baking spices | Warming heat
A “juicy” whiskey, Chattanooga Silver Oak Cabernet Cask Oak Finished proves that you can produce a fantastic barrel finished whiskey without having to give it a triple digit price tag.
Chattanooga Silver Oak Cabernet Cask Oak Finished marks the third iteration in the company’s limited edition finishing series. For this release, they sourced used cabernet sauvignon barrels from Silver Oak Cellars, which are located in the Alexander Valley region of Sonoma’s North Coast. Chattanooga utilized these barrels to finish the whiskey for over 18 months. The company states that the batch size was only 6-8 barrels. While the mashbills used in this blend are proprietary to Chattanooga Whiskey, the company did provide us with flavor profiles for each one:
R18077 - Toast, Sage
R18087 - Smoke, Cacao
R18088 - Coffee, Caramel
R18096 - Pastry, Thyme
R18097 - Blackberry, Spice
The whiskey starts with a lush juicy nose that highlights ripe dark berries as the star. A supporting cast of dark chocolate and rhubarb add additional intrigue and draw you in. The palate retains a large portion of the juiciness found in the nose, but also brings in drier aspects of baking chocolate, oak, and leather which help provide a nice counterbalance. A pepperiness kicks off the finish that provides a dash of tingling spice that seems to appear out of nowhere. It stays front and center while notes of oak, dark berries, and baking spices make various appearances.
Wine finished whiskeys seem to be a dime a dozen nowadays, yet Chattanooga Silver Oak Cabernet Cask Oak Finished adds a slight twist to the category. The various straight malt mashbills used along with the extended time being finished in the wine barrels brings about more standard dark fruit flavors but also a nice addition of more typical malty notes. It’s priced right, and with a sip that is easily enjoyable, this is a finished malted whiskey that is well worth seeking out.
The whiskey being reviewed comes from Batch Number 23A18R.
