Orange marmalade | Marzipan | Toasted oak | Graham cracker | Cinnamon sugar | Syrup | Faint maraschino cherry | Pleasant

Orange rind | Syrup soaked cherry | Rock candy | Cinnamon spice | Aged oak | Leather | Silky mouthfeel

Dry oak | Leather | White peppercorn | Cinnamon stick | Noticeably dry

Conviction bourbon is distilled by Southern Grace Distilleries, which is located in the small town of Mount Pleasant, North Carolina. Southern Grace Distilleries was founded in 2014 and was initially located in Concord, North Carolina, before moving to Mount Pleasant in 2016. The distillery operates out of an abandoned 1929 state prison, which they refer to as “Whiskey Prison.” They distill onsite and age their barrels in the prison cell block dormitory.

To produce their Conviction Naranja Cask, the company takes their 4 year old Conviction Bourbon and finishes it for an additional 3 years in used Vino de Naranja casks. Vino De Naranja is produced in Huelva and Málaga in Andalucia, Spain, and is created by resting white wine with orange peels.

Conviction Naranja Cask opens up with an incredibly pleasing aroma. Orange marmalade and marzipan mingle with graham cracker and toasted oak scents. Syrup and faint maraschino cherry bring additional sweet scents. The sweetness from the nose appears at the midpoint in the form of syrup soaked cherry and rock candy. A sweet orange rind note accentuates aged oak and leather. The silk mouthfeel quickly morphs at the end of the sip as the finish turns noticeably dry, and highlights the bourbon's time in multiple barrels.

Vino De Naranja cask finishing usually adds an intriguing aspect to a bourbon compared to more traditional wine cask finishes. This is due to its nature as a white wine, and more so to the orange peels used to produce it. Those influences are on full display in Conviction Naranja Cask. While it ends on a down note compared to the rest of the sip due to its noticeably dry finish, the other parts of the sip, particularly the aroma it produces, make up for it. Compared to other Vino De Naranja Cask finish whiskeys, such as Middle West Spirits Vino De Naranja Whiskey and 15 Stars Vino De Naranja, Conviction Naranja Cask is a great value. Taken altogether, you have a bourbon that is a good introduction to Vino De Naranja cask finished whiskeys at an accessible price point.