Fresh mixed berries | Toasted oak | Berry compote | Cinnamon stick | Brown sugar

Mixed berries | Cinnamon spice | Rye spice | Oak | Cinnamon bark

Cinnamon spice | Brown sugar | Charred oak | Leather | Cinnamon bundt cake | Faint mixed berries

New Holland Brewing Company’s toasted series continues to be highly anticipated among bourbon drinkers in the know, with bottles released at their Michigan locations followed by limited online sales as well. This is the first drop of the year, with batch designations of 2026A, 2026B, 2026C, and 2026D. While New Holland has utilized various finishing barrels in the past for this series, it’s the first time that they utilized Madeira barrels.

The sip starts off with a really pleasing aroma, which focuses on scents of berries influenced by the Madeira finish, but also toasted oak, highlighting its other finishing barrel. The midpoint starts off by pulling the mixed berries to the forefront, before oak and spicier notes eventually overpower them, turning the sip's initial sweetness into a more traditional sip. Finishing on more traditional notes, the bourbon almost all but abandons the Madeira finishing barrel influence, sans for a faint mixed berries note that rides out on a gentle yet short spice note.

Overall, I was surprised by how Batch 2026C turned out. The Madeira finishing barrel is quite noticeable upfront, but less influential as the sip progresses. While still pleasing, it’s less influenced by its second-barrel finish than some of the company’s past double-finished batches. If you’re looking for a heavy wine-influenced sip, you’ll need to look elsewhere, as subtlety is the name of the game with “A Breath of Fresh Air.”