Funky oak | Earthy undertone | Malt-steeped tea | Breakfast pastry | Unique combination of scents

Frosted Flakes cereal | Peanut | Toffee | Buttercream frosting | Honey | Brown sugar | Thick mouthfeel

Malted caramel | Hint of toffee | Light spice | Seasoned oak | Long

Two Souls Spirits is an independent bottler headed by James Estrada and Karen Gentry. Known as “The Whiskey Doctor,” Estrada has written for Bourbon Sippers and co-hosts the Whiskey Uncut Podcast. “The Hero” was distilled by J. Henry and Sons distillery in Dane, Wisconsin, about 87 miles northwest of Milwaukee. The J. Henry farm was established in 1946, and they began distilling bourbon with the farm’s heirloom grains in 2008.

Two Souls J. Henry & Sons 7-Year Rum-Cask Finished Bourbon was released alongside a rum-finished rye sourced from J. Henry & Sons, which was lovingly dubbed “The Genius.” Each bottling features an image of one of the company owners, done in a “The Princess Bride” parody style as a call-out to the cult-classic storybook romance.

“The Hero” spent over a year finishing in a Queen’s Share rum cask from Echo Distilling, which would lead consumers to believe that rum might dominate the flavor profile. That’s not the case here; instead, the base bourbon really shows through, with accents of rum influence throughout. The aroma opens with funky oak, malt-steeped tea, and breakfast pastry layered over an earthy undertone. Frosted Flakes cereal, peanut, and toffee combine with buttercream frosting, honey, and brown sugar on the palate, which is a thick, weighty mouthfeel. Malted caramel, a hint of toffee, light spice, and seasoned oak set up the whiskey’s long finish.

This whiskey is a unique drinking experience from start to finish. There are traditional underpinnings, but the overall range of flavors is really dynamic. While the rum influence is subtle and well-integrated, I would love to see how a deeper rum influence would impact the base J. Henry & Sons bourbon in a future release that might intensify those sweeter rum-infused flavors. In the meantime, Two Souls J. Henry & Sons 7-Year Rum-Cask Finished Bourbon “The Hero” is a fun expression that won’t taste like anything else on your shelf.

The bourbon in review is from bottle number 101 of 198.