Bondstone Bourbon Toasted Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Ashley King
- Nov 28
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
About This Spirit from Total Wine
Kentucky - A high rye Bourbon aged a minimum of 4 years in toasted and charred American Oak to further extract deep barrel flavors, including luscious caramel, toasted biscuit, oak and rye spice. Warm baking spice nose and a complex finish. Gold - American Whiskey Masters
Rich
Oak
Caramel
Spice
Complex
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
How We Feel About the Spirit
Review: Bondstone Bourbon Toasted Barrel – A Nashville Discovery Worth Bringing Home
Some bottles find you by accident, and others introduce themselves with enough confidence that you know they’re coming home with you. Bondstone Bourbon Toasted Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey fell squarely into the second category.
We first encountered it during a tasting at Total Wine in Nashville, Tennessee — the kind of casual weekend stop that turns unexpectedly memorable when the right pour hits the glass. Bondstone didn’t need theatrics or a long sales pitch. One sip, and the finish did all the talking.
A Toasted Barrel Done Right
Toasted‑barrel bourbons can be hit or miss. When they’re overdone, the sweetness overwhelms the grain and the oak becomes soft and indistinct. But Bondstone manages something more refined: it uses the toasted finish to enhance the bourbon, not disguise it.
From the first sip, it’s unmistakably Kentucky.
• Corn‑forward warmth anchors the palate.
• Oak structure stays firm and confident.
• Spice shows up right where it should, adding lift without heat.
The toasted barrel influence is present — warm vanilla, caramelized edges, a touch of dessert-like richness — but it never steals the spotlight. Instead, it rounds the edges and lengthens the experience.
The Finish That Seals the Deal
What ultimately sold us was the finish. Smooth, steady, and true to its name, it carried the flavor all the way through without collapsing into bitterness or ethanol burn. It lingered just long enough to make its point, then invited another sip.
This is the kind of finish that makes you pause mid‑conversation and say, “Okay… that’s good.”
A Bourbon That Knows What It Is
Despite the toasted treatment, Bondstone never drifts into rum‑like sweetness or novelty territory. It stays rooted in classic bourbon character — the kind of profile that appeals to purists while still offering something new for those who enjoy a twist.
It’s a bottle that feels equally at home on a bar cart, in a tasting lineup, or poured neat at the end of a long day.
Final Thoughts
Bondstone Bourbon Toasted Barrel is a reminder that thoughtful finishing can elevate a whiskey without compromising its identity. Smooth, balanced, and distinctly bourbon from start to finish, it’s a bottle we’re glad we discovered — and one we’ll happily revisit.
If you come across it during a tasting, don’t be surprised if it follows you home too.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Related Cocktails
Not Applicable - this bottle is best enjoyed near or on the rocks.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Comments