PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
BHAKTA Spirits made its name in highly aged Armagnac before founder Raj Peter Bhakta — previously the founder of WhistlePig, from which he was forced out — started applying that same French cask expertise to American whiskey. The 2011 Bourbon is the third release in the brand's annual single-vintage bourbon series, and it's built entirely around a genuinely rare piece of cellar inventory: casks curated directly from the Bhakta-Griswold Spirits Library's own 1970s and 1980s Armagnac verticals, including specific vintages from 1973, 1975, and 1985. This particular Tennessee bourbon, distilled and first filled in September 2011, spent 12 years and 10 months maturing before a final 12-month finish in those historic Armagnac casks — and the entire release is composed of just 11 barrels total.
Robb Report's own sample confirmed real quality behind the story: "delicious and complex with notes of rum raisin, fresh berries, black pepper, brandied cherry, creme brûlée, toasted nuts, and leather." The mash bill — 84% corn, 8% rye, 8% malted barley — combined with the Lincoln County Process the brand employs, points strongly toward George Dickel's Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. in Tullahoma as the likely (though officially undisclosed) source. Wine Enthusiast's Kara Newman found "a soft, polished whiskey with rich maple and toasted almond aromas," with "cocoa powder, toffee and red fruit flavors" enticing throughout, noting that "a splash of water pulls more cinnamon and cayenne forward, creating a tingly, warming sensation," with "orange peel and a hint of char" appearing on the fade.
Drinkhacker's independent tasting offered a genuinely detailed, slightly more technical read: "Roasted and salted peanuts, saltwater taffy, semi-sweet baking chocolate, Butterfingers, and smoked pecans waft out of the glass in generally even proportions," with "the first sip hits hard with peanut butter fudge, almost to an uncanny degree." Worth noting for full honesty: the same reviewer found the profile "very front-loaded," with the finish "remaining on front of palate" rather than carrying through fully. BHAKTA's own team has racked up a genuine string of industry recognition recently, including a self-reported "#1 Spirit, 99 points" designation and judges at TAG praising the 2011 vintage specifically for its "world-class craftsmanship and refined elegance." This is a genuinely rare, story-rich bottle — 11 barrels total, built on decades-old Armagnac cellar stock, from a distillery that's been racking up major industry accolades.
BHAKTA 2011 Bourbon is produced by BHAKTA Spirits, a Vermont-based company founded by Raj Peter Bhakta, best known previously as the founder of WhistlePig. BHAKTA has built its primary reputation on highly aged Armagnac, and has since expanded into whiskey, rum, and other categories, frequently finishing its releases in casks from its own extensive Armagnac cellar library. This is the third release in the brand's annual single-vintage bourbon series, following an earlier 2013-vintage release.
The whiskey was distilled and first filled in Tennessee in September 2011, from a mash bill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley — a mash bill and production process (including the Lincoln County Process) that strongly suggest, though the brand does not officially disclose, George Dickel's Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. in Tullahoma as the source. The whiskey matured for 12 years and 10 months before undergoing a final 12-month finish in Château BHAKTA's own vintage Armagnac casks, curated specifically from the Bhakta-Griswold Spirits Library's 1970s and 1980s verticals, including Armagnac vintages from 1973, 1975, and 1985. The finished release is composed of just 11 total barrels. Bottled at 55.5% ABV / 111 proof.
Kara Newman, Wine Enthusiast:
"This 12-year-old bourbon was distilled in Tennessee in 2011, and includes a yearlong finish in casks that previously held Armagnac. The end result is a soft, polished whiskey with rich maple and toasted almond aromas. Cocoa powder, toffee and red fruit flavors entice. A splash of water pulls more cinnamon and cayenne forward, creating a tingly, warming sensation. Orange peel and a hint of char appear on the fade. Limited release."
Robb Report (extended independent tasting):
"We got to sample this new release, and it's delicious and complex with notes of rum raisin, fresh berries, black pepper, brandied cherry, creme brûlée, toasted nuts, and leather on the palate."
Drinkhacker (extended independent review):
"Even with the Armagnac finish, the early nose is undeniably Tennessee whiskey of a certain pedigree. Roasted and salted peanuts, saltwater taffy, semi-sweet baking chocolate, Butterfingers, and smoked pecans waft out of the glass in generally even proportions; there's not an intensely dominant note, though those roasted peanuts come awfully close. The first sip hits hard with peanut butter fudge, almost to an uncanny degree. Very front-loaded, finish remains on front of palate, nothing carries back to gullet. Armagnac cask influence via rancio note."
TAG (judging panel, quoted by BHAKTA):
"World-class craftsmanship and refined elegance."
BHAKTA Spirits (official tasting notes):
"Deep golden-orange in hue, this bourbon offers aromas of vanilla fudge, caramel, and smoky oak, leading to a palate of dark brown sugar, burnt caramel, and a hint of lemon zest on the finish."
Nose
Rich maple and toasted almond lead, joined by vanilla fudge, caramel, and refined oak with gentle smoke. Roasted and salted peanuts, saltwater taffy, and semi-sweet baking chocolate add further layers, with the Armagnac influence present but never assertive.
Palate
Cocoa powder, toffee, and red fruit entice, with dark chocolate, brown sugar, and burnt caramel carrying real weight — a neat braiding of the bourbon's American origins and French finish. Peanut butter fudge and smoked pecans add distinctive character, with 111-proof spice and warmth delivered without harshness.
Finish
A splash of water pulls forward cinnamon and cayenne, creating a tingly, warming sensation, with orange peel and a hint of char appearing on the fade, alongside a light, vivifying hint of lemon zest. Independently, some tasters find the finish stays front-loaded rather than carrying through fully.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Armagnac Cask Finished |
| ABV / Proof | 55.5% ABV / 111 Proof |
| Age | 12 Years, 10 Months |
| Mash Bill | 84% Corn / 8% Rye / 8% Malted Barley |
| Distilled | September 2011, Tennessee (likely source: George Dickel/Cascade Hollow) |
| Finishing Casks | Château BHAKTA Armagnac casks — 1973, 1975, 1985 vintages |
| Finishing Duration | 12 months |
| Producer | BHAKTA Spirits — Vermont |
| Founder | Raj Peter Bhakta |
| Series | BHAKTA annual single-vintage bourbon series — 3rd release |
| Production | Just 11 barrels |
| Recognition | "#1 Spirit, 99 points" (brand-reported) · TAG judges: "world-class craftsmanship and refined elegance" |
| Style / Identity | Rare, richly layered Tennessee bourbon with genuine vintage Armagnac cask depth |
| Aromas & Flavors | Maple, toasted almond, cocoa powder, toffee, red fruit, vanilla fudge, caramel, peanut butter fudge, orange peel |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Best enjoyed neat in a Glencairn glass to concentrate the aromas, or with a drop or two of water to open additional layers of cinnamon and spice.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
Your cart is empty
Start shopping
