PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Doc Swinson's built this release around a genuine industry first: as far as anyone can tell, a Pineau des Charentes finish had never been attempted on bourbon before. Pineau des Charentes itself is a distinctive regional French aperitif from western France, made by blending fresh grape juice with young Cognac, then aged in French oak barrels for several years — a genuine mistelle, part wine, part brandy, with real character of its own. Doc Swinson's took a blend of two five-year bourbons — one aged five years four months, the other five years ten months, drawn from a high-rye 60% corn/36% rye/4% malted barley mash bill and a more traditional 75% corn/21% rye/4% malted barley recipe — and let it rest an additional nine months to fourteen months in genuine Pineau des Charentes casks.
Reception has been genuinely thoughtful and honest, with two independent reviewers offering real, candid perspective. Breaking Bourbon's tasting found the nose "really muted," making tasters "work for scents of brown sugar, buttery oak, and raisins," though the palate opened up "nicely with a delicious sweet midpoint," with "summer fruits and jam" bringing "lively sweetness" alongside "cinnamon and green peppercorn," though noting the whiskey "tends to fall short on delivery of the finish." Whiskey in My Wedding Ring's review was more effusive: "I love this as a finish, and it's an explosion of flavor," though noting honestly "the bourbon is overwhelmed about half the time. When it's balanced, it's fantastic." The reviewer specifically praised Doc Swinson's for even attempting this: "as far as I know, a Pineau des Charentes finish has never been done before, so there's definitely some props given simply for trying it," concluding "this is still quite delicious."
Doc Swinson's Exploratory Cask Series Pineau des Charentes Straight Bourbon Whiskey is sourced from Midwest Grain Products (MGP) in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and bottled by Doc Swinson's in Ferndale, Washington. The release blends two bourbons — aged 5 years 4 months and 5 years 10 months — from two distinct mash bills: a high-rye 60% corn/36% rye/4% malted barley recipe, and a more traditional 75% corn/21% rye/4% malted barley recipe, both matured in American white oak char #4, 200-liter casks.
The blended bourbon then finishes 9 months to 1 year 2 months in genuine Pineau des Charentes casks, 350 liters — a fortified French aperitif wine made from fresh grape juice blended with young Cognac. This was one of three limited-release exploratory fortified wine finishes produced for summer 2022, and is genuinely believed to be the first time a Pineau des Charentes finish has ever been used on bourbon. Bottled at 55.4% ABV / 110.8 proof, 750ml, limited release.
Breaking Bourbon (extended independent review):
"Upon lifting the glass, you're greeted with a really muted nose that makes you work for scents of brown sugar, buttery oak, and raisins. There's a lingering ethanol scent but it's a reminder of the bourbon's proof and doesn't detract from the faint aroma. Thankfully, the palate opens up nicely with a delicious sweet midpoint that is what you'd expect out of a wine-finished bourbon. Summer fruits and jam bring a lively sweetness to it, while cinnamon and green peppercorn add a complementary spice. The bourbon circles right back to where it started and tends to fall short on delivery of the finish, ending with flavors that quickly drop and are replaced with a mild lingering heat."
Whiskey in My Wedding Ring (extended independent review):
"I love this as a finish, and it's an explosion of flavor. My only concern is that the bourbon is overwhelmed about half the time. When it's balanced, it's fantastic. As far as I know, a Pineau des Charentes finish has never been done before, so there's definitely some props given simply for trying it. And who's to say this is the last one we'll see. I hope Doc Swinson's tries it again, taking what they've learned in this process and fine tuning for the next round. And if they don't, guess what — this is still quite delicious."
Doc Swinson's (official tasting notes):
"Palate: Honey crisp apple with fig jam and toasted rye bread warms to a bold flavor of French oak and baking spices."
Nose
Muted at first, revealing brown sugar, buttery oak, and raisin, developing golden apple, fig jam, and wine-soaked sultana.
Palate
A delicious sweet midpoint, with summer fruit and jam carrying real lively sweetness, joined by cinnamon and green peppercorn, alongside honey crisp apple, apricot, orange marmalade, and wildflower honey.
Finish
Warms to bold French oak and baking spice, though the fruit-driven sweetness tends to drop off quickly, replaced by mild lingering heat — genuinely experimental, with reception on balance honestly varying by taster.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Pineau des Charentes Cask Finished |
| ABV / Proof | 55.4% ABV / 110.8 Proof |
| Mash Bills | 60% Corn/36% Rye/4% Malted Barley & 75% Corn/21% Rye/4% Malted Barley |
| Primary Maturation | American white oak char #4, ~5.3 to 5.8 years |
| Finishing | Genuine Pineau des Charentes casks, 350L, 9 months to 1 year 2 months |
| Distillery | MGP — Lawrenceburg, Indiana |
| Bottled By | Doc Swinson's — Ferndale, Washington |
| Significance | Believed to be the first-ever Pineau des Charentes finish on bourbon |
| Release | Limited, one of three fortified wine finishes for summer 2022 |
| Style / Identity | A genuinely experimental, one-of-a-kind bourbon — real innovation, with honest reviewer feedback on balance |
| Aromas & Flavors | Golden apple, fig jam, wine-soaked sultana, apricot, wildflower honey |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Old Fashioned — the grape sweetness and French oak spice replace the need for heavy sweetener.
Boulevardier — the wine-cask richness echoes the vermouth component.
Whiskey Sour — stone fruit and apple notes amplify the citrus backbone.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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