PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Hooten Young built its Wine Barrel Whiskey Collection around a genuinely deliberate premise: take the brand's signature 6-year American whiskey — built on an almost entirely corn-based mash bill, 99% corn and 1% malted barley — and give it a final finishing stage in real, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon barrels sourced directly from Honig Vineyard. The wine-cask finish is designed to layer genuine dark fruit and roasted richness onto the whiskey's already warm, baked-apple-and-maple foundation, and the whole expression was selected and developed under the guidance of Master Sommelier George Miliotes, a genuine wine-and-spirits authority lending real cross-category expertise to the project.
For context on the base spirit before finishing, The Whiskey Wash's independent review of Hooten Young's standard American Whiskey described it as "satisfying and well rounded with intense notes of maple, candy corn and brown sugar," noting "rich oak makes itself known first," with "maple bar, caramel and vanilla" emerging "on the mid palate" before thinning "out to an incredibly smooth and lasting finish of cream soda followed by lemon meringue," the reviewer concluding the whiskey's "appearance and well balanced sweetness... reminded me of a fine highland scotch." This Cabernet Cask Finish takes that same warm, approachable base and layers on genuine wine-cask depth.
Hi Proof's official tasting notes describe the finished whiskey opening with "baked apple, maple, dark berries, and subtle oak" on the nose, developing into "blackberry, maple, ripe fruit, and rich espresso notes" on the palate, closing "smooth and lingering with dark fruit, roasted coffee, and gentle sweetness." The brand's own copy calls it simply "where power meets smoothness" — "a perfect fusion of whiskey and wine, showcasing layers of blackberry, dark espresso, and a rich complexity that's both smooth and robust." This is a genuinely limited bottling, built specifically for whiskey drinkers curious about real wine-cask crossover character.
Hooten Young Cabernet Cask Finish 6 Year American Whiskey begins as Hooten Young's signature 6-year American Whiskey, made from a mash bill of 99% corn and 1% malted barley. The whiskey is then finished in single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon barrels sourced from Honig Vineyard, a genuine wine-cask finishing process designed to layer dark fruit and roasted richness onto the base whiskey's natural sweetness. The expression was developed under the guidance of Master Sommelier George Miliotes, part of Hooten Young's Wine Barrel Whiskey Collection. Bottled at 46% ABV / 92 proof, 750ml, as a limited bottling.
No formal numerical critic score from a major spirits publication is confirmed for this specific Cabernet Cask Finish expression at this time. For context on the base spirit, The Whiskey Wash reviewed Hooten & Young's standard American Whiskey:
Faith Raspante, The Whiskey Wash (extended independent review, base American Whiskey):
"This is satisfying and well rounded with intense notes of maple, candy corn and brown sugar. It is not terribly complex but warm and inviting. Rich oak makes itself known first. Maple bar, caramel and vanilla emerge on the mid palate and thin out to an incredibly smooth and lasting finish of cream soda followed by lemon meringue. The appearance and well balanced sweetness of Hooten Young reminded me of a fine highland scotch. All of the flavors are beautifully developed and perfectly pleasant."
Hi Proof (official tasting note, Cabernet Cask Finish):
"Nose: Baked apple, maple, dark berries, and subtle oak. Palate: Blackberry, maple, ripe fruit, and rich espresso notes. Finish: Smooth and lingering with dark fruit, roasted coffee, and gentle sweetness."
Hooten Young (official product description):
"Where power meets smoothness. This limited edition wine-barrel finished whiskey merges our 6-year American Whiskey's baked apple and maple flavors with blackberry-espresso notes of Honig's single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. A perfect fusion of whiskey and wine, showcasing layers of blackberry, dark espresso, and a rich complexity that's both smooth and robust."
Nose
Baked apple and maple lead, joined by dark berries and subtle oak.
Palate
Blackberry and maple carry the entry, developing ripe fruit and rich espresso notes, alongside genuine Cabernet-driven dark fruit richness.
Finish
Smooth and lingering, closing with dark fruit, roasted coffee, and gentle sweetness — genuinely well-integrated wine-cask character.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | American Whiskey — Cabernet Sauvignon Cask Finished |
| ABV / Proof | 46% ABV / 92 Proof |
| Age | 6 Years |
| Mash Bill | 99% Corn / 1% Malted Barley |
| Finishing Casks | Single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, Honig Vineyard |
| Producer | Hooten Young |
| Series | Wine Barrel Whiskey Collection |
| Developed With | Master Sommelier George Miliotes |
| Release | Limited bottling |
| Style / Identity | A warm, approachable corn-based American whiskey layered with genuine Cabernet-driven dark fruit and espresso depth |
| Aromas & Flavors | Baked apple, maple, blackberry, espresso, dark fruit |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Enjoy neat or on the rocks to appreciate the interplay between the whiskey's natural sweetness and the Cabernet cask's dark fruit richness.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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