Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Tale of Two Islands

Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Tale of Two Islands is a blend of straight bourbons from Indiana and Maryland finished in casks that previously held Jamaican rum matured in peated Islay single malt barrels — a layered sweet-and-smoky profile from Barrell Craft Spirits with a derived mash bill of 73% corn, 23% rye, and 4% malted barley.

The Tale of Two Islands concept began with Jamaican rum aged in peated Islay Scotch barrels; those same casks then finished this blend of straight bourbons, carrying both the tropical sweetness of the rum and the maritime peat smoke of the Islay wood into the whiskey. The Indiana components run 5, 6, and 9 years; the Maryland components 5 and 6 years. The result is a bourbon where rum-cask sweetness and Islay smoke meet over a rye-forward base.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Tropical fruit sweetness with a wisp of peat smoke over oak
• Palate: Cane sugar and rum sweetness meeting maritime Islay smoke
• Finish: Sweet and smoky, the two islands in balance over a bourbon base

Specs

• Producer: Barrell Craft Spirits, Louisville, Kentucky
• Style: Blended Straight Bourbon — Cask Finish Series, Tale of Two Islands
• Sources: Indiana (5, 6, 9 yr) & Maryland (5, 6 yr)
• Derived mash bill: 73% corn, 23% rye, 4% malted barley
• Finish: Jamaican rum / peated Islay single malt casks
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the "two islands"?

Jamaica and Islay — the finishing casks previously held Jamaican rum that was itself matured in peated Islay single malt Scotch barrels, carrying both influences into the bourbon.

Is it smoky?

Lightly — the Islay influence adds a maritime peat-smoke layer that balances against the rum-cask sweetness rather than dominating.