Kinnard And Drake Honey Finished Bourbon 750ML

Kinnard And Drake Honey Finished Bourbon 750ML is a honey-finished, high-rye Indiana bourbon bottled at 46% ABV (92 proof) in a 750ml bottle. Built on MGP-distilled bourbon with a notable 36% rye mashbill, this expression layers a distinct honey finishing step over a spice-forward foundation — a combination that sets it apart from the more common honey-flavored liqueurs found across the whiskey aisle.

Quick Facts: ABV: 46% (92 Proof)  |  Origin: Indiana, USA  |  Style: Honey Finished Bourbon  |  Distillery: Boone County Jail Distillery, Lebanon, IN  |  Source: MGP Ingredients, Lawrenceburg, IN

Production & Heritage

Kinnard and Drake is a brand from Boone County Jail Distillery, which operates out of a repurposed former jail building in Lebanon, Indiana. The Stoller family behind the operation represents three generations of liquor industry experience. The base bourbon is sourced from MGP Ingredients in Lawrenceburg, Indiana — one of the country's most prolific distilleries, renowned for its high-rye bourbon production. The mashbill features 36% rye content, giving the spirit a pronounced spice backbone. A honey finishing process is then applied, distinguishing this bottling from the brand's standard Straight Bourbon release and adding a layer of natural sweetness without pushing the whiskey into flavored-liqueur territory.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with sweet honeysuckle and warm honey, followed by cinnamon bark and baking clove. A subtle floral quality emerges alongside hints of vanilla custard and dried apricot.

Taste: The palate entry is creamy and round, with immediate butterscotch sweetness that transitions into rye-driven spice at mid-palate. Apricot, caramel, and a touch of citrus develop through the middle, while the honey influence adds a smooth, almost nectarous body without masking the bourbon's grain character. Despite the 92-proof strength, the mouthfeel registers as notably low in alcohol heat.

Finish: Medium in length, with lingering cinnamon, nutmeg, and a gentle honeyed warmth. Spearmint and a faint echo of rye spice carry through the close.

How to Drink Honey Finished Bourbon

Neat or with a single ice cube is the most direct way to appreciate the interplay between rye spice and honey sweetness; a few drops of water can further open up the floral aromatics. This expression also performs well in cocktails that benefit from a natural sweetness boost. A Gold Rush — bourbon, honey syrup, and lemon juice — amplifies the honey character without redundancy. An Old Fashioned works here because the honey finish reduces the need for added sweetener, letting the bitters and rye spice take center stage. A Whiskey Sour benefits from the bourbon's creamy body, which adds texture and rounds out the citrus.

Best For

• Bourbon drinkers exploring honey-finished whiskey beyond flavored liqueurs
• Gifting to someone who enjoys MGP-sourced Indiana bourbons
• Cocktail enthusiasts looking for a bourbon with built-in sweetness for stirred drinks
• Casual weekend sipping when you want something approachable at a solid proof

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Kinnard and Drake Honey Finished taste like? It delivers butterscotch, cinnamon, and apricot sweetness layered over a rye-spice backbone, with a smooth honey warmth running throughout. The mouthfeel is creamy and round with minimal alcohol burn for its 92-proof strength.

How does Kinnard and Drake Honey Finished compare to Wild Turkey American Honey? Wild Turkey American Honey is a honey liqueur blended with bourbon at a lower 71 proof, making it significantly sweeter and lighter. Kinnard and Drake Honey Finished Bourbon is bottled at a full 92 proof and retains more traditional bourbon character, with the honey element acting as a finishing note rather than a dominant flavor component.

Is Kinnard and Drake Honey Finished good for sipping neat? Yes — the honey finishing adds enough natural sweetness and body to make it a smooth, approachable neat pour, while the 36% rye mashbill provides enough spice and structure to hold your attention.

Where is Kinnard and Drake Honey Finished made? The base bourbon is distilled at MGP Ingredients in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and the brand is produced by Boone County Jail Distillery, located in a converted historic jail building in Lebanon, Indiana.

What foods pair well with Kinnard and Drake Honey Finished? Smoked pork ribs with a honey glaze mirror the bourbon's sweetness. Sharp cheddar or aged Gouda contrast the honey notes with savory depth. Pecan pie aligns with the caramel and nutmeg flavors. Cornbread with butter complements the grain character. Grilled stone fruit like peaches echoes the apricot notes on the palate.

What sizes does Kinnard and Drake Honey Finished come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle; availability of other sizes may vary by market.

Is Kinnard and Drake Honey Finished worth the price? It positions as a mid-range bourbon that delivers a distinctive honey-finished profile at a respectable 92 proof, placing it above entry-level honey-flavored whiskeys in both complexity and strength, which represents solid value for drinkers looking to step up from standard honey liqueur offerings.

Why Kinnard and Drake Honey Finished?

The key differentiator here is the combination of a high-rye MGP bourbon base with a honey finishing step — a pairing that is far less common than the flood of honey-flavored liqueurs on the market. Where most honey whiskeys sacrifice proof and complexity for sweetness, this bottling holds its ground at 92 proof and retains the spice-forward personality that a 36% rye mashbill demands. The Boone County Jail Distillery heritage adds a genuine story rooted in three generations of spirits industry knowledge. For anyone who has dismissed honey whiskey as one-dimensional, this expression makes a case for revisiting the category.