Peerless Distilling Rum Finished Bourbon Whiskey Review.

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Peerless Distilling Rum Finished Bourbon Whiskey


    Every now and then, a bottle sneaks into Indiana that makes you stop mid–liquor store lap. This was one of those moments. Peerless is already a distillery I have a soft spot for, their Double Oak Bourbon and Rye are mainstays for me, but the Rum Barrel Finished Bourbon? That’s a rare sighting here. This is batch 02 of the release and while the label keeps its secrets on age and finishing time, curiosity got the better of me. I cracked it open with my wife the other night, and the experience was… not exactly what I’d pictured from Peerless.

    This release starts with Peerless’ Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, which is produced using their sweet mash process and bottled at barrel proof. The whiskey is then finished in rum barrels to add an extra layer of flavor before bottling. Details around the aging and finishing time are not disclosed. Peerless tends to bottle their whiskey at slightly lower barrel proofs compared to many modern releases, usually staying in the mid-50% range rather than pushing toward the high-60% range that some distilleries reach.


For the full video review visit the link here!: https://youtu.be/aNOAYNstV1A.


Age Statement: N/A.


ABV: 54.55%. (Barrel proof).


Mashbill: N/A.


Area of Distillation: Kentucky, USA.


Finishing: Ex-rum barrel.


Appearance: Dark Mahogany.



On the nose: 

    The first inhale leans heavily bourbon rather than rum. Deep oak is front and center, backed by baking spices, brown sugar, and just a whisper of dark molasses. There’s a subtle plum or raisin note tucked away, and hints of chocolate powder mix with vanilla-caramel bourbon character. While pleasant, it doesn’t immediately read as rum-finished, the funk, tropical lift, or spiced-sugar punch you’d expect just aren’t prominent here.



Taste: 

    The rum influence peeks through more in the sip than the sniff. A mild tropical spice hum rides over a core of brown sugar, charred oak, and drizzled caramel. There’s a bit of molasses, some earthy char, and a faint leather edge. Dark fruit, fig or plum,lingers in the back ground, while a sweet undertone hints at the rum’s touch. Still, it’s restrained, leaning classic bourbon with only a gentle nudge toward its finishing cask.



Finish: 

    Medium in length with warm spice, charred oak, and a trailing molasses sweetness. The rum note fades quickly, leaving mostly bourbon character to close things out.



Final Thoughts: 

    As a bourbon, this is solid, balanced, flavorful, and easy to appreciate for its Kentucky roots. As a rum-finished bourbon, it underdelivers. The price stings given the limited influence of the finishing cask. Worth grabbing a pour to try, but not one I’d chase a bottle of unless you’re a Peerless completist. Here’s hoping batch three finds a little more of that rum magic.



Rating: C (Slightly below average).


Cost: $119.99 for 750ml.


For the full video review visit the link here!: https://youtu.be/aNOAYNstV1A.


Social platforms to follow: https://linktr.ee/thelastcallyt.

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