Peerless Distilling Rum Finished Bourbon Whiskey Review.

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 Peerless Distilling Rum Finished Bourbon Whiskey Review.


    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.

    Peerless keeps things true to their style here: barrel proof, sweet mash, and crafted with their signature approach to balance and body. This batch began life as their straight bourbon before moving into rum barrels for finishing. It’s a bold concept — in theory, a marriage of deep Kentucky bourbon richness with tropical rum complexity. Peerless doesn’t typically chase sky-high ABVs, preferring to let the barrel speak without overproof heat, which gives their whiskeys a softer edge while keeping flavor intact.


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: Rum Barrel. (N/A on finishing time).


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. If I judged it blind, I’d give it a B– to C+ as a straight bourbon. But in the rum-finish category, it lands closer to a C. 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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