Lasso Motel Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon Whiskey Review.

-

Lasso Motel Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon Whiskey

    I received this spirit as a review sample from Lasso Motel, linked here. It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.

    
    Lasso Motel is a newer name stepping into the whiskey space, but they are doing something I always appreciate right out of the gate: transparency. The base bourbon is distilled at Green River Distillery in Kentucky, and Lasso Motel clearly states the mash bill and origin on their website. In today’s market, that level of clarity deserves recognition. It sets expectations and gives you confidence before you even pour a glass.

    After maturation as a Kentucky Straight Bourbon, this whiskey is finished in Cognac casks. While the exact finishing time is not disclosed, Cognac finishing typically runs several months. The goal here is enhancement, not takeover, and at 50% ABV, there is enough proof to carry both the bourbon character and the finishing influence without thinning out.


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

Age Statement: N/A.

ABV: 50%.

Mash bill: 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley.

Finishing: Ex-cognac cask.

Area of Distillation: Green River Distilling.

Appearance: Deep amber.


On the nose:
    The Cognac finish announces itself right away, but it does not mask the bourbon underneath. Sweet, buttery corn notes come through first, layered with a gentle dustiness and a clear rye spice. Darker fruit tones from the Cognac cask begin to unfold with plum, fig, and a touch of apricot. There is a subtle orchard sweetness that complements the spice.
    
    Underneath that fruit, there is caramel, light oak, a drizzle of vanilla, and a soft milk chocolate note. A faint leather nuance adds depth. The balance is impressive. Nothing feels sharp or hot at 50% ABV, and the integration between bourbon and finish is seamless.


Taste:
    The sip opens soft and approachable for the proof. Classic bourbon character leads with brown sugar, corn sweetness, and a gentle warmth. The rye spice builds steadily, transitioning into freshly cracked black pepper.

    As the palate develops, the Cognac influence becomes more pronounced. Dark fruit notes return with fig, plum, and apricot, carrying a subtle richness. A light floral rye note emerges on subsequent sips, adding complexity. The sweetness is present but controlled. If you are someone who prefers your bourbon to still taste like bourbon even when finished, this strikes that balance well.


Finish:
    The finish lingers nicely with a blend of rye spice and dark fruit. A slight bitterness from the Cognac cask appears toward the end, but it adds structure rather than distraction. A touch of leather and milk chocolate rounds things out in the late finish. It clings comfortably to the palate without becoming syrupy or overbearing.


Final Thoughts: 
    This is a well-executed finished bourbon. The base from Green River Distillery provides a sturdy, flavorful foundation, and the Cognac cask finishing enhances rather than overwhelms. The 21% rye mash bill works beautifully with the richer fruit notes from the cask, creating a dynamic but balanced profile.

    Lasso Motel earns strong marks not only for flavor but for transparency. Knowing the distillery source and mash bill builds trust, and the whiskey in the glass backs it up. If their other finishes follow this model of balance and restraint, they are off to a promising start.



Rating: B+ (Great).

Cost: $74.99 for 750ml.

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

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

Learn more about Lasso Motel via the link here: https://lassomotelwhiskey.com/.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Maker's Mark Cask Strength 7 Year Bourbon Whiskey Review.

-
Image
     As 2025 winds down, Maker's Mark surprised everyone with what appears to be a limited-age-stated run of their beloved cask strength bourbon. I’ve always had a soft spot for Maker's Mark. It wasn’t a brand I fell in love with immediately, but somewhere along the way, it became a comfort bottle, a pour I reached for between bigger, flashier releases. Their lineup consistently offers strong value, and while I still haven’t tried the Cellar Aged, the rest are genuinely solid. Seeing this on the shelf at standard cask strength pricing made it an easy pickup.      This release is still their classic wheated bourbon, although Maker's Mark doesn’t publish the exact mash bill. The side label offers some intriguing production details: a 110-proof barrel entry, 378 hand-rotated and hand-selected casks, and the note that each batch is “aged to taste.” That wording alone hints at future variations. I wouldn’t be surprised if 6.5- to 8-year age statements start appe...
Read more

Old 55 Distillery Single Barrel Cask Strength Sweet Corn Bourbon Whiskey Review.

-
Image
     Old 55 Distillery is a small craft operation tucked away in Newtown, Indiana, just south of Lafayette, and they’ve built a name for themselves by doing something very few dare to try, making bourbon with 100% sweet corn. I’ve crossed paths with a few of their spirits before and have always respected the level of care they bring to the table: all distilling, aging, and bottling is done in-house, with a heavy emphasis on local grains. Their Bottled-in-Bond Sweet Corn Bourbon is the bottle most people around here know, but this release, a single barrel, cask strength version, was something I’d only ever seen at the Market District in Carmel, Indiana.       Sweet corn isn’t just a novelty for Old 55, it’s an expensive, labor-intensive choice. A bushel of the common yellow dent corn runs about $4 (2020 prices), but the sweet corn they use costs over $1,000 for roughly the same weight. Even more challenging, the yields are smaller. From a 2,000-pound ma...
Read more

Ampersand Opimus 15 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review.

-
Image
     Ampersand is one of those new labels that seemed to appear almost overnight at the start of 2026, and it immediately caught the attention of enthusiasts. Founded by legendary blender and distiller Chip Tate, this release feels like a statement piece rather than a tentative first step. Seeing his name attached to a 15-year Kentucky straight bourbon finished in Tokaji casks was enough to send me bottle hunting the moment it hit the radar.      Opimus is clearly positioned as the flagship of the lineup, and the transparency here is refreshing. From mash bill to finishing time, there’s a level of openness that builds confidence before the cork is even pulled. Add in the fact that this is cask strength and reasonably priced for its age, and expectations were already running high. The mash bill is disclosed at 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, a combination that closely mirrors classic Kentucky profiles from decades past.       Wh...
Read more