Dark Arts Double Oaked 2 Barrel Blend Bourbon Whiskey Review.

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Dark Arts Double Oaked 2 Barrel Blend Bourbon Whiskey Review.



    Sometimes a bottle calls to you without rhyme or reason, and this was one of those moments. Dark Arts Whiskey House had just dropped a new Seelbachs pick: a double-oaked, two-barrel blend of well-aged MGP bourbon. Drink. Click. Order placed. Truth be told, I have been loving nearly everything I sampled from Dark Arts in 2024, I figured it was a safe bet. What followed was a bit of a rollercoaster. 

    This bottle brings together two sourced Indiana bourbons, one aged 11 years and the other 10. The final blend underwent a secondary maturation for double-oaking, and it was bottled at cask strength, uncut and unfiltered. The concept is promising: a rich, layered bourbon leaning heavily into oak and spice, with a base spirit old enough to carry some weight. On paper, it checks the boxes. But it’s always what’s in the glass that counts.


For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/3IM1pPUzXAw.

Age Statement: 10 year.

ABV: 60% (Barrel Proof).

Mash bill: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley.

Area of Distillation: Lawrenceburg, Indiana.

Appearance: Deep, brooding Mahogany.


On the nose:
    Right away, you’re hit with a rush of barrel spice and herbal intensity from that 36% rye. There's a depth of dark chocolate, a touch of floral sweetness (more like walking past a wildflower field than stepping into a flower shop), and a whisper of salted caramel. Vanilla bean and burnt sugar creep in as it opens up. The corn adds a warm sweetness underneath, while the malt brings just a hint of waxy texture. I found myself wishing for a bit more oak punch on the nose, just a nudge further into that “double oaked” zone, but overall, it’s a solid, structured bouquet with no harshness or ethanol burn.


Taste:
    This is where the profile tightens and shows its bolder side. The entry is rich and velvety, loaded with dark tannins, spice, and bitter cocoa. That rye spice runs wild, herbal, medicinal, and earthy. There’s a dark cherry note that reminded me of a cocktail cherry just starting to bleed into a Manhattan. Underneath it all, you catch a fleeting orchard fruit sweetness and a dusting of corn husk. The oak builds through the mid-palate and crests with a wave of char, crème brûlée crust, and toasted nuts. The texture is luxurious, but I expected a longer cling on the finish given the age and ABV.


Finish:
    The finish doesn’t quite match the body. It fades quicker than expected, especially for a 10+ year bourbon. Still, there’s enough grip from the oak and spice to keep things interesting. Hints of dark fruit, char, and an earthy nuttiness linger, but they taper off sooner than I’d like. Third sip brought that nuttiness more into focus, a little rustic, a little raw, but welcome.


Final Thoughts:
    There’s a lot to like here. It’s a big, oak-driven pour with bold spice and a well-crafted blend. But priced at $180, it sets expectations that it doesn’t quite live up to. I wanted more nuance, more layering. It’s a good bourbon, maybe even very good in moments, but not a great one. I’d happily pay $130–$140 for it, but as it stands, it falls just short of its ambition. A solid showcase of double-oaking and MGP blending, but not the standout I hoped for.


Rating: C+ (Slightly above average).

Cost: $179.99 for 750ml.

For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/3IM1pPUzXAw.

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

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