Detroit City Distillery Honey Finished Bourbon Whiskey Review.

    Every now and then, a craft distillery does something just weird enough to make me stop and say, “Okay… tell me more.” That was the case with this honey barrel-finished bourbon from Detroit City Distillery. I’d heard rumblings of this project back in 2024 and knew I had to track it down, not just for myself, but because we’ve got a honey barrel blind flight coming up, and this one felt like it deserved a seat at the table.

    Now, Detroit City Distillery is one of those smaller outfits doing a bit of everything—bourbon, gin, rum, vodka—you name it. I’ve reviewed a few of their whiskeys before and always found them pretty solid for the craft category. The only downside is I can’t get their stuff here in Indiana, but anytime I make a run up to Michigan, I try to keep my eyes peeled for something new and interesting. And this? A whiskey finished in honey barrels from an urban rooftop beekeeping project? Yeah, that’ll do.

    Official details are a little sparse, but word on the street (and one review I dug up) says they’re using their Butcher’s Cut Bourbon as the base. They then finish it in honey barrels sourced through a project called Bees in the D, linked here, a Detroit-based initiative placing hives on rooftops to encourage urban pollination. As someone who’s kept bees myself, I think that’s downright awesome.

For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/RswpIj3F8hk.

Age Statement: 4+ years.

ABV: 50%.

Mash bill: N/A. (Rumor is 68% corn, 27% rye, 5% specialty roasted barley malts).

Area of Distillation: Detroit City, Michigan.

Appearance: Diluted honey.


On the nose:

    Light, floral, and very approachable. There’s a touch of corn sweetness up front, but not in a harsh or underdeveloped way. The honey is there, but it’s more of a whisper, soft and integrated rather than sticky or dominant. Rye spice comes through gently, adding some floral and peppery balance, and there’s a bit of barrel char, vanilla, and a soft almond nuttiness rounding it out. It reminded me for a second of granola, with the corn, honey, and almond all dancing together, but it stops just short of that.

Taste:

    The flavor mirrors the nose almost exactly: soft, subtle, and easygoing. You get a faint touch of honey sweetness, maybe a little earthy undertone, but again, it’s not the kind of bold honey flavor that slaps you in the face. The rye spice kicks in just enough to keep things interesting, and there’s a mild peppery note on the finish. Almonds are still in the mix, think honey-roasted, but with the volume turned down. Caramel, vanilla, and a touch of dusty corn show up on the second sip. It all comes together in a balanced way, if a bit reserved.

Finish:

    Short to medium in length. Light spice, soft oak, and that whisper of honey carry through without becoming sticky or cloying. It doesn’t overstay its welcome, and there’s nothing off-putting to be found. No harshness, no youthful bite, just a clean exit.

Final Thoughts: 

    Detroit City’s Honey Barrel Finished Bourbon isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. it’s more of a gentle nudge in a slightly sweeter direction. If you’ve been burned by overpowering honey finishes in the past, this might be your gateway back in. It doesn’t hit hard, and honestly, that might be its strength. It’s a soft, slightly sweet, floral-forward bourbon that feels tailor-made for summer evenings or easy sipping.

    I love the local collaboration between Detroit City and Bees in the D. Personally, I’d love to see this same whiskey get a little older or spend just a tad longer in the honey casks to push the concept further. Still this is quite an enjoyable pour for the summertime!

Rating: C+ (slightly above average).

Cost: $59.99 for 750ml.

For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/RswpIj3F8hk.

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