Backbone Bourbon Co. Irish whiskey Review.

    Backbone Bourbon Company has built a strong reputation out of Indianapolis by embracing transparency and leaning into creative sourcing. While many know them for their MGP-driven releases, they’ve never been shy about exploring whiskey from across North America and beyond. This particular bottle immediately stops you in your tracks because it challenges expectations before the cork even comes out.

    This is an Irish whiskey, but the color tells a completely different story. Deep, dark, and bordering on mahogany, it looks far closer to a heavily aged double-oaked bourbon than anything traditionally associated with Ireland. That alone made this release impossible to pass up, especially knowing it came from a small, almost accidental single barrel that found its way to Holly’s Package Store.

    The whiskey began its life in Ireland, aged as an Irish whiskey before being shipped to the United States. Once stateside, Backbone finished it in a brand new charred American oak barrel, dramatically altering both its appearance and its profile. The result is a rare combination of Irish grain character layered beneath intense new oak influence.

For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/hLh4jeiAS7A.

Age Statement: N/A (Single barrel).

ABV: 58.85% (Barrel proof).

Mash bill: Presumed 100% barely.

Area of Distillation: Ireland.

Finishing: Brand new charred American oak barrel.

Appearance: Dark mahogany.


On the nose:

    The aroma is strikingly rich and dense. Heavy oak char leads the way, followed by dark chocolate, vanilla bean paste, and sweet wood sugars. Beneath that, subtle Irish elements begin to peek through with hints of sweet barley and shortbread cookie. There’s a fleeting chocolate-covered cherry note that adds intrigue, and despite the high proof, the nose remains warm and inviting without any sharp ethanol bite.

Taste:

    The whiskey opens with a burst of sweetness that leans more toward a toasted or double-oaked bourbon profile than a traditional Irish. Sweet cream vanilla, crème brûlée, and caramelized wood sugars coat the palate. The barley-driven shortbread note appears early, then slowly fades as the new oak takes control. The mouthfeel is creamy and full, with zero harshness and no distracting off notes. It drinks dangerously smooth for nearly 59% ABV.

Finish:

    The finish is long, rich, and dominated by charred oak, sweet vanilla cream, and lingering wood sugars. A faint barley spice remains in the background, adding just enough contrast to remind you of the whiskey’s Irish origins.

Final Thoughts: 

    This is one of those bottles that challenges how you think about categories. As an Irish whiskey, it struggles to maintain its identity once the new charred oak takes over. The traditional Irish characteristics show up briefly before being overtaken by bold American oak influence. However, judged purely as a whiskey, this is an exceptional and deeply enjoyable pour.

    At around $65, the value feels justified given the proof, the uniqueness of the finishing process, and the overall drinking experience. It’s a bottle that sparks conversation, curiosity, and a smile with every pour.

Rating: (as an Irish Whiskey): C+ (Slightly above average), 

              (as a Whiskey):           A   (Excellent).

Cost: $64.99 for 750ml.

For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/hLh4jeiAS7A.

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