Circle City Whiskey Co. The Robusto Blend Review.

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Circle City Whiskey Co. The Robusto Blend

    Circle City Whiskey Company is one of those brands that has slowly earned more and more space on my shelves. Every time a new release drops, it feels like they push the envelope just a little further while still keeping that transparency we all want to see in modern whiskey. Tonight’s pour is their newest release for 2026, the Robusto Blend, and this one immediately caught my attention because it was designed as a cigar-style batch.

    I am not a cigar smoker myself, but I have always enjoyed cigar-style bourbons because they tend to lean richer, darker, and more layered while still bringing a higher proof to the table. This one checks all of those boxes before the bottle is even opened. 

    The Robusto Blend is a four-barrel blend built around both transparency and creativity. Three of the barrels come from Heaven Hill, all at least eight years old, and each one was finished differently. One was placed in a toasted cask, another in a new charred American oak barrel, and the third in a French oak cask. The fourth barrel comes from MGP and uses a higher-rye mash bill. That barrel is nine and a half years old. Everything is bottled at cask strength, non-chill filtered.


For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/P_PkK7StkBc.

Age Statement: +8 years.

ABV: 59.5%.

Blend:
  • 1 Barrel Kentucky bourbon (78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted Barley) Toasted.
  • 1 Barrel Kentucky bourbon (78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted Barley) New Charred Oak.
  • 1 Barrel Kentucky bourbon (78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted Barley) French Oak.
  • 1 Barrel MGP bourbon (75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley).

    • Area of Distillation: Kentucky & Indiana.

    Appearance: Golden espresso.


    On the nose:
        The nose is layered almost immediately. Rich chocolate and nougat jump out first, followed by a mix of toasted vanilla and French oak spice. There is a crème brûlée sweetness in the background with a toasted sugar quality that really stands out. As it opens up more, you start getting sweet apple notes with caramel on the side along with a deep oak presence that never overwhelms the sweeter aromas. It comes across like a handmade chocolate candy bar with real depth instead of just sweetness.


    Taste:
      The first sip coats the palate completely and drinks surprisingly smooth for the proof. Chocolate and nuttiness hit first, followed by dark oak and rich caramel. The French oak brings a noticeable spice that blends nicely with the higher-rye barrel from MGP. There is a dark fruit note that starts to appear after the first sip, leaning toward fig or plum, and it adds another layer of depth without becoming overly sweet. The texture is rich and slightly oily, which works perfectly with the darker flavor profile. 


    Finish:
       The finish leans toward pepper, baking spices, and deeper oak notes while that oily texture sticks around for a long time. There is a touch of rye spice that shows up toward the end along with a little grassy note that reminds you this is still a blend built around strong character. It stays complex all the way through the finish instead of fading out quickly.


    Final Thoughts: 
       This is one of those blends that immediately feels well thought out. Each barrel clearly plays a role and nothing feels like it was added just for the sake of complexity. The Heaven Hill barrels bring the structure and sweetness, while the MGP barrel adds spice and depth that keeps the blend from feeling too heavy. The age is there, the proof is there, and the finishing work actually shows in the final product. It easily stands alongside some of the more expensive blends on the market right now. 


    Rating: A (Excellent).

    Cost: $109.99 for 750ml.

    For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/P_PkK7StkBc.

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

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