The Last Call

Bondstone Heritage Reserve Quad Oak Bourbon Review.      Bondstone is one of those brands many bourbon drinkers first encounter on the shelves at Total Wine, often under the Spirits Direct umbrella. While that association can sometimes raise eyebrows, Bondstone has been slowly expanding beyond that lane, and the Quad Oak release feels like an attempt to stand out in a crowded field of finished bourbons. Now when it comes to Spirit Direct brands that can mean in-house bottlings, sourced projects, or partnerships with smaller distilleries, and Bondstone sits firmly in that sourced-project lane.      The “Quad Oak” name comes with a bit of creative interpretation. According to the bottle, Bondstone starts with a double-oaked bourbon matured twice in new charred oak barrels. They then blend that with a bourbon matured three times in new charred oak barrels, before finishing the combined whiskey with toasted American and French oak staves. While this may not be ...

       Bondstone is one of those brands you’ll most often spot at Total Wine, living in the Spirit Direct section and sparking plenty of debate among bourbon fans. Some folks write those bottles off immediately, but the reality is a bit more nuanced. Spirit Direct can mean in-house bottlings, sourced projects, or partnerships with smaller distilleries, and Bondstone sits firmly in that sourced-project lane. This Triple Oak release had been on my radar for a while, and when Batch 2 landed in mid-2025 with a discount attached, curiosity finally won.      Presentation-wise, Bondstone absolutely nails it. The bottle looks fantastic on the shelf and in the glass, immediately setting expectations higher than you might assume for a sourced bourbon. While Batch 1 passed me by due to pricing, this felt like the right moment to see whether the liquid could live up to the looks.      Details are limited, as expected with a sourced product. Bondston...