The Last Call

     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 four full barrel maturations, there is no denying th...

       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.      Details are limited, as expected with a sourced product. Bondstone does not disclose the distillery or mash bill, though industry speculation points toward Wilderness Trail, a distillery known for contract distillation. What we do know is that this starts as a four-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon that undergoes a double oak process, followed by additional aging with toasted oak staves, hence the “Trip...