Company: Duke Spirits
Distillery: O.Z. Tyler Distillery
Region: Owensboro, Kentucky
Aging: 9 Years and finished in Cabernet Infused Grand Cru French Oak Wine Barrels
ABV: 55%
Proof: 110
Mash Bill: Undisclosed
Cooperages used in the making of this whiskey: Taransaund, Demptos Forest Region: Troncais
Wine Appellations used in the making of this whiskey: St. Helena, Howell Mountain, Rutherford
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Price: $90
Appearance: Honey
Duke Grand Cru Founder’s Reserve Tasting Notes
Nose: Caramel, toasted oak, vanilla, cinnamon, dark fruits, cherry, plum, nutmeg
Palate: Bold dark fruits, cherry, and plum right off the bat. Heavy caramel, strong toasted oak, vanilla, cocoa powder, anise, cinnamon, nutmeg
Finish: Long finish with a rich oily and buttery mouthfeel – leaves you with heavy caramel, oak, and brown sugar with lingering dark fruits and spice
Is Duke Grand Cru Founder’s Reserve an Approachable Whiskey?
Duke Grand Cru Founder’s Reserve is a bold whiskey, but it is quite welcoming with its fruit flavors.
It might be a strong one for beginner whiskey drinkers, but this is a pour almost any experienced whiskey drinker will appreciate.
Is Duke Grand Cru Founder’s Reserve Complex?
Duke Grand Cru Founder’s Reserve has a lot of layers of flavor.
It starts with your heavy caramel, vanilla, and oak flavors from being aged 9 years in the barrel.
Then on top of that, it is finished in Grand Cru Cabernet French Oak barrels which add a lovely layer of dark fruits, cherry, and plum flavors.
To top it all off, you have a lovely finish that reminds me of anise, cinnamon, and rye spiciness that really gives you a nice lingering buttery finish.
History of Duke Grand Cru Founder’s Reserve
From the back of the Duke’s bottle itself:
“John Wayne, or “Duke” to his family and friends, will endure as an American legend. A dedicated craftsman and a patriot.
Duke reserve bourbon manifests this passion, as it is rested for a minimum of 9 years and finished in world-class Napa Valley cult cabernet-infused french oak barrels. Our master blender has meticulously selected these grand cru wine barrels to impart a natural seasoning, toasting, and complexity, allowing the bourbon to finish to a desired flavor profile and proof. Lush, balanced, and bold, you can sense the terroir aromas of the oak and the hint of cherry.
Each barrel, unique in character, is bottled to present a singular and exceptional expression.”
What are Duke Grand Cru Founder’s Reserve’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Duke Grand Cru Founder’s Reserve has a lot of strong flavors. It’s hard to pick just one because they are all blended so well together and leave you with a beautiful combination of flavors that rivals the best whiskeys.
Is Duke Grand Cru Founder’s Reserve a go-to whisky?
If this bottle were cheaper, it would absolutely be a go-to whiskey.
This is a pour I would want to have every day of the week if I could. But since it’s a $90 bottle and is not easy for me to find, this is one that I would reserve for special occasions.
Is Duke Grand Cru Founder’s Reserve priced accurately to its quality?
Duke Grand Cru Founder’s Reserve is priced accurately to its quality.
At first, I thought it’d be a bit overpriced, but the flavors are so bold and beautifully balanced that it warrants the hefty price tag.
Conclusion for Duke Grand Cru Founder’s Reserve
My friend brought me this bottle as a gift when he came to visit me from San Francisco.
This is a bottle that I would never be able to find in Pennsylvania, so it was quite the treat.
I had no idea what the price tag was at the time and the second I tasted it I loved all the heavy caramel and oak flavors and immediately appreciated the dark fruit flavors from being finished in Grand Cru French Oak barrels.
This is honestly one of the best pours of bourbon I have had in a while and rivals some of my favorites.
So while this is a blend, it is an excellent combination of blended whiskeys that comes together extremely well.
If you get a chance to try this one, do it.
Let Us Know What You Think
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Thanks for reading and cheers!
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