Larrikin Cigar Lounge Bourbon Review

Larrikin Bourbon Co.
Cigar Lounge
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Finished in Cognac, Amburana, Jaca, Madeira and Maple Barrels
109 Proof
SRP: $150
Review

Please enjoy our Larrikin Cigar Lounge Bourbon Review!

Introducing Cigar Lounge Bourbon

The latest release from Larrikin Bourbon Co. of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky is called Cigar Lounge, which recently made its debut at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. It’s said to be perfect for pairing with a fine cigar, and the folks at Larrikin should know – they have a walk-in humidor in their tasting room!

The Details – Larrikin Cigar Lounge Bourbon Review

• Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
• Age: 9 Years
• Proof: 109
• Finishing Barrels: Cognac, Amburana, Brazilian Jaca Fruit, Spanish Madeira, Maple Syrup
• Release: Limited

The Finishing Barrels

Brazilian Jaca Fruit

Many of these finishing barrels will be familiar to bourbon fans, though Brazilian Jaca fruit may not be. According to Wikipedia, Jaca is the Portuguese name for what is more commonly known as jackfruit—the world’s largest tree fruit. Jackfruit can grow up to 35 inches long and weigh as much as 120 pounds. The ripe fruit is often described as tasting like a mix of apple, pineapple, mango, and banana. I assume barrels made from jackfruit wood are used here, although that is not explicitly stated.

Amburana

Many enthusiasts have encountered bourbons finished in amburana, but for those who haven’t: this South American hardwood has traditionally been used to age cachaça (a Brazilian sugarcane spirit). More recently, it has been used in whiskey finishing. Amburana imparts a very distinctive flavor, often cinnamon-forward—though to me, it leans closer to cinnamon raisin toast. Once you taste it, you’ll never forget it. It’s also quite polarizing.

Cognac, Madeira & Maple Syrup

The other barrels/casks are self-explanatory, and have been used to age cognac, madeira and presumably maple syrup prior to their use in finishing this bourbon. It should be noted that some maple syrup barrels are “seasoned” with syrup, rather than used to age the maple syrup. I am not certain which type is being used here.

So, what’s it like?

With that unique finishing approach in mind, here’s how Cigar Lounge performs in the glass.

Tasting Notes – Larrikin Cigar Lounge Bourbon Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Cinnamon raisin bread; fairly sweet, with Demerara sugar simple syrup and perhaps maple syrup; touch of barrel char and dry oak; hints of rye spices; tart orange peel after a few sips; alcohol vapor is fairly light for the proof
👉🏻Taste: Mildly sweet; cinnamon raisin bread, hints of cognac and madeira, pale caramel, tart orange peel, mild tannins and mild oak
👉🏻Finish: Lingering mild sweetness and raisins; moderate white pepper spice later on; increasingly dry; dry oak, tannins, and smoky barrel char later on; pleasant warmth; quite long with the flavors lasting for quite a while

The Amburana is quite noticeable in the nose. Up front, it is full and rich with cinnamon raisin bread and sweetness from Demerara sugar simple syrup, and perhaps a bit of maple syrup, too. Subtle barrel char and dry oak are evident later on, with very subtle hints of rye spices in the background, as well. After a few sips, I notice tart orange peel. The alcohol vapor seems fairly mild for the proof.

The taste begins mildly sweet, again with cinnamon raisin bread, but also pale caramel, subtle cognac and mild oak. With subsequent sips, tart orange peel, mild tannins and oak become increasingly evident. The flavors continue into the finish. However, later on, the mouthfeel becomes increasingly dry and there is moderate white pepper spice, tannins, dry wood and smoky barrel char. The flavors last for quite some time, and I am left with a dryness, in addition to a pleasant warmth.

The Effects of the Finishing Barrels

As in most Amburana finished whiskeys, the wood’s characteristic flavors tend to stand out. Larrikin Cigar Lounge is no exception. Those flavors are most noticeable initially in the nose, and become less dominant over time and as the sip progresses. The increasing dryness, white pepper spice, dry oak and smoky barrel char in the finish provide a nice contrast to those sweeter flavors up front.

The first time I tasted this whiskey, I was unaware of all of the specific barrels used in finishing it. The next time, after reading about them, I tried to identify each one. I could note some maple syrup in the nose and hints of cognac in the taste. However, I am not sure I could identify the Brazilian Jaca Fruit or the Spanish Madeira, specifically, although I can imagine hints of Madeira in the palate. Overall, however, all of those finishing barrels do blend together quite nicely.

Conclusion

Overall, Larrikin Cigar Lounge is a very enjoyable, full-flavored bourbon. Given the strong flavors that Amburana imparts on a whiskey, Cigar Lounge will likely be most appreciated by fans of those notes. The other barrels play a more subtle role, but blend in nicely. Finally, the increasingly dry and spicy long finish provides a nice contrast to the initially sweet and rich flavors up front. I have yet to pair this bourbon with the Larrikin cigar, but I would expect it to go quite nicely. Have you tried Larrikin Cigar Lounge bourbon? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Larrikin Cigar Lounge Bourbon Review! Next, read these related articles: Larrikin Rosewater Bourbon Review, The Maverick Spirit of Larrikin Bourbon Co. and Copper & Cask 20 Year Hazmat Cigar Blend Whiskey Review.

Note: This sample was provided by the brand for my review. I appreciate it!

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