Wheel Horse Narragansett Baltic Porter Beer Barrel Finished Bourbon Review

Wheel Horse
Narragansett
Bourbon Whiskey
Finished in Baltic Porter Beer Barrels
101 Proof
Aged: 4 years
SRP: $39.99 ($42.99 on the Wheel Horse Website)
Review

Please enjoy our Wheel Horse Baltic Porter Beer Barrel Finished Bourbon Review!

A Rhode Island Collaboration – Wheel Horse Baltic Porter Beer Barrel Finished Bourbon

For this limited-edition release, Wheel Horse Whiskey partnered with Narragansett Beer, an historic Rhode Island brewery with roots dating back to 1890. Both brands share late 19th-century origins, with Wheel Horse distilled at Kentucky’s Green River Distilling Co., which was founded in 1885. The collaboration produced two expressions — Narragansett Barrel-Aged Baltic Porter and Wheel Horse Baltic Porter Beer Barrel Finished Bourbon Whiskey — created from the same set of barrels in a true back-and-forth exchange.

The bourbon used for this release was aged over four years in new charred oak barrels, then finished for approximately four to five months in barrels that previously held Narragansett Baltic Porter beer. Only 2,100 bottles were produced. This collaboration marks Wheel Horse’s first beer-finished whiskey, available in select retail stores across Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, as well as online.

The Details – Wheel Horse Baltic Porter Beer Barrel Finished Bourbon Review

• Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Baltic Porter beer barrels
• Distillery: Green River Distilling Co., Owensboro, Kentucky
• Finishing Partner: Narragansett Brewing Company, Providence, Rhode Island
• Age: 4 Years (plus 4–5 months finishing)
• Proof / ABV: 101 Proof (50.5% ABV)
• Limited Production: 2,100 bottles
• Availability: Select retailers in RI, CT, and MA, and online
• SRP: $39.99 (or $42.99 via Wheel Horse website)

Tasting Notes – Wheel Horse Narragansett Baltic Porter Beer Barrel Finished Bourbon Review

🛏 Rested: 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻 Nose: Mild dark roasted malt notes up front; mildly sweet from light caramel, sweet maltiness and fruit. Dried apricots and raspberry jam are more noticeable later on, and relatively subtle. Still later, there are tart orange peels, mild rye spices and hints of hot cinnamon. The alcohol vapor is appropriate for the proof.
👉🏻 Taste: Mildly sweet simple syrup and mild malty sweetness. Somewhat bitter and tannic soon after, with dark roasted grain notes. Hints of dark berries. Subtle hot cinnamon.
👉🏻 Finish: Dark roasted malt combined with growing moderate white pepper and hot cinnamon spice. In addition, the mouthfeel rapidly becomes increasingly dry with growing tannins and a bit of smoke. Fairly long, with lingering mild smoke, spice and tannins.

Summary – Wheel Horse Narragansett Baltic Porter Beer Barrel Finished Bourbon Review

The dark roasted malts of the porter have an influence throughout. In the nose, those notes are fairly mild. However, in the taste, and particularly in the finish, the tannins, bitterness and burnt notes of the intensely roasted grains become more dominant. The mild smoke in the finish may be a combination of the barrel char and the dark malts. The fruit and sweetness are all but gone by the finish, although a bit of tart orange citrus lingers on.

I have had a number of bourbons finished in barrel aged stout barrels, but I believe this is the first that I have had that was finished in barrel aged porter barrels. The dry and tannic notes of the heavily roasted grains of the Baltic porter provide a very different character from the stout barrel finished bourbons. The fairly astringent notes of those grains are more evident than the roasted, chocolaty grain character often found in the stouts.

Conclusion – Wheel Horse Narragansett Baltic Porter Beer Barrel Finished Bourbon Review

When all is said and done, this bourbon will likely have its fans. The progression from some sweetness and fruit in the nose, through to the spice, tannins and bitterness in the finish, make for a fairly unique progression. If you are a fan of the flavors of a strong dark porter, then this is a bourbon that you are going to want to try. Personally, the more I drink it, the more I am enjoying it. However, like many of the beer barrel finished bourbons before it, I do not think it will be everyone’s proverbial cup of tea. Therefore, I would recommend that you try before you buy.

Have you tried the Wheel Horse Baltic Porter Beer Barrel Finished Bourbon? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Wheel Horse Baltic Porter Beer Barrel Finished Bourbon Review! Next, check out these related reviews: Wheel Horse Double Oak Bourbon Review, Wheel Horse Bourbon 101 Review & Wheel Horse Barrel Master Select Barrel Proof Bourbon Review.

Note: This bottle was graciously provided by the Brand for my review. I appreciate it!

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