Review of Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask (2025)

Blue Note has been making waves in the Wonderful World of Whiskey. Founded in 2013, B.R. Distilling Company is the oldest legal distillery in Memphis, Tennessee, and has two flagship brands:  Blue Note and Riverset Rye. B.R. Distilling changed ownership in 2017 and aggressively marketed its whiskeys.

 

B.R. Distilling Company looks to Bardstown Bourbon Company to handle the distillation of its Rye whiskeys and Green River Distilling Co. for its Bourbons. They then transport the barrels to Memphis, Tennessee, where those whiskeys mature in the humid Mississippi heat.

 

Blue Note’s newest offering is a re-release of its Honey Bourbon Cask. What began as a 3-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon was then dumped into a holding tank. Those empty barrels were then used to age honey for an undisclosed period, and when the honey was dumped, B.R. Distilling then took the Bourbon held in tanks and refilled the former honey barrels for a finishing cycle.  

 

Blue Note calls the process The Art of Fusion. There are only 1800 bottles available, and can, at the time I’m writing this review, be acquired from its online store or “select US markets,” which encompasses 22 states.

 

B.R. Distilling was kind enough to provide me with a sample of the 2025 Honey Bourbon Cask in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and learn more about it.

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: Green River Distilling Co.
• Age: 3+ years
• Mashbill: 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley
• Cooperage: 53-gallon new, charred oak barrels then finished in a former honey barrel.
• Alcohol Content: 56.93% ABV (113.86°)
• Price per 750mL: $64.99
• Unfiltered

 

Appearance: I explored Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask via a neat pour in my Glencairn glass. The orange amber liquid created a bold rim, leading to thick, fast, crazed tears.

 

Nose: After allowing about 15 minutes for the Bourbon to breathe, I started to explore its aroma. I smelled raw honey, roasted almonds, butterscotch, brown sugar, and cedar. As I inhaled the vapor through my lips, there was a taste of honey graham crackers.

 

Palate: The first sip offered an airy mouthfeel. What I encountered was Bit O’Honey candies on the front. Leather and apple pie filling flavors commanded my mid-palate. The back included rye spice, nutmeg, and roasted almonds.

 

Finish: Let’s start with the fact that the finish seemed to run forever. I timed it at 2:19. There were Bit O’Honey candies, apple pie filling, and rye spice. As long as it lasted, it was even-keeled without any build-up, drop-off, or waves.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: On one hand, Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask was an easy drinker that I thought drank about a dozen points below its stated proof. On the other hand, I was dealing with a hard palate numbed by the alcohol. How do I classify that? I have no clue; that’s not something I typically run into.

 

The palate was relatively straightforward; I expected honey, and there was plenty of it. The airy texture was a nice bonus. That seemingly never-ending finish captivated my attention. It is an enjoyable pour, with the tingling on my hard palate as the only distraction.

 

There’s a lot of value for $49.99 and, especially with a limited-edition, barrel-proof Bourbon, that’s a pleasant surprise. If you can find a Bottle, I would recommend picking it up. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.