Lewis Station Barrel 45 Cask Strength Bourbon Review

 

Lewis Station Winery and Distillery was founded in 2011 by Rob Lewis in a former gas station in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Rob is a Level 2-certified sommelier, and in 2018, Lewis Station was declared Wisconsin’s first Certified Craft Winery by the Craft Winery Association. Then, in 2020, Rob opened Stable Rock Winery & Distillery at nearby Jefferson. Aside from a couple of vodkas and gin, Rob has a handful of whiskeys in his product lineup, plus a ton of wines.

Lewis Station

Lewis Station is hyper-local (about a dozen miles away), and the winery is one Mrs. Whiskeyfellow has been a fan of for several years. As such, we’re there frequently and have had an opportunity to get to know Rob.

Rob Lewis, Owner

 

In Lake Mills, a second distillery called Dog & Shrub was founded by Rob “Doc” Campbell. The distillery changed hands in 2023, was renamed Salty Dog Distillery, and went out of business shortly after. Doc had distilled at the nearby Dancing Goat Distillery to create his spirits. Those were aging gracefully before Doc sold the company. When Salty Dog shuttered, Rob Lewis purchased the stocks and handled the blending, proofing, and bottling.

 

Today, we’ll explore Barrel 45, a Wisconsin Straight Bourbon made from a mash of 64% corn, 22% rye, and 14% malted barley and aged 4 years in a new, 15-gallon #3 charred oak single barrel.

 

Now, stop right there. Don’t crinkle your nose and don’t pre-judge. I know the knee-jerk reaction is to assume that’s way too much time in smaller cooperage and in many cases, you’d be right. Rob Lewis stored Barrel 45 in a climate-controlled warehouse, which limited the whiskey’s interaction with the oak; so much so that the entry proof was 59.1% ABV (118.2°), and its dumped proof is 59% ABV (118°), which, incidentally, is also what it was bottled at.

 

In full disclosure, Rob did provide me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Like anyone else, I hold Lewis Station to the same strict guidelines I use when judging any whiskey. In other words, friendship does not provide a free pass.

 

Let’s #DrinkCurious and find out what Barrel 45 is all about.

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Dog & Shrub Distillery (shuttered)
• Age: 4 years
• Mashbill: 64% corn, 22% rye, 14% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 15-gallon #3 charred oak single barrel
• Entry Proof: 59.1% ABV (118.2°)
• Alcohol Content: 59% ABV (118°)
• Price per 750mL: $75.00

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore Barrel 45 neat. The Bourbon showed a caramel hue and formed a medium rim with fast, thick tears.

 

Nose: Initially, I waited 15 minutes before exploring the nose. When that elapsed, I smelled grilled meats, cherries, oak, and toffee, and Werther’s Originals candy. Shockingly, oak did not dominate as I’d expect from 4 years in a 15-gallon barrel. After another 5 minutes, the aroma moved to bananas foster. When I drew the vapor into my mouth, I discovered more bananas.

 

Palate: Barrel 45 had a thin, oily texture and a shock of clove. Another sip allowed me to taste cherries, butterscotch, and orange zest on the front of my palate, with cocoa nibs, bananas, and cinnamon coating the middle. On the back were flavors of oak, clove, and ginger spices.

 

Finish: What remained included clove, ginger, cinnamon, orange zest, vanilla, and oak. I’d guess that 90% of the finish was the lingering of cinnamon and ginger. The duration ran 1:24, which is on the longer side.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Normally, I’d say waiting 15 minutes is fine for most whiskeys. In the case of Barrel 45, the extra time is worth the investment. It oxidized nicely. I also kept sniffing the near-empty glass while jotting down my notes, and the sweetness intensified. Yet, I didn’t have the same experience on the palate. After opening up, it seemed rather steady. It also drank about 10 points below its stated proof.

 

At $75.00, Barrel 45 is pricey; yet it is also from a ghost distillery. You’ll never come across this distillate again. Dog & Shrub was very much a small, craft operation. Moreover, Lewis Station did a great job of keeping the barrel in a controlled environment so the Bourbon wouldn’t become overoaked, which defies everything you’d assume to encounter with 15-gallon cooperage.

 

If you find yourself in Lake Mills, stop into Lewis Station and grab a Bottle of this unique pour. 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.