Thomas S. Moore Bourbon Finished in Chardonnay Casks – Surprisingly savory on the nose, with elements of roast beef, some spice, and toasty oak, it doesn’t immediately scream chardonnay — though it does evoke the oak barrel that’s iconic to northern California. The palate continues the theme, again quite savory and aggressively meaty as it develops on the palate.
Thomas S. Moore Bourbon Finished in Port Casks – Distinctly sweet on the nose, as expected, with notes of red berries and cherries prominent. Some baking spice elements emerge with time in glass giving it an engaging, holiday-like character. The palate is aggressive, its body enormous, and the whiskey immediately bursts with juicy fruit and a milk chocolate note — but it never comes across as overdone or overtly sweet. The whiskey hangs on for ages, with a sweet caramel and toffee note on the enduring finish.
Thomas S. Moore Bourbon Finished in Cabernet Sauvignon Casks – There’s no shortage of toasty oak here, but there’s also dark chocolate on the nose hinting at the heavy fruit component of the wine. There’s a lot of herbal elements here, perhaps evoking that brambly quality you get in a lot of cabernet. The palate is at first a bit closed off, with a significant note of peanut shells. Fruit emerges on the tongue in short order, but it feels a little blown out, with a somewhat blunt, jam/jelly-like note that has a somewhat gummy texture to it.
