Bhakta Armagnac Cask Finish Bourbon Whiskey 2014
52.7% ABV (105.4 proof) | 750mL | 9 years old, 99% corn mash | Finished 125 days in 1973 vintage Armagnac casks | Bottled in Poultney, Vermont — Bhakta's 2014 bourbon is a cross-continental collaboration: a 9-year-old Indiana bourbon given a 125-day secondary maturation in French oak casks that held BHAKTA's award-winning 1973 vintage Armagnac.
BHAKTA Spirits — the "House of Vintages" founded by WhistlePig founder Raj Peter Bhakta — is anchored by one of the world's oldest Armagnac collections, with vintages back to 1868. Each annual bourbon vintage is finished in casks from a chosen prized Armagnac vintage; the 2014 release drew on the 1973 Armagnac, a bottling once named a 99-point "No. 1 Spirit in the World" by F. Paul Pacult. The unusual 99% corn / 1% malted barley mash bill (no rye) makes for a sweet, full-bodied bourbon; the Armagnac casks layer on herbaceous depth, charred oak, and raisin-rum-cake richness. A limited annual vintage release — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
Tasting notes
Official BHAKTA notes: deep, rich amber. Nose: grassy and herbaceous, toasted oak, caramel. Palate: spicy attack — charred oak, maraschino cherry, maple syrup. Finish: oak spice, sweet almond, raisin rum cake.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 105.4 proof, 9-year-old bourbon finished 125 days in casks from BHAKTA's prized 1973 Armagnac
- Unusual 99% corn / 1% malted barley mash bill — no rye, unusually sweet and full-bodied
- From Raj Peter Bhakta's "House of Vintages" — one of the world's oldest Armagnac collections
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat in a Glencairn to catch the herbaceous nose; a few drops of water open the maraschino and maple notes. Save it for slow sipping.
Frequently asked questions
What does "finished in Armagnac casks" mean?
After 9 years in new charred American oak, this bourbon spent 125 days in French oak casks that previously held BHAKTA's 1973 vintage Armagnac — picking up herbaceous, fruity depth no bourbon barrel alone gives.
Who makes BHAKTA?
BHAKTA Spirits was founded by Raj Peter Bhakta, the founder of WhistlePig, and is built around one of the world's oldest collections of vintage Armagnac, dating to 1868.
Is the 2014 bourbon a limited release?
Yes — BHAKTA releases one bourbon vintage per year, each finished in a different prized Armagnac vintage's casks, in limited quantities.