Bespoken Spirits Bourbon Whiskey
Bespoken Spirits Bourbon Whiskey is a 47% ABV (94 proof) high-rye bourbon in a 750mL bottle — a young sourced bourbon "craft-matured" with Bespoken's proprietary ACTivation technology, which extracts aroma, color, and taste from twice-toasted American oak microstaves in days instead of years, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 47% (94 proof) per the official spec sheet — bottle read pending; two retailers list 100 proof
- Size: 750mL
- Mash bill: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley (high-rye)
- Process: ~2-year-old sourced bourbon finished with ACTivation — twice-toasted oak staves, precision-controlled, no additives
- Origin: base whiskey sourced from MGP, Lawrenceburg, Indiana; finished in California by Bespoken (founded by Stu Aaron and Martin Janousek)
- Award: Double Gold, 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Precision Oak, Silicon Valley Style
Bespoken is a Silicon Valley company — its founders, Stu Aaron and Martin Janousek, are scientists who decided barrel aging could be engineered. Their ACTivation technology applies twice-toasted American oak microstaves under controlled conditions, extracting the aroma, color, and taste of long maturation in a fraction of the time — with no artificial colorings or additives, 97% less wood consumption, and no angel's share. The base is a young (~2-year-old) high-rye bourbon sourced from MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana; the "Bespoken" name signals a tailored, precisely-profiled spirit (the company pitches ~17 billion possible flavor combinations). It meets straight bourbon requirements and is marketed as a straight bourbon whiskey. Shop our bourbon collection, browse the Bespoken Spirits range, or compare other craft bourbons.
Tasting Notes
Amber in the glass. The nose leads with apple berry crumble, fig butter, toffee, biscuit, and vanilla. The palate brings toasted almond, sweet dried fruits, and vibrant spice; the finish is light and bright, with caramel and cereal lingering. (The official sheet notes sediment may appear — they don't rigorously filter, so give the bottle a gentle shake.)
How to Enjoy
Neat or on the rocks to taste the precision-oak effect, or in cocktails — reviewers found it makes a strong Old Fashioned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Bespoken bourbon made?
It starts as a young (~2-year-old) high-rye bourbon and is finished with the ACTivation process — twice-toasted American oak staves under controlled conditions — instead of years in barrel.
Is it a true bourbon?
Yes — it meets straight bourbon requirements and is marketed as straight bourbon whiskey.
Why is the region Indiana?
The base whiskey is sourced from MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana; Bespoken applies its finishing technology in California.
Is it filtered?
Not rigorously — the official sheet notes sediment may appear, so a gentle shake reintegrates it.
Try bourbon engineered for flavor — order Bespoken Spirits Bourbon Whiskey online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.