Trail's End 8 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Apple Brandy Barrels
Trail's End 8 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Apple Brandy Barrels is a 105-proof (52.5% ABV) Kentucky straight bourbon in a 750mL bottle — eight years in new charred American oak, then finished by Hood River Distillers in their own Clear Creek apple brandy barrels in Oregon. Built on a traditional mash bill of corn, malted barley, and about 10% rye, it bridges Kentucky bourbon and Oregon craft distilling in one bottle. It is in stock and available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- Proof / ABV: 105 proof / 52.5% ABV
- Size: 750mL
- Aging: 8 years in new charred American oak, finished in Clear Creek apple brandy barrels
- Origin: distilled in Kentucky, finished in Hood River, Oregon
- Profile: corn/malted barley/~10% rye mash bill; high-proof, bold expression
Kentucky Roots, Oregon Finish
The Trail's End story starts in Kentucky, where the bourbon rests eight full years in charred new oak. Then the barrels travel to Hood River, Oregon, where Hood River Distillers — the makers of Pendleton — finish the whiskey in barrels that held their own Clear Creek apple brandy, building a bridge between the two houses. At 105 proof it drinks bigger and spicier than the original 90-proof Trail's End, with orchard fruit riding over the bourbon's oak core. Browse the Trail's End lineup or explore more barrel-finished bourbon whiskeys at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Warm September sweetness — pie crust, maraschino cherries, flat cola, and late-summer petrichor.
Palate: Oaky and herbal, like barley tea sweetened with manuka honey; pipe tobacco and red ale mid-palate.
Finish: A ghostly bitterness from the barrel's waning char — honest, stark, and long.
How to Enjoy
This is a 105-proof bourbon that demands respect — start neat in small sips, then add water to taste to round the edges. It makes a formidable Old Fashioned, and a splash of apple cider over ice turns it into a fall-ready highball. Pair with sharp cheddar or smoked nuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the proof of Trail's End Apple Brandy Barrel Finish?
105 proof (52.5% ABV).
What barrels finish Trail's End 8 Year Apple Brandy?
Clear Creek apple brandy barrels — Hood River Distillers' own brandy barrels, in Hood River, Oregon.
How does it differ from regular Trail's End 8 Year?
The core bourbon is the same 8-year Kentucky straight bourbon, but the apple brandy finish adds orchard fruit and lifts the proof from 90 to 105.
What is the mash bill?
Corn, malted barley, and approximately 10% rye.
Kentucky bourbon, Oregon apple brandy barrels, 105 proof — add Trail's End 8 Year Apple Brandy Finish to your cart at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA, while bottles last.