This was an interesting one! This single malt was distilled by Rogue Spirits, an Oregon outfit better known for their beer (which once seemed to be everywhere around me). The whisky began its life in new Oregon Oak for a year, then moved to refill barrels for nine months while Rogue’s Rolling Thunder Stout was placed in the original casks, finally the beer was taken out and the whisky added back in for another couple years.

This bottle was a single cask, cask-strength release of the Rolling Thunder Stouted Whisky from 2018. I have not seen any other releases quite like it as most similar products are vattings of multiple casks and proofed down. I got this bottle thanks to my sister who acted as mule to bring it over from a Texas Total Wine back in 2019.

---

Whisky: Rogue Rolling Thunder Stouted Whisky 2018 Limited Bottling Cask 6

Country/Region: United States/Oregon

ABV: 57.9%

Cask: New Oregon Oak (1Y), Refill 9 mo., Stout Cask (2Y)

Age: 3 Years (Bottled 2018)

Notes: Barbecue sauce and fudge brownies dominated the aroma with plenty of brown sugar, cinnamon, tomato paste, salty shoyu, and vanilla bean. Gooey fudge and dark chocolate lingered with a touch of coffee, honey, and banana ketchup— the Oregon Oak delivered that BBQ sauce tang, while the stout kept pulling me back to chocolate brownies. Medium to full-bodied with plenty of cinnamon, black pepper, and decadent brownies. Caramel and vanilla bean followed in short order with brown sugar, banana ketchup, and more barbecue sauce— the combination should not work, but somehow does. More stone fruits and pepper waited at the end with brown sugar and a touch of caramelization— sweet peach tea to wash it all down perhaps.  The finish was medium-length and a touch drying as woodsy tannins lingered.

---

Score: 7 (83)

Mental Image: Brownies at the BBQ

Conclusion: This was a lovely whisky and one of the better beer cask maturations that I have had— nearly on par with a lovely Chichibu from SMWS. That whisky and this American single malt shared similar thick chocolate and bright baking spice notes. While the Chichibu carried more sandalwood and tangy fruits, the Rogue followed the influence of the Oregon oak to tangy barbecue sauce. That Chichibu had a wonderful evolution, but this was no slouch either. It has taken me years to get through this bottle, as much as I enjoy the flavor profile, it is not one I crave often.