Bourbon finished in a white wine barrel.

Treaty Oak Distillng

This is the first of two collaborations with Treaty Oak that explores column vs. pot distillation. The base for the releases is Ghost Hill Bourbon, Treaty Oaks flagship whiskey made from 52% corn, 33% wheat, and 15% barley. One barrel distilled on their column still, and the second barrel distilled on their pot still. Distilled one day apart and aged in the same place of the rickhouse for two (2) years.

The idea of finishing a bourbon in a wine barrel is not new, but a white wine barrel is uncommon. It had to be the right wine, though, as I was afraid Chardonnay would be too buttery. While having a glass of wine at Bent Oak Winery in Cedar Park, conversing with one of the owners, he suggested a Rousanne wine. It so happened they would be dumping a couple of barrels soon.

What is a Roussanne wine?

Roussanne, originating from the Rhone Valley, has found a home in the Texas High Plains. Our Roussanne produces a distinctively rich white wine with beautiful aromatics reminiscent of tropical fruit, pineapple, and honeysuckle. The palate is equally rich with hints of citrus, Mandarin orange, grilled nectarines, and light acidity.

The Collaboration

I had already approached Daniel Barnes at Treaty Oak about collaborating, so now we just needed to make it happen. The barrels were delivered in August and allowed to finish for a year, making them three (3) year bourbons.

The only difference between the barrels is that one is a column, and the other is a pot still, distillate. The whiskeys are dramatically different. The column still is a rollercoaster of flavor, while the pot still is a little heavier and rounded. The wine shines on the finish.

We are only releasing one barrel at a time, so buy the first release, save some, and buy the second release for a side-by-side comparison.

The first release is the column still distillate and is now available at Treaty Oak Distilling’s tasting room in Dripping Springs.