Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask (2025) & Blue Note Honey Rye Cask (2025) Review

About Blue Note Bourbon

Blue Note Bourbon™, produced by B.R. Distilling Company in Memphis, Tennessee, has quickly become one of the most exciting names in American whiskey. Their lineup pays tribute to the city’s blues heritage, offering both approachable everyday bottles and bold limited editions.

One of their most buzzed-about projects is the Honey Cask series — whiskeys finished in barrels that previously held barrel-aged honey. This process infuses the spirit with natural sweetness while letting the underlying whiskey shine. The first releases sold out almost instantly, and in 2025 Blue Note returned with two new expressions: the Honey Bourbon Cask and the Honey Rye Cask.

Both whiskeys start with a base aged at least three years, then undergo a secondary rest in honey-seasoned casks. The result is a pair of whiskeys that showcase how honey finishing interacts with two very different mash bills.

Bottle Details

Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask (2025)

• Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in honey barrels
• ABV: 56.93% (113.86 Proof), Unfiltered
• Mash Bill: 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley
• Age: Minimum 3 years
• MSRP: $64.99 (~1,800 bottles)
• Availability: Extremely limited – select U.S. markets + online

Blue Note Honey Rye Cask (2025)

• Type: Straight Rye Whiskey finished in honey barrels
• ABV: 58.245% (116.49 Proof), Unfiltered
• Mash Bill: 95% rye, 5% malted barley
• Age: Minimum 3 years
• MSRP: $64.99 (~13,000 bottles)
• Availability: Broader U.S. distribution + online

Tasting Notes

Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask (2025)

Nose
The aroma is decadent and layered, opening with rich wildflower honey, vanilla custard, and toasted marshmallow. As it sits in the glass, secondary notes emerge — roasted pecans, caramelized pear, and subtle oak char. There’s also a faint butterscotch creaminess that rounds everything out, making the nose feel warm, inviting, and luxurious.

Palate
The first sip bursts with creamy honey, golden syrup, and soft vanilla bean, quickly followed by baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Mid-palate, the whiskey reveals roasted nuts, ripe orchard fruits, and toasted cedar, balancing sweetness with structure. The mouthfeel is silky and full-bodied, coating the palate with honeyed richness while still allowing oak and leather undertones to ground the experience.

Finish
Medium-long, starting with sweet honeycomb and caramel drizzle, then shifting into floral tones, toasted oak, and a touch of dried tobacco leaf. The final impression is balanced and elegant, with a slow fade of warm vanilla spice and oak char that lingers beautifully.

Blue Note Honey Rye Cask (2025)

Nose
Lively and bold, the rye opens with vanilla bean, fresh green apple, and cinnamon sugar. Underneath sits a layer of clover honey and toasted oak, softening the sharper rye edges. As it develops, peppermint, cracked peppercorn, and herbal rye grain weave in, giving it both freshness and complexity.

Palate
The first sip hits with crisp apple, rye spice, and cinnamon stick, followed by warm honey and toasted oak that balance the sharper rye grain character. The mid-palate brings ginger snap cookies, clove, and dark cocoa nibs, with honey acting like a glaze over the spice. The texture is punchy yet smoothed by sweetness, making it a rye that appeals to both spice lovers and those who typically find rye too aggressive.

Finish
Long and warming, dominated by cinnamon, nutmeg, and peppercorn spice, slowly giving way to lingering apple skin, honey drizzle, and charred oak. There’s even a faint menthol coolness at the very end, leaving the finish fresh, complex, and memorable.

How Much Would I Pay for Blue Note Honey Bourbon & Honey Rye Cask?

💰 Max Price I’d Pay:

• Honey Bourbon Cask: $85
• Honey Rye Cask: $80

At $64.99 SRP, both bottles are well worth the purchase. The Honey Bourbon is the more decadent, layered pour (and far more limited), while the Honey Rye delivers bold value with wider availability.

With only 1,800 bottles of the Honey Bourbon, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it climb to $150–$200 on the secondary market. The demand for Blue Note’s Honey Cask releases has already proven itself, and this year’s edition is poised to follow the same path.