Ampersand Optimus 15 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Tokaji Casks is a Kentucky straight bourbon aged 15 years with a secondary finish in Hungarian Tokaji wine barrels bottled at cask strength (58.4% ABV, 117 proof), unfiltered, with a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, producing the stone fruit, honey, marzipan, and mellow baking spice that Tokaji’s distinctive sweet wine character contributes to the extended aged bourbon foundation.

Tokaji is a dessert wine produced in Hungary’s Tokaj wine region from Furmint and other grapes affected by Botrytis cinerea (noble rot) the same mold that produces Sauternes in France. The resulting wine is intensely sweet with stone fruit, honey, and marzipan character. When Kentucky straight bourbon is finished in these casks, the residual Tokaji influences transfer to the spirit: apricot, sultana, peach, and honeyed marzipan notes layering over the bourbon’s native caramel, vanilla, and oak. At 15 years of primary maturation, the bourbon base is deeply integrated before the Tokaji finish adds its final dimension. Cask strength bottling preserves the complete flavor profile that the 15 years plus Tokaji finishing has built.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Rich vanilla, toasted oak, and caramel with layers of apricot, honeycomb, and dried fig the Tokaji character building over the bourbon foundation
• Palate: Full-bodied dark chocolate, toffee, and bourbon spice balanced by Tokaji-influenced peach, sultana, and marzipan
• Finish: Long and warming oak, sweet honey, and subtle baking spice persisting through an extended close

Specs

• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Tokaji Cask Finish
• Mash bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
• Primary age: 15 years
• Finish: Hungarian Tokaji wine casks
• ABV: 58.4% (117 Proof) cask strength, unfiltered
• Size: 750ml

Browse all American whiskey at Wooden Cork.

{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What is Tokaji wine and why does it matter for bourbon finishing?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Tokaji is a Hungarian dessert wine made from Botrytis-affected grapes intensely sweet with apricot, sultana, honey, and marzipan character. When bourbon finishes in Tokaji casks, these stone fruit and honeyed notes transfer to the spirit, adding a dimension that American or Spanish wine casks don’t produce.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What is cask strength bourbon?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Bottled directly from the barrel at the proof the spirit has reached after maturation no water addition to dilute to a standard ABV. Cask strength preserves the full flavor intensity that the barrel has developed. At 117 proof, Optimus retains the complete character of 15 years plus Tokaji finishing.”}}]}