Doc Swinsons French Toasted Exploratory Cask Series Straight Bourbon Whiskey Cask Strength 110.6 Proof 750ml

Best in Show. Double Gold. San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023. Those are not minor accolades — they represent the highest recognition a spirit can receive in one of the most competitive judging panels in the world. For a small independent bottler out of Ferndale, Washington, winning both with a limited-batch finished bourbon is a statement of intent and a validation of a genuinely unconventional approach.

"French Toasted" is the debut release in Doc Swinson's Exploratory Double Oak whiskey line, and it earns its name on every level. The base is a blend of two MGP high-rye mash bills — already among the most respected source distillate in American whiskey — finished in large-format 600-liter casks from Taransaud Cooperage in Cognac, France, coopered from Tronçais forest oak seasoned for a minimum of 36 months. The result crosses categories in the most exciting way possible: UPROXX described it as presenting "much more like an old Scotch whisky for cognac lovers with hints of American bourbon peeking in from time to time." That's not a gimmick — it's what happens when world-class bourbon meets world-class French cooperage.

Bottled at cask strength, released in a strictly limited run, and never to be repeated in exactly this form — this is the kind of bottle that rewards buying more than one.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Doc Swinson's operates out of Ferndale, Washington, as an independent bottler and blender under the direction of Head Spirits Master Jesse Parker — a self-taught blender who has accumulated dozens of competition awards and built a devoted following among serious bourbon enthusiasts. The operation is deliberately small: a four-person team with an outsized reputation.

The Exploratory Cask Series is Doc Swinson's most ambitious platform — super-limited productions where the team experiments with unusual cask types, finishes, and maturation methods. "French Toasted" is the first release in the double-oak sub-series, and it begins with two distinct MGP straight bourbon mash bills blended for complementary character: Mash Bill 1 (60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley) and Mash Bill 2 (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley), each matured for a minimum of 5.5 years in American white oak before the French oak finish begins.

The finishing casks are the differentiator. Sourced from Taransaud Cooperage — situated in the heart of Cognac, France, and used by some of the world's finest wine producers — these 600-liter casks are built from Tronçais forest oak, one of the most prized timber sources in France, known for its tight grain and mineral character. The oak is seasoned for no less than 36 months before coopering, then given a medium toast. The resulting cask interaction adds minerality, dark spice, and a Cognac-adjacent elegance that fundamentally transforms the bourbon's personality without erasing its American identity.

Critics Reviews

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023 — Best in Show & Double Gold Medal

There are no additional widely published numeric scores from major trade critics available for this specific batch.

Tasting Profile

Nose Richly layered and immediately compelling. Classic MGP bourbon opens the door — vanilla, caramel, toasted nut — but the French oak quickly asserts itself with brown butter sweetness, a whisper of incense smoke, and a maple Old Fashioned quality. Ripe banana, cola, and a ghost of dark chocolate add fruit depth, while a hint of matcha and baking spice give the nose an unusual and intriguing complexity. Remarkably, the cask strength (56.4%) is barely detectable — no heat, just concentration.

Palate Where the French oak takes full command. Creamy and richly textured, with intense flavors of cinnamon brioche, whole clove, dark chocolate, and smoky barrel char. Baking spices dominate the mid-palate alongside maple sugar and frankincense. The two rye-forward mash bills add a peppery, grain-driven backbone that cuts through the oak richness and keeps the whole thing from becoming heavy. Stone fruit, baked cherry, and a suggestion of watermelon emerge on the chew, with vanilla and milk chocolate cycling in and out as the flavors develop.

Finish Medium-length and decidedly French oak-driven, with rye spice and toasted wood playing off each other in a long, warm, gently drying close. Never turns overly woody or tannic — instead it fades cleanly on notes of cinnamon, oak char, and a faint lingering sweetness.

Quick Overview

Serving & Occasion

Best enjoyed neat with time to breathe, or with a few drops of water to open the French oak aromatics fully. A natural pairing for dark chocolate, aged hard cheeses, walnut tart, or spiced autumn desserts. The crossover appeal between serious bourbon drinkers, Scotch enthusiasts, and cognac aficionados makes this an exceptional gift bottle for adventurous collectors. A strong candidate for any curated "Best in Show" shelf or competition-winner feature display.