Dark Arts 5 Year Old Sweet & Sour Mash Bourbon Finished in a Honey Cask Single Barrel #BWTH-5 Kentucky & Indiana Bourbon Whiskey (2026) 75cl For anyone searching for the...
Dark Arts 5 Year Old Sweet & Sour Mash Bourbon Finished in a Honey Cask Single Barrel #BWTH-5 Kentucky & Indiana Bourbon Whiskey (2026) 75cl
For anyone searching for the strongest honey-cask bourbon currently available, Dark Arts should be at the top of the list.
In the winter of 2026, Dark Arts released Batch BWTH2 of the Blend of Sweet & Sour Mash Straight Bourbon Finished in a Honey Cask. The name carries intention. Dark Arts holds the federally registered trademark for the phrase “Sweet & Sour Mash,” a term the brand coined to provide clarity for consumers while signalling blends that exist solely through Dark Arts’ vision. This release unites two different fermentation styles, two mashbills, and two states of origin.
The sweet mash component was distilled in Danville, Kentucky, using a mashbill of 64% corn, 24% rye, and 12% malted barley. It matured for more than 5 years in barrels from Independent Stave Company. The sour mash component was distilled by MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, with a mashbill of 75% corn, 21%rye, and 4% malted barley. That bourbon aged for more than 8 years, also in Independent Stave Company barrels. While the barrel blend ratio is close to equal, the slightly fuller younger barrels result in a marginally higher proportion of the sweet mash bourbon.
After blending, the whiskey was transferred into barrels that previously held honey, where it rested for an undisclosed period. The result brings together differing fermentation philosophies, contrasting mashbills, and a finishing touch that adds another layer of transformation.
Palate: Honeyed sweetness balanced by bourbon spice, caramelized brown sugar, toasted oak, candied orange peel
Finish: Long with lingering honey warmth, black pepper, and subtle fruit tones
About Dark Arts Whiskey House
Dark Arts is a blending, rebarreling, and finishing house in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, with a process that is anything but ordinary. Inspired by the alchemists of old, our Master Blenders wield underutilized maturation and blending techniques to transform wood, fire, grain and water into liquid gold. Using equal parts mastery and belief in the unknown, we procure high-quality ingredients, create custom blends, and age them in unconventional barrels to craft unique and elevated whiskeys.
This is more than just whiskey. It’s alchemy; wood, fire, grain and water transformed into liquid gold. Inspired by the alchemists of old, Our Master Blenders take good whiskey and elevate it to extraordinary using equal parts mastery and belief in the unknown. Don’t settle for ordinary. Defy convention and unleash your spirit.
In the heart of the bourbon industry, where tradition and heritage thrive, our founders embarked on a quest for something more. As whiskey enthusiasts, they were excited by the industry's rapid growth but sensed a void—an untapped magic waiting to be unleashed. Their journey began with a revelation: the art of whiskey making is not just science, but an alchemical fusion of flavours and possibilities. Driven by a passion for elevating the role of Master Blenders to artists, prioritizing taste, and defying convention, Dark Arts Whiskey House was born.
The Two Founders: Chief Alchemist is Macaulay Minton, master taster and blender known for bold, sought-after expressions, with a background in microbiology, distillation, and one of the industry’s largest private barrel programs. David Peet David Peet, a seasoned entrepreneur and whiskey enthusiast, founded Dark Arts to bring back exceptional bourbon at a fair value after years of rising prices and dwindling quality.
Macauley Minton into 2026 and beyond continues his quests for interesting wood types, blending & finishing methods and is without doubt continuing his pursuit of this, a future Hall Of Famer for the bourbon industry. Dark Arts continues to be one of the main topics of discussion annually at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival commanding long lines to a stand that is never quiet.
56.75% ABV
75cl
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