Disclosure: the sample for this review was provided at no cost. Our tasting notes and score are our own.
A little background
Breckenridge Rum Cask Finish is a blended bourbon whiskey from Breckenridge Distillery that takes the distillery’s flagship Breckenridge Bourbon and finishes it in casks that previously held Breckenridge’s own aged Colorado rum. The label reads “Blended Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Rum Barrels with natural flavors added.” Breckenridge calls its flagship bourbon a high-rye mash, but the exact mash bill for Rum Cask Finish is undisclosed. It is bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV), produced and bottled in Breckenridge, Colorado, and retails for $59.99 per 750ml bottle. This review covers Batch 18.
Founded in 2008, Breckenridge Distillery bills itself as the World’s Highest Distillery and released its first vodka and bourbon three years after coming online. Its blended bourbon is one of the most highly awarded craft bourbons in the U.S., and the distillery is a 3x Icons of Whisky winner, a 10x winner of Best American Blended at Whisky Magazine’s World Whiskies Awards, and a 4x Colorado Distillery of the Year at the New York International Spirits Competition. Rum Cask Finish itself earned a 97-point Double Gold at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a 96-point Double Gold at the 2026 New York International Spirits Competition.
(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)
Color
Straw
Nose
Honey, vanilla, brown sugar, dried tropical fruit, orange citrus, oak, and spice.
Palate
Honey, vanilla, toasted sugar, tropical fruit, orange citrus, and baking spice.
Finish
Honey, vanilla, orange citrus, baking spice, and oak.
In closing
Breckenridge Rum Cask Finish opens with honey, vanilla, and brown sugar on the nose, joined by dried tropical fruit, orange citrus, oak, and a touch of spice. The palate carries that sweetness forward with honey, vanilla, and toasted sugar, followed by tropical fruit, orange citrus, and baking spice. The finish stays in the same lane, with honey, vanilla, and orange citrus giving way to baking spice and oak.
This is not an overly complex whiskey, and the rum barrels have a lot of influence here, making it very sweet and dessert-like. There isn’t anything offensive or off-putting, and the flavors themselves are good. I could see this being refreshing and enjoyable over a big cube on a hot summer day. It’s also fun that both the bourbon that went into this and the ex-rum barrels it was finished in come from Breckenridge’s own distillery. At $59.99, it is priced in line with other finished bourbons, and it is going to appeal to folks who enjoy a sweet, dessert-like whiskey. It’s very approachable in that way.
NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Breckenridge Distillery. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.
Breckenridge Rum Cask Finish
90 Proof
