Dark Arts Whiskey House 7.5 Year Old 'The Empyrean' Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Red Port & White Port Wine Casks (2025) 75cl This year at the Kentucky...
Dark Arts Whiskey House 7.5 Year Old 'The Empyrean' Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Red Port & White Port Wine Casks (2025) 75cl
This year at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, it was difficult to walk around without seeing someone holding a box of Dark Arts bourbon that they purchased. Upon moving towards the stand, all one saw was commotion at all times. Not only were Buff Turkeys bottled but also their younger releases were also damned good.
This is the 7 and a half year old bourbon finished in tawny and porto branco. It adds a sweetness on the end without overdoing it which was very welcomed by everybody who tasted it at the KBF in 2025.
Crafted by finishing separate batches of bourbon in red port and white port casks, then blending them in secret. This dual-finish approach brings together brightness and depth—light and shadow in harmonious contrast.
Mash bill typically includes 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley. Distilled in Indiana, finished in port casks, and bottled in Kentucky.
TASTING NOTES
Nose: Fresh tobacco, brown sugar, stewed plum, caramel, vanilla bean, grilled melon, and red berries.
Palate: Rich layers of baking spice (allspice, anise), confectioner’s sugar, black cherry, fig, white chocolate, raisin bread, and port-soaked oak.
Finish: Long and creamy with soft tobacco, leather, dried fruit, and warming spice.
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 flavors 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.
55.68% ABV
75cl
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