BENDT Straight Bourbon Finished in a Blue Ostrich Tempranillo Barrel Review
Distillery:BENDT Distilling Co.
Proof: 110
Age: 8 years 1 month
Mashbill: 70% corn, 18% rye, 12% malted barley
Price: $105
Availability: BENDT Distillery Gift Shop and Ethel Jane’s Whiskey Kitchen
Certified Texas Whiskey: Yes
The Story
Some barrels move through a distillery quickly. Others get set aside and quietly wait their turn.
This one waited eight years.
Barrel #1518 started life like many bourbons do, spending its first four years aging in a new American white oak barrel. But instead of heading straight to the bottle, the folks at BENDT decided to do something a little more interesting. They transferred it into a Tempranillo wine barrel from Blue Ostrich Winery up in St. Jo, Texas.
And then they waited some more.
For another four years, this bourbon rested in that wine barrel, slowly picking up deeper fruit notes and extra layers of oak from the wine-soaked wood.
The result is a true Texas collaboration. One distillery, one winery, and eight years of patience bringing grain and grape together in a single bottle.
The timing of the release is also intentional. BENDT dropped this bottle to help celebrate Texas Independence Day, which feels pretty appropriate for a whiskey that represents two Texas producers doing things their own way.
Only a limited number of bottles were released, available at the BENDT Distillery gift shop and at Ethel Jane’s Whiskey Kitchen in Lewisville.
Nose
The first thing that surprised me about this pour was how delicate the nose is.
Instead of hitting you with heavy wine notes, it opens up soft and aromatic. Think potpourri, polished oak, and warm baking spices. Plum and fruit leather come through clearly, followed by clove, anise, and cinnamon stick.
There is also a subtle sweetness underneath it all with hints of vanilla and butterscotch. The oak is very present but not overwhelming.
Honestly, the aroma is fantastic. Warm, inviting, and the kind of nose that makes you want to keep going back for another sniff.
I half-joked to myself that I would absolutely buy this scent as a candle.
Palate
The fruit notes carry right over to the palate.
Plum and dark cherry lead the way, backed by a light brown sugar sweetness. The Tempranillo barrel influence shows up as a rich fruit character rather than heavy wine tannins.
The sweetness stays balanced and never becomes syrupy.
As the sip develops, a dry oak spice begins to build. That spice carries into a long, warming finish that lingers nicely on the tongue.
The balance between sweet fruit and drying spice works really well here.
BENDT Blue Ostrich Tempranillo finished Bourbon
The result is a true Texas collaboration. One distillery, one winery, and eight years of patience bringing grain and grape together in a single bottle.
Final Thoughts
I keep coming back to those plum and oak notes.
This is not the kind of bottle I would reach for on a casual Tuesday night. It feels more like a slow evening pour. Something to sip while reading a good book or winding down after a long day.
The nose alone makes this one memorable. If BENDT ever releases a candle that smells like this whiskey, I will probably buy two.
For fans of wine-finished bourbon or anyone curious about Texas whiskey collaborations, this is a fun and unique bottle worth checking out.
Disclosure: This bottle was provided to me for review. All opinions are my own.
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