Duke Spirits is the John Wayne family's whiskey brand, built around the actor's original 1962 recipe and bottles kept in his private collection, and Grand Cru Founder's Reserve is the most ambitious thing they make. It begins with a rare nine year old selection of Kentucky Straight Bourbon, already well past the point where most bourbon is bottled, and then does something unusual with it. Rather than reaching for sherry or port wood, the master blender sought out single use French oak barrels that had previously held single vineyard California cult Cabernet Sauvignon scoring between 98 and 100 points. The barrels come from the Taransaud and Demptos cooperages, with oak drawn from the Jupilles and Tronçais forests, and the tight grain of centuries old French timber behaves very differently from American oak. Where American oak pushes vanilla and coconut, French oak contributes finer tannin, darker fruit and a restrained spice, and the Cabernet that soaked into the staves adds a genuine wine note underneath. The result is bourbon that tastes like it has been somewhere. It pours a deep reddish amber. The nose is nutmeg and buttered pecan with stone fruit, oak and a hint of cherry. The palate is smooth and rich, layering butterscotch and stone fruit over cedar and black cherry dipped in milk chocolate, with island spice through the finish, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. At 110 proof it carries real weight and rewards a little water. Each barrel is bottled individually, so no two are quite the same. Drink it neat and slowly.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
55% |
| Proof |
110 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
| Category |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Expression |
Grand Cru Founder's Reserve |
| Age |
9 years |
| Maturation |
New charred American oak, finished in single use Grand Cru French oak wine barrels |
| Cooperages |
Taransaud, Demptos |
| Forest Region |
Jupilles, Tronçais |
| Recipe |
Original 1962 recipe |
| Producer |
Duke Spirits |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep reddish amber with real depth from the wine barrel finish.
Nose: Nutmeg and buttered pecans lead, warm and hedonistic, with stone fruit, oak and a hint of cherry behind.
Palate: Smooth and rich, with predominant stone fruits and butterscotch over cedar, and black cherries dipped in milk chocolate.
Finish: Long and warming, closing on island spices including cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
FAQ
What proof is Duke Grand Cru Founder's Reserve? It is bottled at 110 proof, or 55 percent alcohol by volume.
How long is it aged? A rare nine year old selection of Kentucky Straight Bourbon, finished afterward in French oak wine barrels.
What is the Grand Cru finish? Single use French oak barrels that previously held single vineyard California cult Cabernet Sauvignon rated between 98 and 100 points, sourced from the Taransaud and Demptos cooperages.
Is it a flavored whiskey? No. Nothing is added. The wine character comes entirely from resting the bourbon in barrels that previously held Cabernet, in the same way a sherry cask finish works.
What is the connection to John Wayne? Duke Spirits is the whiskey brand established by the Wayne family, built around the original 1962 recipe and bottles from his private collection. His signature appears on the label.
Where can I buy Duke Grand Cru Founder's Reserve online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
