Jeppson's Straight Bourbon Amburana Finish 750ML

Jeppson's Straight Bourbon Amburana Finish 750ML is a cask-strength Kentucky straight bourbon finished on Amburana wood spirals, bottled at 61.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. This small-batch expression stands apart from most American whiskeys by incorporating Amburana — a Brazilian oak prized for its intense cinnamon and baking-spice character — layered over a robust, high-rye bourbon base aged more than four years.

Quick Facts: ABV: 61.5%  |  Origin: Kentucky, USA  |  Aged 4+ Years, Amburana Finish  |  Brand: Jeppson's

Production & Heritage

Jeppson's, the Chicago-based company long synonymous with its iconic Malört bitter liqueur, expanded into bourbon with a sourcing strategy that pulls from two respected distilleries: MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and O.Z. Tyler in Owensboro, Kentucky. The base bourbon uses a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, aged in new charred oak barrels for over four years. For the Amburana Finish, Jeppson's selected barrels of Kentucky-distilled bourbon and finished them on Amburana wood spirals — a technique that imparts the tropical hardwood's signature warmth without overwhelming the underlying whiskey. The cask-strength bottling at 61.5% ABV preserves the full intensity of both the bourbon and the finishing wood's influence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ground cinnamon and warm baking spices lead immediately, followed by caramel corn and toasted vanilla. A deeper sniff reveals layers of oak tannin and a faint herbal quality from the Amburana.

Taste: The entry is bold and heated, as expected at cask strength, with pronounced cinnamon bark and brown sugar rushing across the palate. At mid-palate the high-rye backbone asserts itself with black pepper and dried fruit, while the Amburana spirals contribute a tonka bean sweetness that recalls warm apple pie filling. A splash of water opens up butterscotch and clove.

Finish: Long and warming, with lingering cinnamon spice and charred oak. The Amburana's baking-spice signature persists well after each sip, accompanied by a dry, tannic grip.

How to Drink Jeppson's Amburana Finish

At 61.5% ABV, a few drops of water or a single ice cube will temper the heat and unlock the Amburana's more delicate spice notes; tasting it neat first is recommended to appreciate the full cask-strength impact. Three cocktails that showcase this bourbon's distinctive profile:

• Old Fashioned — The intense cinnamon and baking-spice character replaces the need for additional spice syrups, creating a naturally complex version of the classic.
• Hot Toddy — The Amburana's warm apple-pie qualities amplify with hot water, lemon, and honey, making this an ideal cold-weather drink.
• Boulevardier — The high proof and bold spice stand up to Campari and sweet vermouth without getting lost, adding an exotic wood-driven twist.

Best For

• Bourbon collectors seeking unusual cask finishes beyond standard wine or sherry barrels
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who appreciates cask-strength, small-batch releases
• Fall and winter sipping sessions where warming spice profiles shine
• Side-by-side tastings comparing Amburana-finished American whiskeys

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Jeppson's Amburana Finish taste like? It delivers bold cinnamon bark, brown sugar, and baking spices from the Amburana wood, layered over a classic high-rye bourbon core of caramel, oak, and black pepper. The overall impression is often compared to warm apple pie with a spicy, tannic backbone.

How does Jeppson's Amburana Finish compare to RD1 Amburana Finished Bourbon? Both are Kentucky straight bourbons finished with Brazilian Amburana wood, but Jeppson's is bottled at a significantly higher proof (61.5% ABV versus RD1's lower proof point), resulting in a more intense and spirit-forward experience. Jeppson's also uses a 75/21/4 corn-rye-barley mash bill, giving it a spicier baseline than many competitors.

Is Jeppson's Amburana Finish good for sipping neat? Yes, though at 61.5% ABV it benefits from a few drops of water to open up the Amburana's subtler tonka bean and vanilla notes beneath the dominant cinnamon spice. Experienced cask-strength drinkers will enjoy it neat without dilution.

Where is Jeppson's Amburana Finish made? The base bourbon is distilled in Kentucky and aged for over four years in new charred oak barrels, then finished on Amburana wood spirals. Jeppson's is a Chicago-based brand that sources bourbon from established distilleries including MGP in Indiana and O.Z. Tyler in Kentucky.

What foods pair well with Jeppson's Amburana Finish? Pecan pie complements the bourbon's cinnamon-sugar sweetness. Dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage balances the Amburana's spice. Slow-smoked pork shoulder with a brown sugar rub echoes the caramel and baking-spice notes. Blue cheese provides a sharp counterpoint to the bourbon's richness. Apple crumble mirrors the warm pie-like qualities of the finish.

What sizes does Jeppson's Amburana Finish come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle; no other size variants have been widely verified for this particular expression.

Is Jeppson's Amburana Finish worth the price? It positions as a premium small-batch bourbon with a specialty cask finish and cask-strength bottling — two attributes that typically command higher shelf prices. For drinkers specifically interested in Amburana wood's flavor profile, the high proof and well-aged base bourbon represent solid value within the emerging Amburana-finished category.

Why Jeppson's Amburana Finish?

Amburana-finished bourbon remains a niche but rapidly growing subcategory, and Jeppson's entry stands out by combining cask-strength bottling with a high-rye mash bill — a pairing that amplifies the Brazilian oak's cinnamon and baking-spice signature rather than smoothing it out. The four-plus years of initial aging in new charred oak provides a sturdy foundation that keeps the Amburana influence in balance rather than letting it dominate. For a brand historically defined by Malört's polarizing bitterness, this bourbon demonstrates an unexpected and serious approach to American whiskey. It rewards both careful neat exploration and creative cocktail work in a way that few finished bourbons at this proof level can match.