Review: Spirits of Charbay, 2026 Releases

While distiller Marko Karakasevic has been often occupied with his side hustle at Wolves Whiskey, his original baby, Charbay, continues to roll along as the OG producer of whiskeys made from beer alongside dropping some impressive vodkas and liqueurs. It’s been seven years since our last review of a Charbay product, so recently, the brand got in touch and suggested we revisit some old friends and become acquainted with some new ones, sending us a collection of products that span a good amount of its production.

We’ll break down the details in each writeup of the six products tasted below. Let’s dig in.

Charbay R5 Final Lot (2026) Review

We’ve reviewed R5 four previous times (including its inaugural launch in unaged form); this is the first we’ve seen under the revamped label, which officially drops “Hop Flavored Whiskey” from the name. It also adds a more ominous note — “Final Lot” — to the label, an unsubtle message that this is the last production run for the expression. 10 barrels were produced for this batch, which was distilled from Racer 5 beer in 2017 and aged in oak for 6 1/2 years before bottling.

The song really remains the same this time around, nosing both with ample fruit and a ton of eucalyptus and pine notes, exuding aromas of the fresh hops that are so iconic in Racer 5. There’s even more fruit on the palate, which quickly tempers the bitterness of the hops and runs to apple and lighter orange notes, followed by a more ephemeral floral influence and touches of anise. There’s quite a bit of mint in the mix, giving the whiskey more of a wintry vibe, although it’s so light on the palate that it works well in the dead of summer too, particularly with water or a fizzy mixer. Sad to see it go! 99 proof. A- / $55 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

Charbay S Hop Flavored Whiskey Lot 2 (2026) Review

Charbay S is distilled from the (now discontinued) hop-infused Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout, and we last saw it billed as Lot 211A. This version, Lot 2, is aged for nearly twice as long as the previous version of this whiskey — 50 months in French oak barrels instead of 29. As expected, this is a more soothing, luscious expression than R5, with biting notes of pine and citrus peel on the nose, chased by rich florals and undulating aromas of coconut nectar, brown sugar, and gravelly barrel char.

The palate takes all of the above and pushes it through a significant note of chocolate and coffee, with earthy hops ringing the edges of the experience — never overwhelming, never even dominant. The finish maintains the chocolate-caramel focus, with elements of Turkish rug shop and macerated cherries weaving in and out of view. It’s the same whiskey as the old Charbay S, but better integrated and more cohesive. I went back to the well on this far more than I expected to. 99 proof. A- / $100 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

Charbay Doubled & Twisted Lot 3 (2026) Review

Doubled & Twisted was once a light whiskey that was, in fact, Charbay’s first ever release back in 2011. It has evolved since then into a complex blend of Charbay’s other whiskeys, now comprised of 20% 2013 Charbay R5, 20% 2017 Charbay R5, 40% 2015 Czech Pilsner whiskey, 10% 2011 Charbay S, and 10% 2012 California Single Malt whiskey (considerably different than our last encounter). So, is this just a blend of leftovers? I don’t think that’s a bad way to look at it, but then again I absolutely love leftovers for lunch.

The nose is inviting in a way that D&T hasn’t really been before, offering layered butterscotch and shortbread biscuit notes, touched with brighter punches of baking spice, orange peel, citrusy hops, and chai. The palate follows in lockstep but feels more ephemeral, with layers of vanilla settling over the experience as that creamy chai note comes further into prominence. While it’s a tiny portion of the blend, the Charbay S feels like it dominates the experience here, with touches of chocolate and caramel that I just couldn’t shake lingering forever on the finish.

I’ve dismissed Doubled & Twisted in the past, but this latest rendition is more than worthwhile. (And available for a song.) 90 proof. A- / $40 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

Charbay Blood Orange Vodka (2026) Review

A vodka we’ve seen twice; while originally macerated for 6 months, it’s now got a 90 day extraction of blood orange mandarins. A delightful shade of orange, the fresh citrus notes explode forth from the glass upon pouring, offering a big punch of bittersweet fruit that effectively mixes juice and peel. A not insignificant note of vanilla sugar brightens the vodka up as the finish approaches, though as I have noted previously, it takes a sharp U-turn at the end of the experience, dropping some bitter, mouth-puckering astringency. You won’t find many 80 proof orange-flavored vodkas on the market, however. 80 proof. B+ / $30 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

Charbay Espresso Martini Review

The first canned cocktail we’ve seen from Charbay, this is a ready-to-drink espresso martini made with cane neutral spirits, real espresso, real vanilla, and simple syrup. Immediately upon cracking open a can, the cocktail comes across as aggressive. The nose feels rather burnt, like slightly scorched coffee, leading to aromas of very dark chocolate and a little wood smoke. The palate, fortunately, is cleaner and more engaging thanks to a palpable sweetness paired with an aggressive coffee character. Caramel notes promise to soothe the finish, though these too come across as a bit burnt, with overtoasted coconut clinging to the gritty, slightly acrid back end. 30 proof. 2 servings per can. B / $12 per four-pack of 200ml cans

Charbay Nostalgie Black Walnut Liqueur Review

From a family recipe, this is an extraction of black and English walnuts that spends about a year steeping in alcohol before spices and sugar are added to finish the experience. The liqueur has the bold nuttiness you would expect and hope for, lightly winey with overtones of cherry. The walnut meanders toward pistachio with lacings of chocolate and, in the end, a significant baking spice character that melds with a slightly earthy molasses sweetness. Delightfully well-balanced and expressive without being over the top. I also love that it comes in half bottles. 60 proof. A / $60 (375ml)

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