Review: Dark Arts Sweet & Sour Mash Bourbon Finished in a Honey Cask

Dark Arts Whiskey House was founded in 2023 by Macaulay Minton and David Peet with a clear focus on blending, re-barreling, and secondary maturation through non-traditional techniques. Minton serves as the brand’s Chief Alchemist, a title that reflects more than flair. Alchemy, an ancient philosophical and proto-scientific tradition, sought transformation above all else, most famously the elevation of base metals into gold and the creation of an elixir capable of perfecting life itself. At its core, alchemy represents purification through change, the refinement of the ordinary into something rarer and more complete.

That ethos defines Dark Arts Whiskey House. Rather than distilling in-house, the brand sources whiskey from select distilleries and reshapes it through blending and finishing, aiming to elevate existing spirits into something greater than their origins. Minton often frames this pursuit as a search for liquid gold, an idea that informs both the creative process and the finished result.

In the winter of 2026, Dark Arts released Batch BWTH2 of the Blend of Sweet & Sour Mash Straight Bourbon Finished in a Honey Cask. The name carries intention. Dark Arts holds the federally registered trademark for the phrase “Sweet & Sour Mash,” a term the brand coined to provide clarity for consumers while signaling blends that exist solely through Dark Arts’ vision. This release unites two different fermentation styles, two mashbills, and two states of origin.

The sweet mash component was distilled in Danville, Kentucky, using a mashbill of 64% corn, 24% rye, and 12% malted barley. It matured for more than 5 years in barrels from Independent Stave Company. The sour mash component was distilled by MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, with a mashbill of 75% corn, 21%rye, and 4% malted barley. That bourbon aged for more than 8 years, also in Independent Stave Company barrels. While the barrel blend ratio is close to equal, the slightly fuller younger barrels result in a marginally higher proportion of the sweet mash bourbon.

After blending, the whiskey was transferred into barrels that previously held honey, where it rested for an undisclosed period. The result brings together differing fermentation philosophies, contrasting mashbills, and a finishing touch that adds another layer of transformation. The question remains whether Dark Arts has achieved its alchemical goal. Is this liquid gold, or merely another experiment along the path toward it?

Dark Arts Sweet & Sour Mash Bourbon Finished in a Honey Cask Review

The opening aroma centers on floral beeswax rather than the expectation of thick, sticky honey. That beeswax note carries through the entire nosing experience, joined by dried apricot, caramelized banana, and dried orange peel. Each element is clearly defined without crowding the others. For someone who quickly loses interest in honey-cask bourbons that lean too heavily into sweetness, this profile is immediately appealing. Many examples in the category feel saturated with honey from the start; this one clearly does not. In fact, it presents the lightest honey presence on the nose that I have encountered in this style, and the result is far more interesting.

The palate follows the same path. Wildflower honey appears sparingly, closer to a brief touch on the tongue than an indulgent glob. Candied lemon peel brings brightness, keeping the sweetness in check. As the whiskey moves across the palate, ripe pear and sultana take shape alongside a medium-thick mouthfeel. Nothing feels excessive or syrupy. The balance here is excellent, offering enough detail to satisfy experienced drinkers while remaining immediately enjoyable for those earlier in their whiskey exploration.

The finish returns to beeswax with a faint note of peach, then fades into vanilla and sweet tea. The closing moments feel clean, leaving no sense of heaviness or fatigue.

Prior to tasting this release, the 2025 Starlight Honey Reserve stood as the best honey-cask bourbon I had tried. In January 2026, at BourbonCon in Lexington, Kentucky, I was able to taste Starlight Honey Reserve alongside Dark Arts Sweet & Sour Mash Bourbon Finished in a Honey Cask. Both clearly sit at the top of the category, but Dark Arts earns a slight advantage. I am familiar with the long-standing reputation of Belle Meade Honey Cask Finish Bourbon, though I have never tasted it. I am also aware of the enthusiasm surrounding the 2024 release of Kentucky Nectar Bourbon, another Danville-distilled honey-cask release, which I personally found far too sweet, perhaps due to the combination of the honey and sweeter wheated mashbill.

For anyone searching for the strongest honey-cask bourbon currently available, Dark Arts should be at the top of the list, with Starlight Honey Reserve close behind. Price may influence that decision, as Starlight is offered at $65 while Dark Arts sits at $80, but in terms of simple quality and enjoyment, Dark Arts justifies its position.

108.98 proof.

A / $80

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