THE MAVEN TOASTED BARREL
KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY
KENTUCKY
THE HEADLINE: A 99-pt. Double Gold debut bourbon, aged in 5 different kinds of oak.
WHY BUY: That’s The Maven, fresh from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Most bourbons spend their entire lives in one kind of barrel; this blend of high-rye bourbons was aged 7-plus years across — count ’em — Traditional American white oak; Chinkapin oak; Pacific Northwest Garryana oak; French oak; Japanese Mizunara oak. Each leaves a different fingerprint (a touch of coconut, a hint of cocoa, a wisp of incense). Together, they’ve produced one of the most unforgettable bourbons we’ve tasted this year.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: The judges at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of the most closely watched in the business, awarded The Maven 99 points and a Double Gold, a near-perfect score for a whiskey that, at the time of the ceremony, had yet to reach a single store shelf.
OUR TASTING NOTES: What a gorgeous, gorgeous nose! Pour it and close your eyes, and let it take you to a corner bakery, as apricot jam gives way to baked apple and then to graham cracker and toasted coconut before ending on the note that lingers longest: the scorched-sugar top of a crème brûlée. On the palate, it’s plush and generous, and takes its sweet time in unfurling itself. We expected the note of vanilla, but what surprised and delighted us was the dried peach character, which is edged with toasted almond and dark chocolate. The finish is masterfully pulled off, with gingerbread spice leading to chocolate, and that faint touch of smoke you detect in the background is not campfire; it’s just-burnt sugar. A triumph.
THE WOOD: The Maven’s blenders used five oak types to produce this bourbon, and toasted rather than simply charred each of them, caramelizing the wood’s natural sugars: traditional American white oak, which brings sweet aromatics Chinkapin oak, known for growing in Kentucky and for its nutty spice character Garryana oak, from the Pacific Northwest, which brings notes of molasses and clove French oak, beloved for bringing tannic structure, along with hints of cocoa and dark chocolate Mizunara oak, from Japan, and redolent of incense and sandalwood.
WHAT TO PAIR IT WITH: A fantastic bourbon to think about come dessert time. Pour it neat alongside a square of dark chocolate, a slice of gingerbread, or an almond biscotti, and then sit back and watch as it harmonizes with them … and as they bring out new dimensions of the bourbon.
ABV: 47% (94 proof). Aged 7+ years.
FUN FACT: Mizunara oak is among the hardest woods in the world to turn into a barrel: it’s porous, and prone to leaks, and slow-growing, so blenders who use it tend to treat it a bit like a rare spice.
OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only buy and source directly from the producer to ensure pristine provenance. A 99-point, Double Gold-winning debut bourbon isn’t going to stick around for long, so secure your bottle today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2026 (Dec. 21st - Mar. 20th, 2027). All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer only valid in CA & KY. This offer will expire on November 1, 2026.