Heaven’s Door Latest Release in Their Bootleg Series Offers a Unique Spanish Vermouth Finish
December 7, 2023
When you take inspiration from Bob Dylan, you need to deliver every single time.
Heaven’s Door has done just that with the release of Bootleg Vol. V, an 18-year-old straight bourbon finished in Spanish rouge vermouth casks.
This annual series, first debuting in 2019 with a 26-year-old whiskey finished in Japanese Mizunara oak barrels, gets its name from Dylan’s long-running series of rare and unreleased cuts, first compiled in 1991, which many say provide incredible insight into the mind of this legendary artist. In turn, each bottling in the Bootleg Series has been a rare and unreleased whiskey created through special blending techniques and innovative barrel finishes.
As with previous Bootleg Series releases including a 15-Year-Old straight bourbon whiskey finished in Jamaican pot still rum casks (Vol. II) and a 13-year-old Kentucky bourbon finished in Vino de Naranja casks (Vol. III), 2023’s edition likewise celebrates the intersection of art and craft in partnering dealers and purveyors of exceptional spirits.
Heaven’s Door’s master blender Alex Moore had long been intrigued by the interaction between vermouth and whiskey. “Vermouth is part of whiskey cocktail culture, and we wanted to capture that essence in our Bootleg Vol. 5 expression. We chose Spanish Vermouth casks to finish it because it adds a unique depth of flavor and complexity that perfectly complements our bourbon’s character,” says Moore.
Moore collaborated with experts from Speyside and Tonnellerie Radoux to find a vermouth producer with the profile that both he and Heaven’s Door master distiller Ken Pierce desired.
The result is a whiskey with a rich and complex aroma, highlighted by dark fruits, hints of allspice, and subtle vanilla undertones. On the palate there are delicate notes of caramel, honey, and vanilla, leaning into a pleasant, lingering finish that can help but leave a lasting impression on any drinker. At 114 proof, this is a whiskey meant to sit and contemplate, perhaps as you study the attractive bottle.
Like previous Bootleg Series releases, Vol. V is also packaged in a hand-crafted ceramic bottle adorned with the vibrant, uniquely American landscape imagery from Dylan’s “The Beaten Path” series—an original acrylic on canvas painting from 2019 titled “No Vacancies,” it depicts a desert motel’s retro neon sign.
It is all presented in a bespoke leather journal giving it a unique collector’s appeal for whiskey connoisseurs, art lovers, and Dylan enthusiasts alike. At $599, at heavensdoor.com and select retailers nationwide, it is sure to only increase in value, just like Dylan’s legacy.