Two Souls Spirits is an unbiased bottler greatest identified for its give attention to American whiskey, although the corporate has additionally launched single-cask rum and honey spirit picks. Through the years, Two Souls has partnered with quite a few American distilleries to supply clear single-cask releases. But repeatedly, the bottler has returned to whiskey distilled by J. Henry & Sons in Dane, Wisconsin.
In Could 2026, Two Souls unveiled a bourbon and rye whiskey impressed by the beloved 1987 movie The Princess Bride. Each matured for a minimum of seven years, with the bourbon bearing the nickname “The Hero” and the rye launched as “The Genius.” Whereas one other collaboration that includes whiskey distilled by J. Henry & Sons would already be noteworthy, these releases introduce one thing completely new. The Hero and The Genius mark the primary whiskeys distilled by J. Henry & Sons to obtain a rum cask end.
Rum cask ending has turn out to be more and more widespread all through the American whiskey market. Even so, particulars concerning the rum casks used for secondary maturation are sometimes restricted. At greatest, shoppers could also be informed the nation the place the rum originated. Past that, info is steadily scarce or unavailable altogether.
In step with its dedication to transparency, Two Souls Spirits offers significantly extra element. The model not solely identifies the distillery of origin for the rum casks, but additionally discloses that each casks have been initially coopered by Impartial Stave Firm and featured a medium toast alongside a #3 char.
Slightly than sourcing nameless rum casks from exterior the continental United States, Two Souls took a unique route. The corporate procured rum casks from mainland American distilleries, departing from the extra widespread apply of using casks that beforehand held rum produced in tropical areas.
The Hero and The Genius signify vital firsts for whiskey distilled by J. Henry & Sons, made potential by means of using these uncommon rum casks. Do these two choices make a splash that might encourage J. Henry & Sons to launch rum cask-finished whiskey beneath its personal label? Let’s discover out!
Two Souls x J. Henry & Sons Rum Cask Rye End 7 Years Previous “The Genius” Assessment
Two Souls Spirits labels The Genius as Barrel No. JH3, whereas J. Henry catalogued it as Barrel #1325R. The mashbill consists of 64% rye, 14% wheat, 14% corn, and eight% malted barley. In whole, the whiskey spent 7 years, 4 months, and 16 days in oak, together with secondary maturation.
The ending cask has an attention-grabbing historical past of its personal. Earlier than receiving The Genius, it held Two Souls’ Rum King, a 2023 launch of Yahara Bay’s Wisconsin-distilled HAZMAT rum. That rum matured for six.75 years earlier than spending a further 13 months in a rye whiskey barrel. Consequently, the cask used for The Genius first held rye whiskey, then Rum King, earlier than returning to rye as soon as once more.
Cherry pits and wintergreen arrive instantly on the nostril. The wintergreen stays entrance and middle all through, although toasted pistachios step by step work their method into the glass. Given sufficient time, cream soda joins the combination and rounds out the fragrant profile. There isn’t a mistaking the fashion right here. That is an lively rye from the primary encounter.
The palate opens with inexperienced Jolly Ranchers, adopted by spearmint and lime zest. These brighter notes dominate the early going earlier than clove barrels onto the mid-palate with appreciable power. That spice-driven momentum continues into the end, the place gingerbread enters the image alongside an sudden fresh-cut celery observe. Cardamom follows, including one other dimension earlier than the whiskey concludes with a potent bitter inexperienced apple sweet observe paying homage to a Warhead, delivering a mouth-puckering finale.
For drinkers who gravitate towards rye, The Genius has lots to supply. The mix of mint, citrus, baking spice, and cooling natural parts creates a profile that is still targeted from starting to finish. Having tasted what is probably going each spirit launched by Two Souls Spirits to this point, this stands as one of many strongest examples of the corporate’s mixing and ending work, and it’s arguably my favourite launch from the model. 124.58 proof. A- / $90
Two Souls x J. Henry & Sons Rum Cask Completed Bourbon 7 Years Previous “The Hero” Assessment
The Hero is labeled by Two Souls Spirits as Barrel No. JH4 and catalogued by J. Henry as Barrel #1373. The bourbon was produced from a mashbill of 64% purple corn, 14% wheat, 14% rye, and eight% malted barley. The purple corn selection traces its roots to Joe Henry’s household farm, the place it was grown by his father throughout the Nineteen Forties by means of the Sixties.
The bourbon spent 7 years, 3 months, and 1 day maturing in barrels, together with greater than two years in a Queen’s Share Rum cask from Echo Spirits in Columbus, Ohio. The rum originated from Batch 3, launched in 2023, and was distilled from a wash composed of fifty% cane sugar and 50% molasses, with the molasses sourced from Lula Westfield in Louisiana.
Echo Spirits’ strategy to Queen’s Share distillation facilities on accumulating rum tails, typically starting from round 140 proof down to twenty proof, and redistilling them. The ensuing spirit is collected once more at roughly 160 proof earlier than getting into the barrel at roughly 115 to 120 proof. The idea is predicated on the assumption that rum tails comprise fascinating oils and esters. By retaining these compounds and permitting them further contact time, they bind extra successfully with ethanol, growing the probability that they are going to be captured cleanly throughout redistillation and contributing better focus to the ultimate spirit. Earlier than holding Queen’s Share Rum, the ending cask had beforehand aged bourbon distilled by Watershed, one other Columbus distillery.
Recent kettle corn and salted caramel lead the nostril, with the salt element taking a outstanding function. Because the bourbon spends time within the glass, dense fruitcake develops earlier than giving method to dusty barn wooden. A lot later, mashed overripe bananas arrive, bringing a cool high quality that edges towards fermentation.
Apple butter opens the palate alongside honey-baked ham crust. From there, saffron and coconut macaroons take over the mid-palate, supported by a medium-bodied mouthfeel. The end introduces honey-roasted peanuts, adopted by Corn Flakes and, finally, pancakes with out maple syrup. A contact of candied ginger seems close to the tip and stays current by means of the ultimate moments.
That is an fulfilling bourbon from a distillery that deserves significantly extra consideration than it presently receives. Two Souls Spirits has beforehand bottled equally aged J. Henry & Sons bourbon that showcased extra oak affect and a extra assertive funky element. Right here, the profile takes a unique path, emphasizing approachability and drinkability with out sacrificing individuality. Whereas the rye whiskey stays the standout of the pair for my palate, that is the most effective bourbon I’ve encountered from J. Henry & Sons so far. 115.32 proof. A- / $90
Two Souls x J. Henry & Sons Rum Cask Rye End 7 Years Previous “The Genius”
USD90
