Pagoda – Birne Finished Bourbon (100 Proof)
Bright, floral, and expressive — this is finishing done with clarity and confidence.
About Pagoda
“To build the world’s first minority-owned incubator estate — a living, breathing community that fosters entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, and creative freedom. A place where people gather to grow, rest, and raise a glass to what’s possible.” – Drink Pagoda
Born from a garage-corner passion project, Pagoda has grown into a broader vision of fusion, inclusion, and honoring the legacies of many cultures.
The current lineup consists of six finished whiskies, each aged four years and bottled at 100 proof. No gimmicks. No heirloom corn. Just whiskey crafted with intention.
“Pagoda blends the soul of rural craftsmanship with the rhythm of modern urban life — a true Americana foundation finished with global awareness.” – Drink Pagoda Website
Because this is still such a small project, bottles are often only available through curated, local tasting events, making each pour feel special and intentional.
Fun fact: Pagoda’s owner and distiller also makes some incredible bourbon barrel aged spiced pecans.
Stats
- Age: 5 yr
- Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
- Mashbill: 60% Corn │ 36% Rye │4% Malted Barley
- Origin: Pagoda – Dallas, Texas
- Finish: Birne
- Release: 2025 Limited Release (Available Online)
- MSRP: $74.95
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Iced lemon loaf, orange blossom, and ripe pear burst from the glass. Bright, floral, and expressive from the first pour.
- Palate: A syrupy mouthfeel delivers crème brûlée sweetness, complemented by a gentle hint of mint that keeps the profile lively.
- Finish: Orange blossom honey and Bartlett pear carry through cleanly, tapering into a balanced ginger finish that feels deliberate and complete.
- Presentation: Some of the coolest sample bottles I’ve seen, with a waxed bottom and artistic, modern-rustic labels.
This is the standout of the Pagoda lineup.
The Birne finish enhances aroma, texture, and structure without masking the whiskey itself.
Vibrant, cohesive, and memorable, it showcases just how compelling careful finishing can be when restraint and intention guide the process.
Buy this if you:
- Enjoy quality finished whiskey.
- Want to support a micro-distillery with style and promise
- Are drawn to a larger vision of representation and cultural fusion in distilling
Skip if you:
- Are a traditional Kentucky Bourbon purist
- Prefer very high-proof or heavily aged bourbons
- Don’t like finished whiskey
Value
Assigning value to an extremely small distillery sourcing its own grains, distilling, and aging its own distillate is tricky. Pagoda deserves a slightly lenient, “pay-it-forward” assessment:
- 5-year fully craft whiskey: $50–$60 minimum
- Texas aging effect (+2–5 years taste impact): $70–$100
- Significant finish in custom 5-gallon barrels: +$10
By this logic, the $74.95 price tag is fair, even generous, for a 5-year, 100-proof finished bourbon with intentional craftsmanship.
Transparency
Pagoda is open about sourcing—only wine and spirit barrels are used for finishing. The distiller is happy to discuss details down to the mashbill, making this project fully transparent and trustworthy.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 5.2 / 7
- Palate: 5 / 7
- Finish: 5.4 / 7
- Presentation: N/A (samples)
- Value: 5.75 / 7
- Transparency: 7 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.67 / 7 – Divine
Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style.
| Score | Descriptor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Hell No | Drain pour. Seriously undrinkable |
| 1.1–2 | Purgatory | Bad, but could be worse. Only in extreme cases. |
| 2.1–3 | Only Earthly | Just okay. Best used as a mixer. |
| 3.1–4 | Bliss | Passable sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. High value for the price. |
| 5.1–6 | Divine | Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style. |
| 6.1–7 | Holy Heaven | Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn. |
Looking for more whiskey reviews? Browse my latest reviews here.
Disclosure: This sample was provided to me free of charge for review purposes. All opinions are my own.