More than 50 finishing casks, mature Kentucky and Indiana whiskey, and a remarkably balanced pour make this one of the year’s standout cigar blends.
Stats
- Type: Blended Finished Whiskey
- Age: NAS
- Proof: 107 (53.5% ABV)
- Mashbills: Multiple
- 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley
- 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley
- 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
- 91% corn, 9% malted barley
- Origin: Distilleries not disclosed — Kentucky & Indiana.
- Additional Aging: Shortbarrel — Norcross, Georgia
- Finish: Armagnac, Cognac, Sherry and Tawny Port
- Blend Composition: Specific percentages not disclosed
- Blend Size: 50+ barrels
- Release: Limited release
- MSRP: $94.99 / 750 mL (via Shortbarrel)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Leather leads into a bushel of red fruit, with dark cherry taking center stage alongside dried fig and orange. Toffee, caramel and a hint of cacao nibs fill out the profile, giving the nose plenty to explore even if the underlying whiskey character feels somewhat familiar.
- Palate: The mouthfeel is creamy, coating and remarkably approachable, with considerably more sweetness than the nose initially suggests. Cherry and raisin dominate, supported by caramelized sugar and the sort of rich, dark fruit character that makes this blend feel more indulgent than its spice might imply.
- Finish: A low simmer of tobacco, clove, black pepper and rye spice builds and lingers without overwhelming the sweeter elements. Chocolate moves between dark and milk chocolate, sometimes landing squarely in Hershey’s territory, while leather and the faintest suggestion of cigar paper round things out.
Some whiskey blends impress because of a single standout flavor. Shortbarrel Cigar Batch #4 succeeds by bringing a lot of different elements together without letting any one of them take over. Dark cherry, raisin, fig, orange, caramel, chocolate, leather and rye spice all have a place here, and the whiskey keeps revealing new details as you return to the glass.
The fourth annual Cigar Batch was built from mature Kentucky and Indiana whiskeys, with individual components finished across more than 50 casks. Armagnac, Cognac, Sherry and Tawny Port contribute to the final blend, which was designed to follow the progression of a premium cigar. That concept works, but what impressed me most was how well this whiskey stands on its own. It has the richness and complexity to make a cigar pairing worthwhile without requiring one to enjoy it.
Distinctiveness
Cigar Batch #4’s flavor doesn’t completely reinvent the cigar whiskey wheel, but it doesn’t need to. The combination of dark cherry, dried fig, orange, raisin and chocolate delivers familiar territory with enough depth to keep things interesting, while the occasional surprises, particularly the shifting milk-to-dark chocolate, lingering tobacco and faint cigar-paper note, give the blend some personality. It’s an extremely satisfying pour that manages to be both layered and approachable.
The other distinction is how Shortbarrel approached the blend itself. Building from multiple mash bills and more than 50 finishing casks gives the team a broad palette to work with, but the final whiskey still needs a cohesive profile to make sense alongside a cigar. There will always be different opinions on what makes the ideal cigar pairing, but I think maintaining that balance between fruit, sweetness, darker notes and lingering spice is essential. Shortbarrel’s process is distinctive, and the resulting whiskey makes a convincing case for it.
(Author’s Note: Presentation is not judged when a small sample is provided)
“Shortbarrel’s process is distinctive, and the resulting whiskey makes a convincing case for it.“
Transparency
Shortbarrel certainly deserves credit here. While the company doesn’t disclose the specific quantities contributed by each barrel, which components correspond to which mash bills, or the ages of the individual whiskeys, it provides substantial detail about the blend’s construction. That includes the four mash bills, the states of distillation, and the use of more than 50 finishing casks spanning Armagnac, Cognac, rum, Tawny Port and Sherry.
The missing age information is a meaningful limitation, especially for a premium non-age-stated release. Still, the level of production and finishing detail is exceptional for an NDP cigar blend. In my experience, this is more transparency than most competing cigar batches offer, and arguably more than any others I’ve encountered in this space. It gives whiskey enthusiasts a useful understanding of how the blend was built, even without revealing every component’s precise contribution.
Value
At a retail price of $94.99, Cigar Batch #4 isn’t an inexpensive bottle, and the absence of an age statement makes it harder to judge value strictly through the usual benchmarks. We don’t know exactly how old the individual components are, which limits direct comparisons with age-stated competitors.
Even so, I think the price is justified on the merits of the whiskey itself. The blend delivers impressive complexity, a creamy and satisfying mouthfeel, and a finish that continues to reveal fruit, chocolate, leather and spice without becoming overwhelming. Add the distinctive approach to blending and finishing, along with the level of transparency Shortbarrel provides, and $90 feels reasonable, particularly when some competing cigar blends cost substantially more, in some cases nearly twice as much, without delivering a better drinking experience. Age would help make the value case more definitive, but the liquid gives me little reason to dismiss the asking price
Buy if:
- You enjoy layered dark fruit, especially cherry, raisin and fig.
- You want a cigar-friendly whiskey with tobacco, leather, chocolate and rye spice.
- You appreciate complex blends where different components contribute without competing.
- You’re willing to spend around $90 for a premium, non-age-stated whiskey that rewards repeated sips.
Skip if:
- You prefer traditional, unadorned bourbon without multiple finishing influences.
- You want a pronounced, singular sherry, port or Cognac finish to dominate the glass.
- You prioritize age statements and production specifics when buying premium whiskey.
- Your budget tops out below $90, or you prefer a more straightforward everyday pour.
Verdict
Shortbarrel Cigar Batch #4 is one of my favorite cigar blends of the year, and that praise has surprisingly little to do with whether you’re smoking a cigar alongside it. This is simply a very good whiskey. The dark cherry and dried fruit provide an inviting foundation, the creamy mouthfeel carries plenty of sweetness, and the tobacco, chocolate and rye spice keep the finish from becoming cloying. There’s enough going on to reward repeated sips, but nothing feels unnecessarily aggressive or overworked.
If I had to identify a weakness, it would be the nose. There are moments when the underlying profile feels familiar, with a recognizable Kentucky-and-Indiana whiskey character rather than something immediately singular. Even so, the fruit, leather and cacao give it more than enough personality, and the palate and finish build on that foundation beautifully. There isn’t an obvious weak link in the overall experience.
What really sells this blend is its balance. At 107 proof, it brings a full range of flavors without sacrificing approachability, and its low-simmering spice gives it enough structure to stand alongside a cigar rather than simply compete with one. The cigar concept makes sense because the whiskey has the depth to support it, but you don’t need a pairing to appreciate what Shortbarrel has accomplished. If you enjoy complex, thoughtfully assembled American whiskey, this bottle deserves a place on your shortlist.
Bourbon Bishop Bottom Line:
Shortbarrel Cigar Batch #4 is a rich, balanced and endlessly engaging blend of dark fruit, chocolate, leather and rye spice that earns its place among my favorite cigar whiskeys of the year, even when there’s no cigar in sight.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 5.5 / 7
- Palate: 5.6 / 7
- Finish: 5.75 / 7
- Presentation: N/A
- Distinctiveness: 5 / 7
- Transparency: 4 / 7
- Value: 5.75 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.27 / 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 to Good sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. Often 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. |
Disclosure: This sample was provided to me free of charge for review. All opinions are my own.
About Shortbarrel
Founded by friends Adam Dorfman, Clinton Dugan, and Patrick Lemmond, Shortbarrel began as a passion project among Atlanta bourbon enthusiasts. Between 2016 and 2020, the trio built a reputation by selecting more than 350 private barrels, developing a palate for identifying exceptional whiskey and learning firsthand what makes a memorable pour. What started as weekend barrel picks eventually evolved into a whiskey brand of their own after a chance meeting in Louisville inspired them to take the leap from enthusiasts to blenders.
Shortbarrel officially launched in 2021 with a focus on thoughtfully blended American whiskey that emphasizes flavor, texture, and drinkability. The company has grown rapidly from its Georgia roots, expanding distribution across multiple states while maintaining a philosophy built around transparency, quality sourcing, and creating whiskeys that keep drinkers coming back for another sip. The name itself comes from the rare “short barrel” phenomenon, where a barrel loses more than half its contents to evaporation, often concentrating flavor and creating remarkable depth.
Today, Shortbarrel’s influence extends beyond independent bottling. In 2023, the company acquired Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Distillery, helping preserve one of Georgia’s most important modern whiskey brands while investing in the future of Southern spirits. Whether through innovative blends, single barrels, or revitalizing local distilling, Shortbarrel continues to build on the friendships, curiosity, and passion that inspired the company from the very beginning.
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