Scattered Castles Rum Cask Finished Bourbon / Batch 1
The Stats
- Brand: Scattered Castles Craft Spirits
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Batch: 1
- Age: Blend of three 8 year and two 6 year barrels
- Proof: 117.2 (58.6% ALC/VOL)
- Mash Bill: Undisclosed
- Barrels: 5-barrel blend
- Finish: Old Rum Casks
- Release: Limited / One-Time Batch
- Price: $75
Scattered Castles founder Chris Walz sent us Scattered Castles Batch 1 with a pretty simple request: try it and tell him what we actually think. No expectation of a good score. No soft landing because this was the first release.
We were honored to get the opportunity. There is something pretty cool about being handed the first bottle in a brand's story and getting to experience it right alongside everyone else.
So we cracked it live. Our first impression: a lot was going on here. The bottle had real substance, a distinct point of view, and just enough rough edges to remind us this was Batch 1.
The Whiskey Behind the Bottle
Scattered Castles started with a drain pour. Chris tells the story of having a bourbon he didn't want to drink but also didn't want to dump. Instead, he started experimenting, blending it with other whiskey in different ratios until he ended up with something he liked considerably more. Friends started asking for their own blends, and eventually the experiment became Scattered Castles.
No large spirits company backs the brand. No investors. No board. No outside financing. Chris describes Scattered Castles pretty simply: one guy trying to make great whiskey.
And Batch 1 is genuinely small. It came from just five hand-selected barrels, blended together and finished in old rum casks before being bottled at barrel proof. Those five barrels ultimately produced fewer than 1,000 bottles.
Even the final push to get them released was pretty hands-on. Chris has shared that he drove more than 600 miles to pick up the labels himself, then hand-wrote the proof and batch information before the bottles could go out. That's the scale we're talking about here.
Scattered Castles also isn't trying to make every batch taste exactly the same. Each release can use different barrels, ages and finishes depending on what Chris thinks works.
So Batch #1 feels less like the final definition of Scattered Castles and more like the opening chapter of a new story.
And as first chapters go, there is a lot to like here.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
The first thing that jumped out was cream soda. Not vaguely vanilla. Actual cream soda. It immediately brought back memories of those super-sweet bottles of soda you drank as a kid.
From there came plenty of vanilla, honey and a creamy sweetness. As the glass sat, chocolate started showing up too, specifically softer milk chocolate rather than anything dark or bitter.
The overall impression became almost like vanilla ice cream with chocolate drizzle. Sweet, creamy and immediately approachable.
Taste
The palate shifts a little. Vanilla and chocolate are still there, but fruit becomes more noticeable. Cherry shows up toward the back alongside maple syrup, molasses and brown sugar.
The rum finish is restrained. Neither of us got an obvious rum note. Instead, it adds fruit and sweetness while softening some of the sharper edges.
At 117.2 proof, there is plenty of intensity. Baking spice and clove build toward the finish and contrast with the sweeter profile.
Finish
The finish brings cherry, vanilla, baking spice and a little darker chocolate. The proof works well here, with a nice linger and plenty of warmth without taking over.
A slight bitterness comes through late in the finish, adding to that rough-around-the-edges quality, but overall it remains an enjoyable sip.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
6.5 / 10 - Good
We didn't land in exactly the same place on this one. Scott saw a whiskey with some genuinely good pieces that still needed a little more refinement. The creaminess, spice, and fruit work, but at times the whiskey feels a little sharp and bright, especially on the back end.
We initially wondered if that was youth showing through before Chris clarified during the livestream that the blend contains three barrels over eight years old and two over six. Interestingly, it still drinks closer to the younger side of that range.
Arthur was a little more enthusiastic. The combination of cherry, vanilla, chocolate and the restrained rum finish was enough to push it to a 7.
For a first release, this is a solid start.
Buy or Skip:
Buy
A 6.5 won't make anyone sprint through a wall to find a bottle, but at around $75, we both would buy it.
There is enough flavor here to make it enjoyable now: cream soda, vanilla, cherry, chocolate, molasses and baking spice, with a rum finish subtle enough that it never turns into a novelty.
There are rough edges. We'd like a little more balance and refinement. But the underlying ideas are good, and there is enough personality here to make this feel like more than just another sourced bourbon with a finish.
More importantly, Batch #1 feels like exactly what it should be: a real first chapter. Not perfect. Not overly polished. But good enough to make us want to keep reading.
We were honored to taste and review it, and we genuinely look forward to seeing what Scattered Castles does in the future.
Where Does It Rank?
Every whiskey we review is scored using the same 10-point scale, making it easy to compare bottles across styles, distilleries, and price points. Explore our complete whiskey rankings to see how every bottle stacks up.
Disclosure: Scattered Castles provided this bottle for review. They did not pay for this review, and all opinions and scores are our own.Related Reviews We Think You’ll Enjoy
Shop the Artfully Bourbon Mercantile
Made for long days outside and whatever comes after.
The AB Field Supply Trucker Hat pairs a structured front with a breathable mesh back and an easy mid-profile fit. The embroidered Field Supply mark keeps it clean and understated, while the curved visor and adjustable snap make it an everyday grab-and-go cap.
Made to wear in, not wear out.
Details
- Structured six-panel design
- Mid-profile fit
- Pre-curved visor
- Breathable mesh back
- Adjustable snap closure
- Cotton sweatband
- 60% cotton / 40% polyester front
- 100% polyester mesh back
Care
Spot clean with warm water and mild soap. Use a soft-bristled brush for tougher spots.
GEAR GUIDE
Looking for the glasses, tools, books, studio gear, and other things we use? We’ve collected our favorites in one place.
As an Amazon Associate, Artfully Bourbon earns from qualifying purchases.