Graham Crackers, Fig Newtons, and a South Carolina Sherry Finish
What happens when a South Carolina bourbon takes a detour through an Oloroso sherry cask?
You get graham crackers and Fig Newtons in the middle of your whiskey…and its delicious.
Twelve 33 Distillery is a small-production, grain-to-glass distillery founded by husband-and-wife team Kevin and Rebecca Osborn in Little River, South Carolina. The Big Six name comes from Prohibition-era lore surrounding the powerful 354-cubic-inch engine favored by bootleggers who needed cars capable of carrying heavy loads while outrunning the law. Twelve 33 describes this expression as powerful, smooth, and dependable, the same qualities it sought for its bourbon.
Big Six Oloroso begins with bourbon aged in new American oak before receiving a secondary finish in Oloroso sherry casks. Bottled at 96 proof, the finished whiskey promises caramel and vanilla from the bourbon barrel, complemented by the darker fruit character associated with Oloroso sherry.
Does it work? Yes…particularly once the whiskey reaches the middle of the palate.
Appearance: 3.5
The presentation makes a strong first impression. Its short-necked, rounded bottle has a substantial shape, while the stopper’s wooden top and cork bottom give it the appropriate craft-whiskey character. The whiskey itself carries an inviting amber color.
Aroma: 3.0
Caramel and vanilla lead the aroma, followed by a light fruit note from the sherry finish. The nose is pleasant and balanced, although it does not reveal everything that eventually emerges on the palate.
Flavor: 3.25
Sweet caramel arrives first, followed by vanilla and fruit. Then the most interesting part appears… Graham cracker and Fig Newtons.
That combination brings together toasted grain, honeyed sweetness, dried fig, and a faint baked-cookie quality. It is distinctive without becoming overly sweet. Spice and oak arrive toward the back of the palate, giving the bourbon enough structure to keep the sherry influence under control.
Finish: 3.25
The oak continues through the finish, accompanied by lingering spice and a trace of dried fruit. It is a composed ending that pulls the whiskey back toward bourbon after the sweeter, fruitier middle.
Barrel Proof Score: 3.25 out of 5
Big Six Oloroso is a good, well-balanced finished bourbon with a genuinely memorable flavor in the middle of the pour. The Oloroso cask contributes fruit and sweetness without covering up the caramel, spice, and oak underneath. But it’s the graham cracker and Fig Newton note that gives this Little River bourbon its own identity, and it is the part of the experience you are likely to remember.
Have you ever found a flavor in a whiskey that immediately reminded you of a childhood snack?
Let us know in the comments.
