Ampersand Opimus 15 Year is a bold hybrid: a classic Kentucky bourbon matured for over a decade, then finished in Tokaji wine casks to inject bright, dessert-wine warmth and fruit complexity. It strives to balance robust oak and bourbon character with elevated sweetness, dried fruit, and spice. Its a statement whiskey intended for sipping and connoisseurs who enjoy cask-finished nuance.

Origins & Craftsmanship

• Released by Ampersand / Foley Family Wines & Spirits, with Master Distiller Chip Tate overseeing the program.

• It is a 15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon, finished for 9 months in Tokaji wine casks (Hungary) after primary maturation.

• Mash bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley.

• Bottled at 58.4% ABV (117 proof) cask strength.

Tasting Profile

Element Notes & Highlights Color / Appearance Deep amber / mahogany, reflecting long aging and wine cask influence. Nose / Aroma Classic bourbon notes of caramel, oak, vanilla, with added layers of stone fruit (apricots, peaches), honeycomb, dried nectarine, and winey raisin sultanas. Palate / Taste Rich and full: caramel, toasted oak, dark fruit (plum, fig), dried apricot, spiced honey, and a thread of baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg). The Tokaji influence contributes wine-acid lift, warm fruit sweetness, and depth. Finish Long, warming finish with oak, dried fruit echoes, spice, and a wine-shared sweetness lingering.

In the 2025 North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition, Ampersands Opimus 15 was awarded a Double Gold medal, confirming its high standing among judged whiskies.

Food & Pairings

• Serve / Format: Neat or with a few drops of water to open the fruit tones. Use a tulip or Glencairn glass to capture complex aromas.

• Pairings:
  Dried fruit desserts (apricot tart, fig cake)
  Nut / honey desserts (almond tart, baklava)
  Aged cheeses (Comt, Manchego)
  Rich meats with fruit glazes or reductions (duck with plum, pork with apricot sauce)
  Dark chocolate or chocolate with fruit inclusions

Quick Overview

Feature Detail Name Ampersand Opimus 15 Year Bourbon (Tokaji finish) Type / Style Kentucky Straight Bourbon, cask strength, wine cask finished Age 15 years in bourbon barrels + 9 months in Tokaji casks Mash Bill 75% corn / 13% rye / 12% malted barley Proof / ABV 117 proof / 58.4% ABV Character Bourbon core (oak, caramel, vanilla) + wine cask overlay (stone fruit, honey, wine acid) Best Use Sipping, collectors bottle, tasting whisky with depth