From Sparrow’s bourbon list, Joseph Magnus is one of our more special pours, a reproduction of a pre-Prohibition recipe with real history behind it ($25 by the pour, or $37.50 for a larger pour).
About Joseph Magnus Bourbon
This reproduction of a pre-Prohibition Bourbon recipe is finished in sherry and Cognac casks. The Magnus name goes back to Joseph A. Magnus, who built a celebrated spirits business in the late 1800s with his Murray Hill Club whiskey before Prohibition shut it all down. Generations later, his descendants and a team of whiskey enthusiasts revived the brand, bringing back that pre-Prohibition style with modern care. The cask finishing is the heart of it, taking a well-aged bourbon and resting it in sherry and Cognac barrels to layer in extra richness, fruit, and depth that you do not find in a standard bourbon.
Tasting Notes
That sherry and Cognac finish gives the whiskey a generous, layered character, dried fruit and warm spice woven through the caramel and oak you expect from a good bourbon. It is rich and rounded, a sipping bourbon built for slowing down and paying attention.
What to Pair It With
This is a bourbon to savor neat or over a single large cube, ideally in our 21+ lounge after dinner. From the Sparrow dinner menu, it is a natural with the American Wagyu steaks or the Sparrow-Smoked Rack, both of which can stand up to its richness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Joseph Magnus Bourbon special?
It is a reproduction of a pre-Prohibition bourbon recipe finished in sherry and Cognac casks, which adds dried fruit and spice notes on top of the classic bourbon character.
What do the sherry and Cognac casks add to Joseph Magnus?
Resting a well-aged bourbon in sherry and Cognac barrels layers in dried fruit, warm spice, and extra richness on top of the classic caramel and oak.
How should I drink Joseph Magnus at Sparrow?
It is a bourbon to savor neat or over a single large cube, ideally after dinner in our 21+ lounge at the quartzite bar in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood.
How much is a pour of Joseph Magnus Bourbon at Sparrow?
At Sparrow in Kirkland it is $25 by the pour, or $37.50 for a larger pour.
Find it on the Sparrow beverages menu alongside pours like Knob Creek Single Barrel. We are in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside, so reserve a table and come taste it.