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.
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.