Doc Swinson’s Samba
Rye Whiskey Finished in Rum Cask Solera & Brazilian Amburana wood casks
Doc Swinson’s Samba is fusion of spice, sweetness, and exotic wood influence. Originally built from a blend of 2 rye whiskey mash-bills, balancing sweet corn with spicy rye profiles aged a minimum of 7 years then entered our Solera system built with rum casks from 4 distilleries.
This develops underlying tones of tropical fruits and citrus for a minimum of 2 years, picking up bright citrus and tropical fruit notes. This Solera Rye then is finished in full sized Amburana wood casks from Brazil, creating a layered and unforgettable flavor experience of gingersnaps and snickerdoodles.
THE STORY BEHIND THE SPIRIT
Samba reflects Doc Swinson’s dedication to finishing whiskey. When these casks first arrived at Doc Swinson's Barrel Lab they were in the back corner, furthest away from the doors. Upon entering the building the next morning, the entire warehouse smelled of fresh cinnamon rolls right out of the oven.
This is when we realized, you must be careful with these casks. When we filled them with the team, we watched them like hawks and tasted them every couple of hours, and unlike any casks used before we pulled the whiskey after just 32 hours. This hit the perfect balance between the whiskey and the finish, allowing them to complement each other not dominate. This made for a whiskey that broke the conventions of what we thought of finishing.
The result: a truly surprising rye whiskey unlike any you’ve tried, like a holiday morning with fresh baked cinnamon buns in your glass.
The Finish Cask(s):
Doc Swinson’s endless efforts to discover new and exciting cask types hit paydirt when the right rock was turned over, a rare species of exotic hardwood was being coopered into casks in the heart of Brazil, wood more similar to teak due to its high oil content and similar properties, these buttery looking barrels have extremely high vanilla and cinnamon compound content compared to American white oak brining it’s signature Cinnabon profiles.
Samba reflects Doc Swinson’s unrestrained approach to finishing whiskey. The solera-aged rum casks lend warm confectionery depth and tropical nuance, while Brazil’s celebrated Amburana wood adds a vibrant burst of baking spice and aromatic lift.
WHAT MAKES SAMBA UNIQUE
Blend of American Rye Whiskeys
95% rye, 5% malted Barley (MGP) -Selected for spice and boldness
51% rye, 45% corn, 4% malted barley (MGP) Selected for structure, spice, and balance.
Rum Cask Solera Finish
Ex rum casks from Jamaica, Venezuela, St. Croix, and Trinidad built into a continuous aging system that imparts slight bright citrus fruits, banana bread, and warm molasses notes.
Amburana Wood Finish
A bold and exotic wood derived from the forests of Brazil
Adds bold aromatics—cinnamon, vanilla bean, gingerbread, and sweet spice.Layered, Expressive Complexity
A rare dual-finish profile that bridges rye intensity with lush tropical sweetness and memories of baked cookies.
TASTING NOTES
Aroma | Spiced honey, orange zest, cinnamon roll, toasted sugar, and gingersnaps.
Palate | Bright rye spice leads into caramelized banana, sandalwood, clove, vanilla, and warm gingersnaps. Amburana’s signature sweet-spice bloom rises throughout creating a rounded spice and sweet treat.
Finish | Long, warm, molasses, baking spice, and gingerbread linger with subtle tropical fruit.
HOW TO ENJOY
Neat - where the Amburana’s expressive aromatics shine
Irish style Coffee- makes a Cinnabon in a cup.
Old Fashioned - transforms into a gingerbread-spice dessert cocktail
KEY SPECS (Release Notes)
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Process: Rum Solera Finish + Amburana Finish
Proof: 103.7 (51.85% ABV)
Release No. 25-002
Bottled: October 17th 2025
Total bottes: 276
Minimum age of batch: 9 years
Maximum age of batch: 11 years
Barrel Info:
First fill new charred oak #4 -7 years minimum
Ex rum casks up to 2-4 years (look up solera system to better understand)
Amburana wood casks 28 days (8th use of barrel)
Artwork on bottle: Marz Nixon
