Sweet Kitty Single Barrel Bourbon from Good Times Bourbon
There are bourbon producers that honor tradition, and then there are those willing to challenge it. Kentucky's Coxs Creek Distilling Company—the creative force behind the Good Times Bourbon brand—has quickly become known for pushing the boundaries of what finished bourbon can be.
Rather than relying solely on familiar port, sherry, or cognac finishes, Good Times has built a devoted following by experimenting with an impressive variety of secondary maturation techniques. Coconut rum, raspberry brandy, exotic woods, blueberry, mint, honey, banana, dessert-inspired barrels, and countless other finishing casks have become the company's signature, creating limited single barrel releases that are as intriguing as they are difficult to find. Their philosophy is simple: start with quality bourbon, then explore just how much complexity a thoughtfully selected finishing cask can add without losing the whiskey's identity.
One of their newer and most unique creations is Sweet Kitty, a 110-proof single barrel straight bourbon whiskey finished in coconut rum and raspberry brandy casks. The name is a playful nod to a certain famous tropical cocktail, (you can look up the name!) but the whiskey itself is anything but gimmicky.
The nose is immediately captivating. Ripe coconut rises from the glass alongside warm raspberry cobbler and rich, creamy caramel. It's an aroma that suggests an intensely sweet pour, yet the palate tells a different story.
Despite its decadent bouquet, Sweet Kitty remains remarkably balanced. The bourbon delivers a rich, mouth-coating texture without becoming sugary or overpowering. Layers of sweet red fruit, brown sugar, and baking spices develop across the palate before giving way to a warm, lingering finish that drinks incredibly smooth.
What impressed us most wasn't simply the unique finishing combination—it was the restraint. The coconut rum and raspberry brandy barrels complement the underlying bourbon rather than masking it, allowing both the whiskey and the finishing casks to contribute to the final profile. That's a difficult balance to achieve, and one that Good Times executes exceptionally well here.
Sweet Kitty won't appeal to every bourbon traditionalist, nor is it trying to. This is a bottle made for adventurous whiskey drinkers—those who enjoy discovering flavors that venture well beyond the conventional Kentucky profile while still respecting the spirit at the heart of the glass.
For anyone looking to experience what makes Good Times Bourbon one of today's most talked-about independent whiskey brands, Sweet Kitty is an outstanding place to start. It's bold, memorable, and unapologetically different—exactly the kind of whiskey that reminds us bourbon still has plenty of room for innovation.
