Dark Arts is a blending, rebarreling, and finishing house in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. Inspired by the alchemists of old, their Master Blenders wield underutilized maturation and blending techniques to transform wood, fire, grain and water into liquid gold. Using equal parts mastery and belief in the unknown, they procure high-quality ingredients, create custom blends, and age them in unconventional barrels to craft unique and elevated whiskeys.

The Empyrean begins life as a high-rye Kentucky bourbon before a unique double finish in both red and white Port casks. The two lots are then blended with secrecy and precision, creating a whiskey that moves between fire and finesse.

On the nose, you’ll find tobacco leaf, baked goods, and light brown sugar, accented by smoky fruit tones of grilled melon and spiced honeydew. The palate is plush and complex — black cherry, fig, white chocolate, and baking spice give way to port-soaked oak and a gentle sweetness. The finish is long, warming, and creamy, with dried fruit, leather, and a final lift of spice. This is bourbon for slow sipping: rich enough to stand alongside dark chocolate or blue cheese, yet refined enough to savor neat by the fire.