Barrel Picks

What a story behind this barrel….err batch. Yeah, read on.

First the distillery visit- they had a row of bourbons out for us that I rejected all of them. No hard feelings. We had done a bourbon the year before and this was the exact same product age etc.

On my last visit I asked Steve Nally his favorite product he makes, without hesitation he said, ” the Cherry Finish Rye” and gave us some to try.

Bardstown broke out 6 of these Cherry Finished Rye and man they were spectacular. They use a custom barrel from Virginia that alternates Cherry and oak staves, then infra-red toasted with either a medium or light toast.

This means they have 2 barrel types for the Cherry AND they re-use them once

Then the barrel arrives and it’s nearly 240 bottles at 125+ proof and my little pea brain went, wait….that math ain’t mathing. A 53 gallon barrel is roughly 250 bottles when full. So how do we have 125 proof and only loss of 12 bottles??

I sent Bardstown a message and after a short conversation here is what I learned:
✅ They mash the rye mash bill and fill the ISC barrels
✅ After 5-6 years when the rye is mature to Steve’s palate
✅ They then batch all the rye together
✅ Then fill the Cherry Barrels full with the batched Rye
✅ This is how they get 125 proof and high yield
✅ Personally feel the tittle “single barrel” is a stretch on this

 

Bardstown Bourbon Company
Cherry Wood Finish Rye
Mashbill: 95% Rye / 5% Malted Barley
Cooper: ISC + West Virginia Great Barrel Co Cherry Wood
Cherry Wood Barrel: First Fill
Age: 7yr 3mo
Proof: 125.2
Sourced: Bardstown Bourbon Company
Price: $79

Yield: 238 Bottles

Given the somewhat murky nature of the product and high yield; I was concerned this wouldn’t sell out. I know the Bourbon Junkies took around 3 weeks to sell theirs…. so I did a drawing for everyone who bought one and gave away two William Larue Weller’s and a Russell’s 15

This effort lead to it selling out in 8 minutes into the Walk🚶🏻‍♂️ Tier, the second non-guaranteed tier.

It’s been nearly 7 years since Magnus has done a single barrel product. I will say we’re over pleased to be one of the few selected to pick a barrel with them

Shortly after picking the Rare Character HRC I was in Holland Michigan at Magnus going through a 50 Barrel lot of these Seguin Moreau barrels they had

Similar to the Rare Character HRC these were fully aged in Lawrenceburg, Indiana in a barrel done by a wine Cooper, Seguin Moreau. Both the Seguin Moreau and Canton barrels have a VERY tight grain structure which leads to very little water movement and more alcohol evaporation. You’ll notice all these are sub-110 proof at Cask Strength. This also meant that the yields were huge.

This particular barrel was split with The Barrel Tap in San Diego California and may even still be for sale through them

 

Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Mashbill: 60% / 36% Rye / 4% Malted Barley
Cooper: Fully Aged in Seguin Moreau Cooperage’s Barrel
Age: 10yr+
Proof: 105.88
Sourced: MGP
Price: $125

Yield: 102 Bottles

102 bottles also went to Barrel Tap in San Diego w/Chasing Bourbon on the label – Price may be different than my release

This was never intended to be a pick I can’t be happier that we found this barrel. While at Old Louisville to pick out the SFTB Toasted French Oak Rye (click to open) 

I asked Amine if he had anything 10yr in Canton barrels knowing I had the Rare Character HRC and Magnus on the way….he walked me over to a rick and said “have at it’, and we did.

This is beyond crushable. Legit when I have this I can’t stop going back to the bottle. I love the sub-110 proof makes it a great enjoyable pour

🛢️ – Old Louisville Canton-Canton Double Barrel
Mashbill: 60% / 36% Rye / 4% Malted Barley
Barrel Detail: Canton Barrel(s)
Primary Maturation: 8yr IN aged in a Canton Barrel made out of 12 months seasoned oak staves
Double Barrel: 24 months air dried seasoned oak staves, toasted heads. Toasted then char 3 on the staves aged for 2yr in KY
Age: 10yr+
Proof: 109.8
Sourced: MGP
Price: $150 +
Yield: 139 Bottles

Photo Courtesy of Bob Bozeman

Some times the starts just align….In October Aaron Lothrop and I met up Rare Character to choose some barrels. This stood out to me as a spectacular offer PLUS when you dig INTO what made this, it’s really special.

For whatever reason about 10 years ago Seagrams/MGP reached out to the non-typical coopers for barrels. This barrel was from a wine Cooper called Canton. This distillate was completely aged in Lawrenceburg, Indiana in a Canton Char #3 barrel and wow, maple and butterscotch bomb 💣 .

Little did I know this would mark the first of 3 barrels from coopers who’s typical business was making wine barrels not Bourbon; The Joseph Magnus Seguin Moreau and the Old Louisville Double Barrel Canton, Canton.

This is a real treat to try all three 10yr 36% MGP at 3 different price points and make your statement who did it best.

 

– Rare Character Single Barrel Series HRC-5012
Mashbill: 60%corn🌽 / 36% Rye 🌾 / 4% Malted Barley
Cooper: Fully Aged in Canton Barrel
Age: 10yr 7mo
Proof: 108.76
Sourced: MGP
Price: $109

Yield: 198 Bottles

I went to Old Louisville to visit Amine and give the pick crew the “candy store” experience. While I was there, I told Amine I wanted a 51% rye that’s as usual he just waived his arm and said have at it….. We tried EVERY 51% rye he had and this, this barrel was SPECTACULAR

There is also magic to having whiskey or bourbon straight from the barrel that is different than the processed product. There is a distinct mouth feel you just can’t replicate when it’s Straight From the Barrel. To “up” the deliverable for members I asked if I can come back and hand fill the bottles? Amine laughed and said he’d take the filters out and get it as CLOSE to straight from the barrel as possible.

🚨 WARNING 🚨– This means there will be be sediment and barrel char IN THE BOTTLE

Mashbill: 51 Rye / 45 Corn / 4 Malted Barley
Age: 8yr+
Finish Time: 18mo Toasted French Oak
Proof: 120.6
Sourced: MGP
Price: $114

Yield: 141 Bottles