Single Barrel Selections

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… Read more: Bardstown Bourbon Company Cherry Wood Finish Rye

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… Read more: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Seguin Moreau Cask

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… Read more: Old Louisville Double Double Canton Canton – Double Barrel Bourbon

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.… Read more: Rare Character Single Barrel Series HRC-5012

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… Read more: Old Louisville Rye SFTB – Toasted Barrel Strength

What can be a challenge in the barrel pick game as of late is exceptional bourbon that doesn’t break the bank. We had tried a different barrel of this a few years ago and thought it was fantastic yet opted for the 10.5yr Armagnac instead. On this pick trip we’re in need of something economical… Read more: Dark Arts French Oak Crème Brûlée

First…this is the darkest American Light Whiskey I’ve seen, of course it’s a short barrel with only 60 bottles, and 🤏 under a hazmat While we limited these to one bottle PP, I’m sure as you can guess this sold out ridiculously fast. For a light whiskey this has an incredible nose and mouthfeel that… Read more: Rare Character 20L 139 Proof American Light Whiskey – “The Dumpster Fire”

Buzzard Roost invited Chasing Bourbon back to “experiment” outside their standard re-barrel product. First things first – I think it’s incredibly important to understand how a Buzzard Roost comes to be. ✔️ They source either 36% rye or 21% rye bourbon from MGP ✔️ They re-barrel it in an ISC barrel with a custom toast… Read more: Buzzard Roost French Oak Triple Barrel “who needs an Eagle”

One of the Chasing Bourbon members won the Sazerac Barrel Select drawing and gifted his allocation to Chasing Bourbon Late January 2025 we took a trip to Kentucky to pick a barrel and April was the giant flood that hit and Buffalo Trace was literally underwater I don’t think too much about Buffalo Trace picks,… Read more: Buffalo Trace Flood Survivor Vol 2

I chose to follow up the Old Louisville 18yr American with this spectacular Light whiskey from Bull Run. I took a trip to Portland, Oregon met with some great members and we’re at it!! Like many of these aged stock from Seagrams now MGP the magic in this I believe is honestly the experience from… Read more: Bull Run 19yr American Light Whiskey

Rare Character Straight Bourbon 8BL “the Chasing of Bourbon” Details- Like all Rare Character, it’s super double secret but they will disclose the mash bill. Suspected to be sourced Beam and similar to the PLT just a younger age statement Mashbill: 78 / 13 9 Age: 8yr 2mo Proof: 127.06 Sourced: Not Disclosed Price: $109.99… Read more: Rare Character 8BL 8yr Kentucky Bourbon

Last year Jarrod at Barrel King approached me about doing another pick with them. My thought was that given what they do it’s gotta be a blend. Jarrod said I love it, and let’s just have to you do it all….pick the base barrel, pick the finish barrels, blend it yourself. This will be a… Read more: Barrel King Finished Rye Blend “The Perfect Every Day Dram”

The completion of the set has landed. I originally approached Subtle looking for some of these 125+ proof 12yr MGP Ryes that were out and about. I had tried a couple and they were just to….aggressive?  Over extracted maybe? I wouldn’t say too “punchy” as I heard them described….just too too much Subtle had a… Read more: Subtle Spirits Rye – RIK104

So much mystery with some Rare Character releases and this is no exception. Distilled in KY, 78 / 13 / 9 Mystery mashbill and 130.88 Proof it’s a monster of a pour. There is some/much speculation that this is sourced Beam. I’ll be the outlier and say this is the post fire Heaven Hill experimental… Read more: Rare Character PLT030 10yr Bourbon – “Fight Club”

FIRST this is NOT an American Light Whiskey. Yes, Old Louisville has done tons of ALW, and this is not the case on this one. Quick technical lesson; American Light Whiskey comes off the still 160-190 proof. This 18yr in question was 130 off the still and barreled at that proof in a used bourbon… Read more: Old Louisville 18yr American Whiskey

Oh man what a story behind this pick, to these picks. I originally approached Subtle looking for some of these 125+ proof 12yr MGP Ryes that were out and about. I had tried a couple and they were just to….aggressive?  Over extracted maybe? I wouldn’t say too “punchy” as I heard them described….just too too… Read more: Subtle Spirits Bourbon – DSP-KY-67

If You’re in or near Tucson, Arizona this is a pick that is being poured at Union Public House We split this barrel with the bar and most who’d tried it say it’s very non-beam, Beam. LOL Great nose, viscous mouth feel, baking flavors on the palate and a long. long finish

This is from a batch of single barrels they sourced from Barton. I was turned onto Blackwood because I had a few of the original barrels before Blackwood does their magic to them and was blown away. Then I tried ever release of Blackwood that was out and blow away even more!! What’s the magic… Read more: Blackwood Single Barrel #5 – “Barton Stinson”

When I was at Old Louisville in January ’25 to pick the 10yr I approached Old Louisville and asked if I could tap some barrels and blend. He was glad to oblige. Ya’ gotta love a guy who’s out to sell more whiskey 😂 I chose a 8yr 60/36/4 Rye Bourbon and a 8yr 51/45/4… Read more: Old Louisville Four Grain Blend – “Rick and Karen Make a Four Grain”

I’ve gotta hand it to the Saz rep. After refusing the Blanton’s Gold he got some Weller samples sent from the Mother Ship that he claimed were hand picked and incredible I chose this one and couldn’t be happier Well….they weren’t wrong. Legit probably the best Weller Full Proof I’ve had. I traveled this summer… Read more: Weller Full Proof – “The Flood Survivor Vol. 1”

This was not my pick…seriously. I had the opportunity to do a Blanton’s gold pick and all the barrels they presented…..well, sucked. I mean they weren’t total swill-trash but they didn’t hit all the bases. Good nose, no finish. No nose, no mouth feel, thin flavor great finish. So in the end I declined them… Read more: Blanton’s Gold – “Tater, The Reject Barrel”

Last year we had our introduction to Amine and Old Louisville and I actually picked this barrel last year but wanted it to have more age. We returned in Jan 2025 and re-visited this after more aging plus tried all the current inventory to make sure “this is my bourbon” Bottle details for the new… Read more: Old Louisville 10yr Straight Bourbon “Another F**king Home Run”

what an amazing place and story. If you didn’t know, Bardstown was started to essentially be the Kentucky option for sourcing…think if MGP was in Bardstown king of thing If you visit make sure you make time for lunch or dinner at the restaurant, epic food. We spend some time with Steve Nally and had… Read more: Bardstown Bourbon Company Straight Single Barrel Bourbon

Oh man…if you don’t know about Buff Turkey you’ve been under a rock.   Short version is that before the expansion at Turkey and while their fermenting tanks were down; Turkey contracted Buffalo Trace to make distilate for them to sustain no-gaps in production. The 73/13/12 Turkey mashbill with BT grain and yeast. This DID… Read more: Dark Arts 15yr “buff-turkey”

This visit marked my second and third barrels with Dark Arts. Dark Arts Whiskey House secret sauce is their finishing. We had been talking for months about doing a white port/red port rye and when I got there….I didn’t like ANY of them. One of the best things about doing a pick with Dark Arts… Read more: Dark Arts 13yr Rye “Liquid Gold 2”

Buzzard Roost- every one and then you stumble onto a Gem. Buzzard uses MGP re-barreled in custom ISC barrels using a toast profile that’s proprietary to them. The are identified with “BZ-X” where “x” denoted the flavor profile they are going for. All the secondary aging happens at Bardstown Rick Houses for that Kentucky aging… Read more: Buzzard’s Roost Straight Bourbon

Redefining a short barrel this bad boy yielded 18 bottles. YES, ONLY 18 Bottles and they came out at 140.4 Proof. HAZMAT ☢️ Sourced from West Virginia this undisclosed Mash Bill Wheated Bourbon was pretty spectacular at selection and lived up to the expectations in the final product. Only draw back is only a few… Read more: Rare Character Exceptional Wheated Bourbon

No, that’s not amber glassNo, it’s not used motor oilYes it’s 750ml of some delicious BRBN Oh man…this was an interesting pick. Lots of resistance from people who “don’t like Pursuit Double Oaked”. Pursuit Double Oaked are all a bit different. Kind of like Barrell Craft Spirits or Maker’s Mark Stave series. How? They are… Read more: Pursuit United Double Oaked “PLAYBOURBON”

To gain access to allocated picks I partner with a local restaurant group and we split the barrel. Draw back Chasing Bourbon doesn’t get the full yield, advantage we get some killer picks that we would not have otherwise Enter this gem of a pick 💥 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 💥 9yr 9mo 💥 110… Read more: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel

This was such a fun pick and became confusing for many. 5 bottles, all with the same “The Five Families” name, similar pictures, and al l RIO3XX 4 clubs got together with Rare Character in a very familial way after they discovered My wife was on chemo after having Stage 4 Colon Cancer tumors removed.… Read more: Rare Character RIO-341 The Five Families

The FIVE FAMILIES – 4 clubs that got together to pick 5 barrels, one for each club and a 5th used as a fundraiser for cancer treatments. Barrel 340 was split 4 ways and $50 from the sale of each bottle went help fund cancer treatments for Amy Englhard (my wife) who’s battling Stage 4… Read more: Rare Character RIO340 – The Five Families

Rare Character Single Barrel Barrel Strength Toasted Rye TST-R-07 I went to Rare Character looking for a Michter’s Killer. If you’ve been in Bourbon you know that Barrel Strength Rye from Michter’s it’s hard(er) to find and fantastic. Michter’s uses a “barely legal” rye mash bill and that’s what I was after I honestly was… Read more: Rare Character Single Barrel Barrel Strength Toasted Rye TST-R07

Starlight Distillery Straight Bourbon Finished in Limousin French Oak – “It’s okay, I’m a Limo Driver” French Oak?? So What’s the Story with French Oak and this “hand selected” barrel Brian got? Sound like BS to you?? This is another question I’m getting a bunch….so let’s unwrap this First we need to break down what… Read more: Starlight Distillery French Limousin Oak

Chasing Bourbon Partnered with a Tucson Hospitality/Restaurant Group, Union and selected a Rebel 120 Proof single barrel. Honestly for a moderately priced bourbon this pick was exceptional. Some how we chose a barrel that had the most un-characteristic wheat profile. To be honest, I didn’t think we’d pick one as I’ve been underwhelmed by many… Read more: Rebel Full Proof Distillers Collection “Tater Amy”

Rare Character RIO302 – this is a IYKYK barrel for sure. Incase you DON”T know…. let me break down why this is special RIO is a code to denote this is a 75%C-21%R-4%MB MGP that was distilled in IN then shipped to KY and fully aged at the Old Taylor Warehouse in KY to age… Read more: Rare Character RIO302

Bottle details: 💥 Straight Blended Bourbon 💥 5yr – 16yr Blend 💥 Sourced from MGP, Bardstown KY , & Tennessee Distilling (KY & TN are speculated was NOT confirmed as they are a NDA Source) 💥 E16K Blend Profile 💥 58.65% ABV / 117.3 Proof A very Kentucky flavor profile with a late palette spice… Read more: Barrell Craft Spirits Private Blend

10yr sibling took 94 pts at San Francisco. I say sibling because these are the same barrel runs and this release simple was bottled 6 months later 60/36/4 MGP high rye bourbon mash bill given a secondary maturation for 12mo in a 1980’s 71gal Armagnac Cask. The Armagnac cask was drained and dried so the… Read more: Dark Arts 10.5yr Bourbon Finished in Armagnac

Having an extra day in Louisville lead to a serendipitous meeting with the owner of Old Louisville and the offer to pick a barrel. This was a surprise I was not expecting. Old Louisville is currently a NDP (non-distiller producer) that sources some incredible stuff and the only bottle 7yr plus I spent two days… Read more: Old Louisville 11yr Single Barrel

RED WAX is back!! For those who knew of smoke wagon in their rise, they had a series of Private Barrels they did that became iconic by their red wax setting them apart from the regular retail line. As demand increased and barrel supply shrank they shut down the straight bourbon private barrel program that… Read more: Smoke Wagon Private Barrel #157 – Tha Shiznit

our second Dream Spirits single barrel using sourced Beam. The Flavor profile is right up my style, butterscotch, vanilla, light baking spice on the palette, and an incredible long finish. 120.4 proof less than 140 bottles in the barrel. Released for sale Monday April 8th at www.bourbonoutfitter.com

Dream Spirits may be little known to many but the family behind it has a name that’s easily recognized by many. If you’ve been into Bourbon for not long at all you’ve likely heard of “Prav’s Picks” by Prav Saraff. in 2020 the Saraff started the NDP (non-distiller producer) Dream Spirits and sourced these same… Read more: Dream Spirits – Taylor Dream. If You Noe, You Noe

I’ve wanted to do an Old Elk or MGP wheated for a while… every time I sample they have always had this “funk” that I get from MGP wheated. This go-round either by the stroke of luck or planets all aligning we had some banger barrels to pick from. 8.5 yr Straight Wheated Bourbons coming… Read more: Olk Elk – “Fry Batter” and “Stole it”

Hands down my favorite selection to date.  Jarrod and his crew know how to make a barrel selection a special event. When we arrived they had probably 30 barrels laid out to sample different things and determine what we wanted and we tried everything. I fell in love with a 9yr 21% MGP finished in… Read more: Barrel King Knighted

First let’s hit the bourbon then the controversy…. This pick was bestowed to Chasing Bourbon by our good friend Nick from Portland, Oregon. King’s County has long been known for the 80/20 mashbill, UK Barley, pot stills, and small barrel format. At our visit they are switching from small barrel format to the traditional 53gal… Read more: King’s County Private Blend -disavowed

Barrell Craft Spirits is more a blender and finisher than single barrel selections. In fact they have discontinued doing a “single barrel”, only blends and finished items. In light of this, it only made sense to get some of their last Single Barrel Straight Bourbon. Coming in at almost 10yr this 21% MGP is absolute… Read more: Haterade – 9yr+ Barrell Craft Spirits SiB Bourbon

We teamed up with a local store who didn’t want to sit on the inventory of the barrel. Chasing Bourbon cleared ~100 bottles in about 27 minutes. It was crazy. Some internet “hate” brewed over the tater sticker and became the brith of “haterade” for the next pick

What an adventure. This was actually selected BEFORE the Beth Dutton. I was way, way, wwaayyyy early on the curve of Rare Character. Our dump kept getting bumped to make way for larger personalities to have their selections hit the market first. Bottle Stats- Straight Bourbon 204 bottles 6yr 6mo 115.64 Proof / 57.82 ABV… Read more: Rare Character RIO Bourbon & KRY Rye

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A classic staple in many bourbon lovers’ cabinets. Historically released 3 times a year in batches labeled A1XX, B5XX, & C9XX. In 2022 Elijah Craig jumped on the bandwagon and released barrel picks of the famed ECBP all over the country. I have no idea how other than great relationships with… Read more: Beth Dutton – Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Single Barrel