Single Barrel Selections

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 out introduction to Anime and Old Louisville and I actually picked this barrel then but wanted it to have more age. We returned in Jan 2025 and re-visited this plus tried all the current inventory to make sure “this is my bourbon” Bottle details for the new and a refresher for… 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

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 3-barrel micro blends, then re-barreled, then a finishing staves added. With this many variables each final… Read more: Pursuit United Double Oaked….DARK AF

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

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

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

Rare Character Single Barrel Barrel Strength Toasted Rye TST-R51-6 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-R51-6

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

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”

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

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