2024 Single Barrel Program Barrels

Week 52 – George Dickel 10yr Single Barrel Bourbon r/Bourbon Private Barrel Selection 

• Distilled: Tullahoma, Tennessee (George Dickel)
• Aged: Tullahoma, Tennessee (George Dickel)
• Bottled: Tullahoma, Tennessee (George Dickel)
• Age: 10 Years (Bottled in 9yr Label Bottle) 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, High Proof
• ABV: 50% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:A desert classic, this is a perfect send off to our final Dickel of the year: brown sugar, baked apples, caramel and big mocha spice meets zesty pepper, some ginger, bold oak and a mild vanilla character. Palate is rich, easy sipping at 100 proof and full of brown sugar, baked apple, caramel candies and a hint of cinnamon. Long finish, oaky and dry with a pop of maple, sweet cream and some cake batter. 

Week 52 – Rare Character Single Barrel Series SRY-097 7yr6mo Rye r/Bourbon Private Barrel Selection 

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged: Kentucky, USA (Rare Character)
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Rare Character)
• Age: 7 Years 6 Months 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 51% Rye, 45% Corn, 4% Malted Barley 
• ABV: 59.15% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Fat and fudgy on the nose, big rye spice jumps first with brown sugar, some herbal zest, pepper and ginger strike second. It’s not a grassy, herbal rye like our 95/5s this year, instead bringing big brown sugar, toffee, black pepper, ginger, a hint of barrel char and a bright pop of strong oak to the forefront instead. Rich on the palate, plenty layered with a pillowy mouthfeel and pleasant proof. Long finish that pulls together bold oak, rich rye spice, maple and a final crackle of pepper. 

Week 51 – WhistlePig Piggyback 6yr Single Barrel Rye r/Bourbon Private Barrel Selection 

This barrel is the next rye for our program, a deliciously zesty, cask strength, rye whiskey distilled by WhistlePig in Vermont and a killer value, as well. I love these and love bringing them to the program as its clear that WhistlePigs distillers clearly have the chops to produce their own ryes. 

• Distilled: Vermont, USA (WhistlePig)
• Aged: Vermont, USA (WhistlePig)
• Bottled: Vermont, USA (WhistlePig)
• Age: 6 Years 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 100% Rye
• ABV: 52.5% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rye and ready, this whiskey is packed with rich brown sugar, toffee, brown butter and rich white pepper, orange peel and some ginger. It’s zesty, desserty first and then loaded with spice second. Moderate palate, pleasant proof and a sweet-to-savory rye once again: brown sugar, orange peel meets cracked pepper, honey and peppy oak. Long finish, a touch of black tea and ango, rich oak, pepper once more and a final dash of maple. Funky, spicy, fun. 

Week 51 – WhistlePig Piggyback 6yr Single Barrel Bourbon r/Bourbon Private Barrel Selection 

This barrel is the first and only Piggyback Bourbon single barrel in the DC market this year. I was pleased they offered it up as we’re one of their best customers and the WhistlePig team is stoked to hear what everyone thinks. This is a bourbon whiskey distilled by WhistlePig and it’s super exciting imho. 

• Distilled: Vermont, USA (WhistlePig)
• Aged: Vermont, USA (WhistlePig)
• Bottled: Vermont, USA (WhistlePig)
• Age: 6 Years 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 58.35% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: This barrel really surprised me: tons of orange peel meets sweet oak, rich vanilla bean, caramel candies and a touch of pancake syrup, waffle cone and a dash of spice. Big, rich palate that’s creme brulee and candied oranges, a hint of apple butter and a pop of oak. Long finish, spicy first and then shifts back to brown sugar, candied oranges, rich oak and a crackle of pepper. Really stoked about the future of their bourbon program because this is delightful, and for sixty two bucks. Dang. 

Week 51 – Found North Single Barrel Spanish Oak Toast r/Bourbon Single Barrel 

I don’t quite know if Found North has unveiled their new season of single barrels, but welcome to Season 4 – a brand new batch of whiskies produced in really thoughtful and interesting ways. We have two single barrels from the gang who are blowing the lid off usage of different wood types and have put together a killer set. While groups are limited to a single, single barrel, I’m thankful the Found North team continues to serve up generous allocations for our program and we have two this winter. This is the first. 

This whiskey is a blend of 

• 8yr Wheat 
• 15yr Corn
• 20yr Corn
• 21yr Corn

whiskies that is then finished in new oak barrels that were toasted using Spanish Oak as the firing source. 

• Distilled: Various, Canada (Undisclosed)
• Aged: Canada & New England (Found North)
• Bottled: USA (Found North)
• Age: Blend of 8-21yr whiskies finished in Toasted New American Oak 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 58.40% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich and poppin’, the north invades once more. Heavy sweetness up front with black tea, black pepper, maple and demerara, tobacco and a funky fig note that’s ripe and mingles delightfully with spicy, dry oak character. Rich, viscous palate that’s well layered, heavy on tannin, pleasant and peppery and packed with fresh batter and a hint of cola. Spanish oak adds some nice, dry, tannin that’s the opposite of bitter, and a long finish that bundles together the sweetness, dry oak, toffee and richness. 

Week 51 – Found North Single Barrel French Oak Toast r/Bourbon Single Barrel 

Much like the above, the process is the same but using a different oak source for firing. 

This whiskey is a blend of 

• 8yr Wheat 
• 15yr Corn
• 20yr Corn
• 21yr Corn

whiskies that is then finished in new oak barrels that were toasted using French Oak as the firing source. 

• Distilled: Various, Canada (Undisclosed)
• Aged: Canada & New England (Found North)
• Bottled: USA (Found North)
• Age: Blend of 8-21yr whiskies finished in Toasted New American Oak 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 58.35% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A definite contrast to the first barrel, this French Oak fired toast is a gorgeous ginger and mocha crusher: sweet notes on the nose and the body accentuate maple, sweet syrup, heavy spice and balancing oak and pepper. The layers on the palate are decadent, and mocha undertones develop bringing cocoa and hints of espresso into the fold with pleasant tannin. Gorgeous finish, long and complex, a perfect cold weather sipper. 

………

so johannes and ebitdaddy walk into a bar…

Okay so as always, with our custom blends with Found North, there’s a good story to these. As you guys may know, we were supposed to blend much earlier in the fall, but unfortunately the finishing casks just weren’t all ready. When you’re blending, everything has to be ready. So we made the painful choice to put off our blend session and cancel the Boston event and let the whiskey speak. Boston, we’ll be back. 

The whiskey spoke. It was ready in very late October. Which was tricky. I was flying everywhere, Nick from Found North had just had a baby, it looked like we might not be able to actually pull off the logistics. But, I was home for 48 hours between trips and Chris from their team needed to be in Chicago the day I was leaving for my next trip to meet with a producer for our program. So, we cooked up a plan as weird as all of our other plans. 

Chris and Nick from Found North would fly to Chicago, rent a car, drive up to Wisconsin, we’d spend my open window blending, hit some supper clubs and bars in the after hours and then Chris would head back to Chicago and Nick would fly home. It was dumb, it was crazy, but we wanted to get these done so we got it done. And, had a nice little supper club evening as well. 

So, to the whiskey. As veterans of our program know, each blend gets a unique codename. This is because when you refer to samples and numbers and batches all day long sometimes you get a bit confused. When we produce a blend we think is a candidate to be a blend we want to hone and refine, we name it and set it aside. Through our blending time we poked fun at Nick who listens to classical music on headphones while he tastes. And we made fun of finance bros (they had it coming). Together, through our time together, these two codenames would rise to be our primes for final releases. 

I present to you, T8KE-04 “Johannes” and T8KE-05 “EBITDADDY” – our next two custom blends for r/Bourbon that marry sophisticated whiskey, complex finishing, meticulous blending, light snickering and a whole lot of blending fun to produce whiskeys I couldn’t be more proud of. Hats off, once again, to Found North for continuing to recognize the size, and passion of our group as well as y’alls discerning palates. So we get two custom blends, a program exclusive in every sense of the word. and two single barrels. let the whiskey flow!

Week 51 – Found North T8KE-04 “Johannes” Custom Blend r/Bourbon Exclusive Release

This whiskey is a blend of 

• 14yr Corn 
• 16yr Corn
• 10yr Rye
• 12yr Rye
• 20yr Rye

whiskies that is then split up and finished in px sherry casks, sauternes casks and blanco pineau des charantes casks and then re-blended back together. This whiskey is a sonnet of complexity, sweet and bready and rich as an orchestra, loaded with high notes, vibrancy in the mid palate and a fat, resonant finish that’s just fucking ridiculous.

• Distilled: Various, Canada (Undisclosed)
• Aged: Canada & New England (Found North)
• Bottled: USA (Found North)
• Age: Blend of 10-20yr Whiskies
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 53% Corn, 45% Rye, 2% Malted Barley.
• ABV: 55.4% ABV
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Opulent on the nose: sweet brioche notes emanate immediately with undertones of raisins, tobacco, fig, stewed fruits and a hint of blackberry. Dry oak, rich must and some parchment notes pop with a fat and buttery texture on the palate. Gorgeous balance between bright and acidic fruits, sweet richness on the palate and this rich, fat, texture on the palate. Long finish, decadent once again with a beautiful composition of white grape, raisins, oranges, brioche, fig and sweet oak once more. Melodious. 

Week 51 – Found North T8KE-05 “EBITDADDY” Custom Blend r/Bourbon Exclusive Release

A play on the words EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, don’t forget the amortization) this release pokes fun at finance bros in patagonia vests strolling the boston sidewalks and as we joked, I remembered a meme I saw that took the Supreme logo and converted it to EBITDADDY (ohhh, daddy) and boom, we were laughing about ebitdaddy for the rest of the day. When it came time for a nickname on this blend, I couldn’t shake the humor and we agreed another batch name was born. I still snicker every time I think of it. 

This whiskey is a blend of 

• 14yr Corn 
• 16yr Corn
• 10yr Rye
• 12yr Rye
• 20yr Rye

whiskies that is then split up and finished in ruby port casks, oloroso sherry casks, madeira casks and sauternes casks then re-blended back together. This whiskey is a balance sheet of avant-garde, juicy, rich flavor that takes advantage of an initial investment of buttery richness from the season 5 base whiskey and really cranks projections to 11 with a quadruple cask finish. A meticulous blend, rich savory sherry meets jammy and structured madeira, with ruby port and sauternes rounding out these loud boardroom players to present a final release that’s incredibly reminiscent of my favorite past releases with a pop of fruit and extra complexity. I’m in love with how this release came out. 

• Distilled: Various, Canada (Undisclosed)
• Aged: Canada & New England (Found North)
• Bottled: USA (Found North)
• Age: Blend of 10-20yr Whiskies
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 53% Corn, 45% Rye, 2% Malted Barley.
• ABV: 55.6% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Huge nose, juicy and fruit driven at first with a dry spine and tons of texture. Red berries, blackberry, date, fig and cracked pepper pop first on the nose, it’s juicy and rich but restrained by tannin and spine. The palate is layered, viscous, syrupy, dreamy – loaded with sweet fruits, dry spice, heavy tannin and a beautiful layer of spices and oak to bring balance to the fruits. A faint prickle of ethanol amid a syrupy mouthfeel. The finish is long, driven by more traditional sweetness, toasty and bready with icing, maple and cake batter, heavy oak, a touch of ginger, some pepper and a final kiss of red berries before the quarter ends and the ethanol is nowhere to be seen again. 

Week 51 – Barrell Craft Spirits Black Label 33yr Canadian Whiskey Finished In French Oak & Oloroso Sherry Barrels

• Distilled:Canada (Undisclosed)
• Aged: Canada & Kentucky (Barrell Craft Spirits)
• Bottled: USA (Barrell)
• Age: 33 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 70% ABV (140pf)
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Peach rings, heavy vanilla sweetness, a pop of dry oak, sweet red berries, some raspberry, blackberry, cherry. Spicy on the nose: plenty of pepper, a hint of ginger. Rich on the palate, heavy viscosity with a sneaky, soft, prickle of ethanol. Probably a bit too drinkable at 70%. Finish is long, a beautiful blend of berry, mocha spice, ginger, pepper, a slivered almond and lovely spice once more. Gorgeous, rich, far from overoaked and finished beatifully. 

Week 50 – Rare Character Single Barrel Series 8yr5mo Straight Bourbon Finished in Sauternes Casks r/Bourbon Private Selection 

This 8.5yr bourbon spent 2 years maturing in a Sauternes cask and you know what that means: I had to try it.I selected it in April and it continue to age in barrel until later November when it was dumped and bottled, meaning the finish is really more like 2.5 years.

• Distilled: Indiana (MGP)
• Aged: Indiana & Kentucky (Rare Character)
• Bottled: Kentucky (Rare Character)
• Age: 8 Years 5 Months (plus finishing time)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
• ABV:  59.49% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Brown butter, heavy toffee, tobacco, raisin bread, pepper and some heavy, rich oak on the nose. It’s heavy and opulent, layered and complex and elegant. The palate is viscous and well layered again: bold pepper, rich maple and brown butter, caramels, toffee, spicy and opulently dessert driven with heavy oak once again. Sauternes shows with a delightful tobacco, toffee, raisin bread and brioche. Big finish that’s long, complex, viscous, buttery and satisfying. Decadent and a a perfect combination of bold, rich bourbon and an elegant wine finish that stays bright, yet decadent. A gorgeous unique cask oh which you’ll see few peers. 

Week 49 – Dancing Goat Limousin Rye Single Barrel 9 Year Honey Finished Rye r/Bourbon Private Barrel Selection 

This barrel is our final honey rye of the year from Dancing Goat. Aged first for 9 years, this rye was then transferred into a fresh honey cask and left to finish. It’s sweet, it’s spicy, it’s incredibly well balanced and it’s priced very well also. I’m amazed at how much zest and spice it has, which is a perfect compliment to the honey finish and it stands up great neat and in cocktails.

It’s quite a bit shorter than our previous yields, so expect it to go a bit faster than usual. 

• Distilled: Indiana (MGP)
• Aged: Indiana & Wisconsin (Dancing Goat)
• Bottled: Wisconsin (Dancing Goat)
• Age: 9 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 95/5 Rye Recipe
• ABV:  57% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich and zesty, black pepper pops first with orange peel, a hint of nutmeg, ginger and citrus with sweet honey undertones, fresh baked bread, peppy oak and lovely brown sugar. The palate is rich and crisp, it’s not too terribly thick or syrupy on this cask, the rye holds the line well. Fresh honey, maple and brown sugar, zesty oak and pepper add a spicy element. Citrus, honey, a backbone of oak leads into a long finish, full of complexity, floral honey, rich brown sugar and a final pop of oak and spice. 

Week 49 – Dancing Goat & T8ke Present: ‘Of Goat And Gobble’ 10yr Single Barrel Wheat Whiskey 

This barrel is a special one. Almost 2 years ago we took 9 year wheated whiskey and put it into one of our program’s Wild Turkey Russell’s Reserve barrels to continue aging. After entering in February of 2023, we just pulled it for dumping and it’s a beauty.

This is the next chapter of the Dancing Goat & T8ke Presents collaboration project that highlights well aged Wheat Whiskey. This project kicked off last spring with 5 different Wheat Whiskey single casks and blends, and this is Chapter 6! I have enough wheat on lock that this project will continue for years to come, highlighting what wheat whiskey looks like across a spectrum of aging and finishing. This is the first finished wheat in the library of releases and we’ll have 10yr and 11yr single barrels soon as well! 

• Distilled: Indiana (MGP)
• Aged: Indiana & Wisconsin (Dancing Goat)
• Bottled: Wisconsin (Dancing Goat)
• Age: 10 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength, Finished for 21 Months in r/Bourbon Russell’s Reserve CNA Barrel
• Mashbill: 95/5 Wheat Recipe
• ABV:  59.7% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Sweet and welcoming, warm pancake syrup, creme brulee, tobacco, pepper and orange peel pop on the nose. The spice from the finishing barrel is undeniable, bringing rich citrus and orange, pepper and a spine of extra oak. The palate is rich and buttery, plenty of oak, a very nice mouth feel and viscosity. Vanilla bean, some char, maple, tobacco, honey and rich citrus and spice. Long finish, heavy and balanced. It’s an old fashioned party in the barn! 

Week 49 – George Dickel 17.5yr Single Barrel Bourbon r/Bourbon Private Barrel Selection 

• Distilled: Tullahoma, Tennessee (George Dickel)
• Aged: Tullahoma, Tennessee (George Dickel)
• Bottled: Tullahoma, Tennessee (George Dickel)
• Age: 15 Year Age Statement (Aged 17.5 Years)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, High Proof
• ABV:  96.2 Proof
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: The nose pops immediately with fruits galore: blackberry and currant, jammy berries, cherry and blueberry and rich cocoa, honey and oak. There’s tobacco, barrel char, black pepper and a root beer and cola character. The whole profile is deep, rich, brooding almost borderline armagnac-ish. Pleasant oak without drying bitterness for the age. Long finish that leans deeply into stewed fruits once more, heavy on blackberry and currant, fig / candied dates with black pepper, char and cola to round out the fruits and bring this pour home. Perfect for the colder weather. 

Week 49 – Bardstown Bourbon Company Single Barrel Barrel Proof Bourbon r/Bourbon Private Selection 

• Distilled: Bardstown Kentucky (BBC)
• Aged: Bardstown Kentucky (BBC)
• Bottled: Bardstown Kentucky (BBC)
• Age: 6 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
• ABV:  62.8% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A bruiser that’s loaded with char, tobacco and cola, the high rye pulls no punches on this barrel with a sprinkle of ethanol and then a deep dive into sweet cola, black pepper, pipe tobacco, orange peel and cherries, a hint of root beer, tobaccco and ginger. The palate is rich and viscous, the heat fates with a moment of air time, bringing loads of cherry, cola, fat spicy pepper, a creamy texture on the palate and a long, oaky, peppery finish. It’s rich through and through and while I’m salty the angels took more than their share, the yielding bottles are divine.

Week 48 – Starlight 24-8069 Honey Finished Barrel Strength Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana (Starlight)
• Aged: Indiana (Starlight)
• Bottled: Indiana (Starlight)
• Age: 4.5 Years + Honey Finish Time
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV:  115.5pf 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  A rich and bright whiskey, this was an easy selection for its complexity and heavy, balancing spice. Bourbon and honey are a tricky combination to pull off. This single barrel is loaded with oak, barrel char, savory spice. Tons of black pepper, baking spice, pleasant oak and a touch of char pop on the nose with sweet honey hopping in as well. There’s note of apple and pineapple, toffee, tobacco and char. The palate is pleasant and balanced once again – naturally rich and viscous with honey showing up strongest in flavor and not adding too much heavy syrupy-ness to the palate. Rich honey, toffee, baking spice, rich oak, a hint of fruits here as well and a long, spicy finish. 

Week 48 – Starlight 24-8088 6.5yr Double Oaked Barrel Strength Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana (Starlight)
• Aged: Indiana (Starlight)
• Bottled: Indiana (Starlight)
• Age: 6.5 Years 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV:  116.7pf 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  The first barrel I picked on this whiskey excursion, I couldn’t believe the age and richness on this bourbon. It’s easily the darkest Starlight I’ve seen that isn’t a sherry finish and it’s got this gorgeous combination of fat cocoa, toffee butter and spicy mocha all throughout. The nose is rich, it’s spicy and packed with caramels, brulee, rich dark fruits and cocoa. The palate carries deeper with more rich and heavy sweetness but there’s a pop of spice from the French Oak secondary barrel and it’s beautiful and rich. Long spicy finish that ties together the plentiful caramels and sweetness with strong oak, beautiful tobacco, a touch of fig and a whallop of mocha and natural barrel character.  

Week 48 – Starlight 24-2426 Tokaji Extended Finish Barrel Strength Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana (Starlight)
• Aged: Indiana (Starlight)
• Bottled: Indiana (Starlight)
• Age: 4.5 Years Traditional Aging + 2yr Tokaji Cask Aging
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV:  116.2pf 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  When I tasted this barrel at the hands of a smirking Andrew, my first and only reaction was a deep inhale. Whew. This barrel is rich and represents everything I really like about Tokaji. Their four grain bourbon meets a very long 2nd Fill Tokaji extended maturation, slowly, subtly and masterfully pulling tons of Tokaji character along with barrel influence without becoming a juicy syrup bomb. Fresh apples, honeyed pears, brioche, apricots, plums on the nose meets spicy pepper, sweet oak and a fresh baked pastry character. The palate is rich and velvety, coats wonderfully without sitting at a nutty proof, and without sitting syrupy. There’s apples, pears, vanilla bean, toffee, apple butter, cinnamon, apricot, warm rolls, flaky pastry and sweet oak all throughout. The finish is long, warming and rich with more oak, lovely fruits, brioche and sweet bready richness and honey. Gorgeous. 

Week 48 – Starlight 23-2102 Apricot Brandy Finished Barrel Strength Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana (Starlight)
• Aged: Indiana (Starlight)
• Bottled: Indiana (Starlight)
• Age: 5 Years Traditional Aging + Brandy Cask Finish
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV:  116.9pf 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Rich on the nose this is rye all the way. Big and spicy, rich and full of herbal rye character, big brown sugar and oak meets the lovely, warm, richness of Turkish Apricot Brandy. The palate is viscous, one of our higher proof finishes lately, carrying tons of rye spice and body with a lovely integration of Apricot brandy: honey, apricots, sweet plum, toffee, orange peel, baking spice and sweet oak. The finish is long, a beautiful combination of tangy stone fruits, apricots, honey, spicy oak and lovely baking spice and rye character. 

Week 47 – Angel’s Envy Single Barrel r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection 

• Distilled: Kentucky (Angel’s Envy)
• Aged: Kentucky (Angel’s Envy)
• Bottled: Kentucky (Angel’s Envy)
• Age: NAS
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, High Proof
• ABV:  55% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Opulent and heavy, this release is heavy on both oak and port, blending wonderfully into a rich dessert bomb; toffee, tobacco, cherry, some blackberry, rich port and oak come together. Palate is satisfying, layered, rich, gobs of caramel, pound cake, sweet oak, old rich nougat and raisin bread sherry richness. Long finish that’s balanced but bolder: combines big oak, red berries, cherries and blackberry with a hint of cocoa, black pepper and a gorgeous, desserty finish. The proof helps this whiskey stay balanced between oak and sweet and it’s oh so perfect for cooler nights and the approaching winter season. Pairs well with a fire. 

Week 47 – Compass Box x T8KE x William Schragis Presents: TRANSATLANTICISM

This whiskey is the follow up to our Scotch release from 2021 when I ventured to Scotland to pick one of the first Laphroaig Single Cask Releases. This spring, I ventured back across the pond to build this whiskey with friend and colleague Will Schragis and the Compass Box team/family and it is finally ready. I did a monster writeup about this whiskey specifically, so if you’re new, hit the link below and read up on it. 

To save about 10,000 words in this email, I’m going to link to the full story here. You can read the entire store of Transatlanticism at this link, from inception to creation to art and launch: all covered here. This is one of my most cherished creations, so give it a read if you haven’t already. 

As our first exclusive scotch release (the Laphroaig) was 8 years old and $250, I’m thrilled that this bottling is a blend of older and much older components and yet coming in much less expensive, even despite all of the custom art and designing we did (and that shit is not cheap). Enjoy this journey of whiskeys!

TX, TN residents, you can also purchase this in Austin, Dallas & Nashville. Info below! It’s our first program release to see traditional distribution (albeit limited) which is a huge step for the program. Each store *should* be making these available on Monday, so I would recommend that you call or visit in person and ask for a bottle, and if they have not yet stocked it, ask that they hold your name to ensure they know you are interested in this release. Supplies in TX and TN are extremely limited, so better safe than sorry. 

• Distilled: Scotland (Various)
• Bottled: Compass Box 
• Information: Blend of 
  • Extra Aged, High Proof 13yr Spice Tree (23.3%)
  • First Fill Moscatel Matured 9yr Linkwood (35.2%)
  • First Fill Vin Santo Cask Matured 9yr Clynelish (9.4%)
  • First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel Matured 13yr Clynelish (16.9%)
  • First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel Matured 25yr Miltonduff (15.2%)
• ABV: 51.1% ABV 
• Yield: 1032 Bottles Produced, 999 Bottles Available in The US, 840 Bottles Available Online
• Details: Natural Color, Non-Chill-Filtered
• The Schtick: With extreme optimism, together we produced “Transatlanticism”. This whiskey is designed to be loud and structured, woody and full of fruit, honeyed with a sense of balance. Only this meeting of the minds could weave together a spirit this bold.”
• Price: $199
• Retailer: SharedPour (Online), Austin Shaker (Austin, TX), Pogo’s (Dallas, TX) & tasting live at Whiskey Social w/ Will @ Project Optimist Booth (Houston, TX – tonight only) and Elixir (Nashville, TN). Please reach out to each of these stores if you’re interested in purchasing a bottle for yourself as TX and TN do not allow shipping of spirits into state and you will not be able to purchase online. If each store sells out their allocation, we will make sure that they get more inventory for program releases going forward (American whiskey included)
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: 
  • Nose: An orchard on the nose, there’s tons of waxed apple, pear, peach, plum and a heavy fig note. Minerality, lemon peel, vanilla cream, decadent malt, honey butter and toffee pair wonderfully, rich and layered. Spice dances on a deeper inhale, blending french oak, black pepper, a hint of ginger, and satisfying richness to pair with the sweet, waxy fruits of the nose. 
  • Taste: The palate is expressive, lively, visous and layered. Raisin bread, turkish delight, butter cake and candied figs sit heavily on the palate, the proof punches with heaviness and density rather than pinpricks, bringing together rich, savory, nutty sweet wine character, a balancing pang of acidity and gobs of rich oak, dates and a wisp of minerality. 
  • Finish: A long, flighty, finish – carries far and wide, deep and decadent. Red currants, apple and orange peel, gorgeous toffees, dates, raisin bread, french oak spice and lovely brioche, minerality and oak. 
  • Overall: It’s bold, it’s dense, it’s rich, and it’s the perfect balance of sweet desserts, decadent wine, fresh fruits with an acid punch and opulent, integrated tannin and waxed fruits. This is a special whiskey and one I’m thrilled we brought to life. 

Week 47 – Barrell Craft Spirits Double Barrel FOUNDATION Double Oaked Straight Bourbon

This barrel is special to me, because well, it’s two barrels. It’s Double Oaked Foundation. This whiskey was made to be exclusively sold in our program and seeks to pack big, natural, expertly produced flavor into a package that’s affordable, accessible, and just damn delicious. 

Double oaking is all the rage in the market, but once again my hat goes off to Barrell. Rather than be first, they’ve gone the path of preferring to be best. Like they did with their Cask Finish Amburana series, they took extra time to understand the ‘why’ of the finish and why people are attracted to it, and compiled a whiskey that took those elements while isolating the parts people didn’t like. It meant they didn’t launch during the hype or craze that Amburana saw, but it was very cool to see people who were burnt out on Amburana try their Cask Finish Series and say “ok, this is how amburana should have been all along”

The same is true for Double Oaking. 

When it comes to double oaking, you see a lot of “black as night” whiskeys out there. They get put into new barrels, and sometimes extra tricks are used, like staves, chips or cubes, to maximize the oak contact and ramp up the flavor. I don’t have an issue with it, but it’s not super clear to the drinker at the end of the day, and it tinkers with the mouthfeel and body in a way I don’t love. It’s just not for me. 

This bottling is an honest, double oaking. Foundation was produced, and a slice was pulled for re-entry into new oak barrels for several months to continue maturing in new oak and to become this Double Oaked release. That’s it. No heat cycling, no staves or cubes or chips, just barrels doing their barrel thing. I strongly believe that letting barrels sit and do their thing is always the right choice when it comes to maturation. It’s slower and much more expensive, but to me, it’s the right way. The only way. 

And … the end result is awesome. This is what double oaked bourbon should be to me, in my opinion. It’s bold, it’s rich, it’s got a great, natural viscosity that’s super satisfying and it’s priced extremely well. Pound for pound, this is probably the best value our program will see in 2024 and beyond. 

Original MSRP on this bottle was to retail for $54.99 but Barrell is showing some love to r/Bourbon and this will be $49.99. Again, once it is gone, it’s gone. It’s an exclusive to our group. Be warned, there are a number of fake-retailers out there on the web who trawl the TTB, take labels and put them in their stores at silly prices to farm clicks and back in stock notification signups, but the only place you can get this whiskey is through r/bourbon this week. 

• Distilled: Various (All USA, Bourbon)
• Aged: Kentucky (Barrell Craft Spirits)
• Bottled: Kentucky (Barrell Craft Spirits)
• Age: 5 Year Age Statement (Blend of 5-9yr Bourbons before Double Oaking)
• More Info: 100pf | Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives
• Mashbill: 73% Corn, 23% Rye, 4% Barley
• ABV:  50% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:
  • Nose: Brown sugar, maple, big cola, black pepper, some baking spice and sweet oak pop first on the nose. It’s rich, not too heavy, has a pleasant pop of vanilla bean, toffee, nougat and desserts, baking spice, honey. Grows richer as it sits, pleasant and dessert forward.
  • Taste: Palate is big and balanced. It’s rich yet natural, dense and layered without being syrupy. Sits really nicely at 50% ABV – strong and bold enough to bring together a lot of flavor without being punchy or raw. Sweet vanilla, baking spice, waffle cone, big cola, balancing spice, sweet toffee, waffle cone, cake batter, demerara sugar, some maple. The oak comes and fades, only to show again – really nicely integrated. Easy drinking but really rich. This has the texture to work really well in a number of cocktails: classics like an old fashioned but would 100% make a Lions Tail with this.
  • Finish: Long finish, heavy, rich, viscous with pleasant brown sugar, buttery caramels, tobacco, light honey and a final pop of oak. Really exceptionally balanced.   
  • Cocktail Recommendation: Old Fashioned, Lion’s Tale

Week 47 – Barrell Craft Spirits Grey Label 19yr Seagrass Limited Release [r/Bourbon Allocation]

This whiskey is a new limited release from Barrell, adding 3 more years of aging to Seagrass without jumping it into Gold Label territory (and the muuuch higher price that comes with it). This release is produced in tiny quantities compares to both Grey and Gold Seagrass. 

• Distilled: Canada
• Aged: Canada & Kentucky USA
• Bottled: Kentucky (Barrell Craft Spirits)
• Age: 19 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  64.15% ABV  
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: 
  • Nose: A bold, syrupy, rich and vivacious nose, there’s tons going on here. Bright pear, apricot, apple, beautifully bright but with the inclusion of baking spice, darker clover honey, and sweet oak.
  • Palate: Rich palate, there’s a lovely fusion of bright fruits and caramels, oak and killer baking spice and texture. Apples, pears, cinnamon, plentiful almond and apricot, hint of tobacco, bigger and richer and more viscous.
  • Finish: Long finish, the heat from 16 is tamed here with loads of baking spice, honey, baked apples, lovely spice and pleasant tannin and oak character. Spritely, bright, unabashedly Canadian, Seagrass, and incredible. 
  • Overall: A sweeter, richer Grey Seagrass that rounds out Grey Label’s previous unabashed punch of power. Absolutely killer stuff. 

Week 47 – Barrell Craft Spirits Black Label Toasted Seagrass r/Bourbon Exclusive Release 

This release takes the Seagrass we all know and love, dials it up, and extra-ages it for 20 months in toasted barrels, in an exclusive release for our group. Those who took part in our Texas dining events know what it’s all about as they, myself and the Barrell team are the only folks who have gotten to taste this release so far. This is the final of three Black Label whiskeys produced and released by Barrell this year. 

Black Label Toasted Seagrass is a limited release, featured in the Black Label line of releases alongside their recent 20yr Toasted Bourbon, and their 33yr Canadian, but unlike those two releases this will not be available in person or online through any platform other than r/Bourbon. 

This is a pretty wild privilege of the group as the Black Label whiskeys are Barrell’s rarest stocks and they’ll only do a couple each year (this is the last one of 2024). It comes with their “if corks were weapons” premium rubber/metal cork as well which is a nice touch as well. 

The whiskey itself is exquisite, and it’s been incredible to watch it as it’s progressed through production, its reception at our Texas dinners in Dallas & Austin, and now be ready to release. There was a LOT of uncertainty on what final yield might look like due to the extended finishing here, but I’m happy to see that the yield is big enough that folks should be able to get a bottle, maybe two (I will set limits based on survey turnout this weekend) because this is special stuff. This release has been an open secret I’ve been keeping when people ask about my favorite whiskeys to come and while it’s not cheap, I am confident you’ll find it worth the price just as Infinite, Grey Label Seagrass and others have stood up to folks receiving their bottles, tasting for themselves, and enjoying. 

• Distilled: Canada & Indiana
• Aged: Canada & Kentucky USA
• Bottled: Kentucky (Barrell Craft Spirits)
• Age: NAS (Blend of Rye Whiskies Finished in Toasted Barrels for 20 Months)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV: 59.56% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:
  • Nose: The big Kahuna of rye, this takes everything from Seagrass and dials it up, changes the script and updates the mood in every direction. Heavy on the nose, there’s tons of traditional Seagrass rye spice, the bold fruits pop, tons of spice and that zing of lively acidity and character. The toast character brings more richness to the nose with honey, cinnamon, a hint of pepper, rich caramels to balance out the high acid and pop of ethanol you find in traditional Seagrass.
  • Palate: The palate is complex and decadent, opulent and layered. Big honey joins traditional Seagrass’s grassy, citrus rambunctious character. Brown sugar meets rye, there’s lemon and lime but this new, gorgeous tobacco, oak, peppery and demerara character. The palate is denser, richer, feels incredible rounded and harmonious, powerful rye meets more Madeira notes, apple butter, cinnamon, toffee, peaches, pears and bright fruits and more herbal rye. 
  • Finish: Long finish that’s impressive and carries for an admirable duration: there’s so much going on and perfectly complimentary: Pears, apples, apricots meet nougat and spicy rye, heavy citrus, grassy funk, tons of oak and a beautiful combination of rich, full sweetness, vibrant and punchy spice and tons of fruit and tannin to meld without flaw. 
  • Overall: A juggernaut of Seagrass spice and character, it’s a bold take on a whiskey that became an instant classic to me. The Toasted Black Label is a bolder, richer, oakier release that builds on the concepts of Seagrass to deliver a more decadent Seagrass that’s heavier on oak and drinks more balanced and full than the punchier, more raw, Grey Label Seagrasses.  

Week 47 – Barrell Craft Spirits x T8KE: The Infinite Collection 3x200ml Custom Tasting Kit 

This release Is possibly the coolest of the bunch. At each time of bottling, there’s always a little liquid left over. We weren’t quite sure what we wanted to do with this initially, but the idea got tossed around that we harness that overflow volume and create a library collection. I loved the idea, but anyone who purchased Infinite definitely didn’t need 3 more 750ml bottles (or so I thought at the time).

So, I asked if we could do samples instead, and leverage the elegant new sample kits that Barrell is producing. But instead of core products, we’d include Infinite. At a killer price. That’s it, that’s the schtick. 

• Info: Contains 200ml of Barrell x T8ke Infinite I, II & III
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  Various (Sample ABV’s Match Each Infinite Release)  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• More Info On Infinite I
• More Info On Infinite II 
• More Info On Infinite III

Week 46 – Old Hamer 7 Year Single Barrel Barrel Proof r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Indiana (MGP)
• Aged: Indiana (West Fork Whiskey Company)
• Bottled: Indiana (West Fork Whiskey Company)
• Age: 7 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 99% Corn, 1% Malted Barley
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Big fat and rich on the nose, it’s buttery and loaded with baking spice, sweet caramels, rich waffle cone and a delectable praline and flan note. The palate is rich and buttery once more, viscous and pillowy, loaded with brown sugar, butter cream, toffee and nice, rich, oak. Long finish, some brisk pepper and baking spice rises here to balance the sweetness of the palate, bringing in more oak, toffee, and spice. Lovely, rich, dessert all day. 

Week 46 – Hugh Hamer Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rum Finished Bourbon r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Indiana (MGP)
• Aged: Indiana (West Fork Whiskey Company)
• Bottled: Indiana (West Fork Whiskey Company)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV:  60.29% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  A vibrant pop on the nose, big bourbon brown sugar, toffee, oak and honey that blends nicely with apple butter, faint cinnamon, a pop of light, tropical fruits, vanilla and some barrel char. The palate is rich and viscous, good deal of honey, oak, sweet brown sugar, some vibrant tropical fruit: mango, papaya as well as plum, apple, orange peel and heavier oak here. Long finish, balanced and brings together maple, tobacco, baking spice, bold oak, light fruits and a lovely complexity. 

Week 46 – Rare Character K21-034 “Blot Out The Sky” Single Barrel Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight r/Bourbon Private Barrel Selection

This barrel was distilled at an undisclosed Kentucky distillery and bottled at cask strength with no coloring or filtering. This art is part of my 2024 and 2025 Rare Character art series titled “Blackout”: a collection of single barrel bourbon and ryes that cut the crap, rumors, and AI shenanigans and focuses on just what’s important: the whiskey.

This is a bold, brazen, unabashed KY bourbon and while it won’t win awards for yield, every drop is a winner. I’ve attached a render of the image as well, since these don’t photograph so well despite looking sleek in person! 

• Distilled: Undisclosed Kentucky 
• Aged: Kentucky
• Bottled: Kentucky (Rare Character)
• Age: 7 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
• ABV:  60.93% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Vibrant, brash, and loud, this bourbon is filled with luxardo cherry, barrel char, big spice and tons of sweet maple. The palate is viscous and rich, there’s a touch of ethanol but it’s overshadowed by the boldness of barrel char, tobacco, honey, more rich decadent luxardo cherry, maple and rich caramels. The mouthfeel is the standout here, outstanding and rich, decadent layered. Long finish that winds together vanilla, cherry and oak and carries exceptionally. 

Week 46 – Rare Character TKO-042 “BLACKOUT” Single Barrel Barrel Proof Tennessee Straight Rye r/Bourbon Private Barrel Selection

This barrel marks the return of a whiskey dragon I am always chasing: cask strength Dickel Rye. It’s bottled by Rare Character and presents the highest proof TN rye we’ve released so far in the program. This art is part of my 2024 and 2025 Rare Character art series titled “Blackout”: a collection of single barrel bourbon and ryes that cut the crap, rumors, and AI shenanigans and focuses on just what’s important: the whiskey. Slice, sip and dice. This whiskey was dumped from its original barrel. No finishing.

I’ve attached a render of the image as well, since these don’t photograph so well despite looking sleek in person! 

• Distilled: Undisclosed Tennessee (Dickel)
• Aged: Tennessee & Kentucky (Rare Character)
• Bottled: Kentucky (Rare Character)
• Age: 8 Years, 10 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 70 / 25 / 5
• ABV:  67.72% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Fat, dirty nose, funky and rich, dank and dark. Tons of pipe tobacco, brown sugar, earthy pepper and oak; decadent, dark, heavy. The palate is driven by oak, pepper, cigar wrapper, brown sugar, vanilla bean, figs, dates, brulee. A hint of espresso. Vibrantly rye driven, heavy spice. The finish is char driven, heavy with caramel, funky rye, a touch of balsamic, cola, fig, plum, blackberry, ango, heavy oak and tobacco. Fat and sticky, heavy and dark, rich and complex. Ever made a Toronto (rye,fernet,simple,bitters)? Give it a go with this release. 

Week 45 – George Dickel 10yr Single Barrel Bourbon r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Tullahoma, TN (George Dickel)
• Aged: Tullahoma, TN (George Dickel)
• Bottled: Tullahoma, TN (George Dickel)
• Age: 10 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives
• ABV:  50% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Fresh honey, orange peel, blackberry, blueberry, cherry and a gob of vanilla, brown sugar, and pepper. The palate is rich and vibrant, sweet oak rather than bitter oak, light on minerality and heavy on dessert sweetness. Vibrant, long finish that reminds me of an Eagle Rare I selected many moons ago. Fresh and fruit forward, more blackberry, raspberry and orange peel with vanilla, spice and honey. 

Week 45 – George Dickel 17yr Single Barrel Bourbon r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Tullahoma, TN (George Dickel)
• Aged: Tullahoma, TN (George Dickel)
• Bottled: Tullahoma, TN (George Dickel)
• Age: 17 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives
• ABV:  50.6% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Heavy brown sugar sweetness, sweet tea, vanilla bean, rich waffle cone, honey and orange peel. A touch of ango, some brown butter and butterscotch. Palate is rich, heavy and oaky, viscous and layered. Heavy maple and demerara, brown butter, butterscotch and waffle cone with nougat. Long finish, black tea, tobacco, black pepper and gorgeous oak throughout. 

Week 45 – 100 Mill Street Barrel Sauternes Finished Gin ‘T8KE-02’ Single Barrel Bottling

• Distilled: Minneapolis, MN (100 Mill Street)
• Aged: Minneapolis, MN (100 Mill Street)
• Bottled: Minneapolis, MN (100 Mill Street)
• Age: 21 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, High Proof
• ABV:  57.5% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Vivid and bright still, this release is filled with citrus and cedar, cracked pepper and honey at first, with notes of sweet brioche and brulee, more citrus and cracked pepper, a touch of grapefruit and honey. The palate maintains the pillowy, satisfying viscosity and texture with more honey and bright citrus, a touch of juniper, sweet baking spice and more brioche and beautiful texture. The finish is long and silky once again, adding in a touch more barrel influence yet less bourbon influence with lemon, pepper, cedar, maple and a sparkle of grapefruit. I’m in love!

Week 45 – 100 Mill Street Limited Edition Spruce Tip Infused Gin (375ml)

• Their Words: Our newest exploration in extremely limited edition gins, this truly special iteration highlights another truly unique Northwoods ingredient for our maple-based gin. Hand-foraged by our team, spruce tips are the small buds of pine trees that grow only for a short time in early spring. Flavors of pine are met with a bright, citric quality, almost like a woodlands lime, and are a perfect compliment to our traditional 14 botanicals.
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich and creamy on the nose with sweet honey, zesty pepper, lovely citrus and a zing of spruce that balances and builds. The palate is silky and supple, the spruce adds additional spice, sap and botanical love here with a touch of pine and cedar, fresh spices and a long, crisp finish. It’s hard to describe in some ways yet easy to love, spruce builds on Mill Street’s foundation so nicely for a crisp, decadent, gin that’s fit for fall and makes a 50/50 martini like few others. 

Week 45 – 100 Mill Street Gin (750ml)

• Their Words: Our Gin is distilled in micro batches of just 26 gallons. This focused attention allows us to finely tune and tweak our botanicals on a nano level. Adjustments made, craftsmanship applied to guarantee that our Gin delivers that unique 100 Mill St smoothness. As the vapors pass through our botanical basket infusing flavors within the Gin we give praise to Valor Cog Flora. Roughly translated from its completely made-up origins, it means “Value with Botanicals.” However, there is a secret message within this imaginary Latin phrase. Each consonant and vowel represents a different botanical added to our selected northern juniper—this secret coalesces to produce what is described as Umami. (Pssst, you can tell others.)
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Powerful sap, vanilla bean, honey, leather, bright corn and some nice cracked pepper, light lime citrus. Honey, toffee, vanilla bean. Creamy qualities. Light berry – strawberry. Some lime. Then the faint juniper, cassia, light cardamom and some cracked pepper strikes in. Really nice transition. Medium in length, loaded with creamy notes once again. Honey, vanilla, cassia, light nuttiness and some pepper to close us out. Great body in the finish that wisps away cleanly.

Week 44 – Penelope Estate Collection 10yr Single Barrel “T8KE” r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged: Indiana
• Bottled: Indiana (Penelope Bourbon)
• Age: 10 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
• ABV:  53.8% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Fat, rich, oaky and lively, it’s clear why this crop of barrels held a place in Penelope’s reserves. Rich brown sugar on the nose meets barrel char, toffee, tobacco and tons of balancing baking spice, oak and creme brulee. The palate is viscous, heavy, rich and layered, it’s crammed full of sweet gingerbread, maple, rich demerara sugar, vanilla bean, and beautiful oak integration. Long finish, carries and carries and carries, waffle cone, toffee, barrel char and a hint of luxardo cherry sneaks in on the finish. 

Week 44 – r/Bourbon “1920’s Cigar Series” Art of the Spirits Prohibition Cigar Blend Private Barrel Selection 

We’re partnering with the team at Art of the Spirits one final time this year to release a cigar blend that I’m a big fan of. No amburana, instead a blend of finishes that marries well aged whiskey for a savory, deep, brooding whiskey that pairs perfectly with cooler evenings and cigars alike.

Having just returned from Cognac, France and spent a looot of time tasting a variety of producers takes on a Cognac cigar blend, it’s exciting to see that reflected back here in the states with bottlings like Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend and now this release. A blend of 19 year bourbon finished in rum, 19yr bourbon finished in tawny port, 20yr wheated bourbon finished in tawny port, and 19yr rye finished in Tokaji, this bottling is labeled Blend of Straight Whiskies as it is a bourye just like our first cigar blend, made with much younger whiskeys. 

Tokaji brings this gorgeous brioche and almond sweetness, rum brings great maples, light fruit, and baking spice and the tawny port (my favorite type of port) brings dark, tobacco and fig richness). Together, they create a rich, complex whiskey that’s a great blend of spirit, finish and tannin while straying far from over-oakiness. 

The final component of this release is that it continues to support the charitable angle that Art of the Spirits pursues in every bottling they do. Like our first Cigar Blend, a portion of proceeds will go to support TheFreedom13, in addition to the per-release WhiskeyForVets program that Art of the Spirits runs with each release – founder Richard Paul identifies a Veteran in need from the Colorado Springs area (nominations welcome) and brings them shopping for a day to ensure they have everything they need across food, water, supplies and toiletries, clothes, etc. With winter in Colorado approaching, this is especially valuable.

• Distilled: Missouri (Undisclosed)
• Aged: Missouri & Colorado 
• Bottled: Colorado (Art of the Spirits)
• Age: NAS (Blend of 19yr Bourbon, 20yr Wheated Bourbon, 19yr Rye)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
• ABV:  53.8% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Heavy and rich on the nose, an opulent mingling of sweet apple and brioche, rich molasses and tobacco, cinnamon, baking spice, caramel candies and a hint of espresso. There’s lovely oak structure, tons of viscosity on the palate with red berries, barrel char, tobacco, balanced sweetness and impressive spice. Tokaji, tawny port, and rum all combine here for a rich viscosity, complex blending of rich brioche character from the tokaji, rich berries and decadence from the port and pleasant baking spices and oak from the rum. The finish is long and brooding, and without a moment touching amburana it’s a full blooded cigar batch that’s perfectly suited for crisp nights.

Week 43 – Litchfield 6yr Bourbon Single Barrel r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Litchfield, Connecticut (Litchfield Distillers)
• Aged: Connecticut
• Bottled: Litchfield, Connecticut (Litchfield Distillers)
• Age: 6 Years 4 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV:  61% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  The first of their 6 year bourbon (distilled completely in house by Litchfield) this barrel was a cool project from start to finish. I spent most of my childhood growing up in Connecticut, so it was super cool to see a producer begin production and work up aged product that’s killer (and a killer deal) right here in Connecticut. Big blackberry, zesty pepper, honey and strong, mature oak settle in nicely against brioche sweetness, toffee, butter cream, blackberry reduction, tobacco and a hint of waffle cone. 

Week 43 – Knob Creek Single Barrel Select 8yr5mo “Everywhere & In Between” Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky
• Aged: Kentucky
• Bottled: Kentucky
• Age: 8 Years 5 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, 115pf
• ABV:  57.5% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Big and funky on the nose, this rye is packed with brown sugar, zesty rye spice, big oak and lovely funky rye, a touch of balsamic, cherry reduction and balancing spice. The palate is rich and oaky, heavy on rye character, funky and rich. Long finish that leans back to maple, balsamic, lovely fruits and balancing spice. 

Week 43 – Barrell Craft Spirits Private Release Ratafia De Champagne Single Barrel r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky & Indiana
• Aged: Kentucky
• Bottled: Kentucky (Barrell Craft Spirits)
• Age: NAS (Blend of 14-18yr KY and IN Whiskey, then finished)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  60.7% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Rich fig, honey, creme brulee, caramel candies and a sparkle of rich caramelized sugar. A favorite for a reason. These barrels are incredible, lending sweet caramels, light tannin, heavy oak, with a syrupy richness. Rich and textured, pleasant viscosity that weaves together fig, plum, raisins, poundcake and nougat. These releases have been epics for a reason and it’s become one of the releases I look forward to most from their barrel program every year. 

Week 42 – Hughes Belle of Bedford 12 Year 5 Month Cask Strength Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

This barrel is our oldest Hughes yet, and I’m pleased to share that while the age has gone up with another steep notch, the price is the same as our last. This rye is a love letter to old school rye fans who love big spice, big herbal rye character and tons of oak and stewed fruits. 

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged: Indiana & Pennsylvania (Hughes)
• Bottled: Pennsylvania (Hughes) 
• Age: 12 Years 5 Months 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV:  54.75% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Dillicious and dillightful, this is a big, bold rye that’s full of rye spice, textbook dill character and tons of oak, spice and tobacco. A strong step over our previous 10, 11 and 11.5yr ryes, the extra year of aging here brings heavier oak, richer sweetness while maintaining the herbal, dilly, rye spice that old school fans of rye love. Heavy and rich on the palate, there are layers and layers of icing, blackberry, funky rye spice, herbal dill, black tea and piles of cracked pepper with rich, dry, oakiness. Long finish that’s full of sweet toffee, funky blackberry and rye spice, heavy dill and old school rye spice and a hint of sweet cream and rich toffee sugars on the way out. 

Week 42 – High West Barrel Strength Bourbon Barrel Select Armagnac Finish r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection 

This release is our first High West since March of 2022, and represents a really cool evolution of the program. In the past, High West took moderately aged bourbon or rye and finished it in various wine barrels, etc. This new iteration of the program is a blend of whiskies, ours here is 6-10yr whiskey, that’s then finished. Ours is finished in Armagnac selections for a further 11 months, making this a hefty combination of age and prestige finishing barrel as Armagnac works so beautifully with bourbon. It’s likely it could be another two and a half years before we get another shot at a barrel with High West, so enjoy while you can! 

• Distilled: Various 
• Matured: Utah (High West)
• Bottled: Utah (High West)
• Age: NAS (Blend of 6-10 Year Whiskey, Finished 11 months in Armagnac)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength, Cask Strength
• ABV:  51.9% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich and savory, this release from High West has lots of complexity, and makes a perfect Fall pour. Rich maple on the nose with brown sugar, baking spice, honey and loads of tobacco with the deep, brooding complexity of the armagnac. Dark fruits, dates, plums, cola, cherry and black tea, plenty of oak and richness. Long finish, delicious stewed fruits blends with dark cocoa, rich toffee, a hint of black tea and more fig, date, blackberry and icing. Gorgeously rich. 

Week 41 – Pinhook 9yr Single Barrel Vertical Series r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

This barrel is our first actual single barrel with Pinhook and kicks off our fall release season with them. Aged 9 years and then some, this single barrel is an awesome blend of toffee, tobacco and barrel char, and stood our right away when rolling through samples with Sean Joseph’s from Pinhook. It’s also a great value, squeaking in under the $100 mark. 

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged: Kentucky (Pinhook)
• Bottled: Kentucky (Pinhook) 
• Age: 9 Years 5 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV:  58.4% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:   Rich on the nose, it bursts from the glass. Big toffee, tobacco, barrel char, honey, blackberry and caramel candies pops right away on the nose. The palate is rich and syrupy with a great mouthfeel, full of thick texture and plenty of brown butter, root beer candies, toffee and tobacco. Long peppery finish that balances out the sweetness with a touch more oak and decadent, delicious desserts. 

Week 41 – Four Gate Whiskey Company 8yr 9mo Double Oaked Bourbon Private Barrel r/Bourbon Selection

This release is an exciting step up from our first Four Gate earlier this year. Featuring an additional 21 months of aging, this release is then double oaked in a new Kelvin barrel. I’m thrilled we’re able to release this at the same price as our first bottling, and it’s one of the best double oaked releases of the year. Featuring a 75/20/5 bourbon mashbill (yep), this release swings for the fences. 

• Distilled: Undisclosed Kentucky, USA  (75/20/5)
• Matured: Kentucky, USA  (Four Gate) 
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA  (Four Gate)
• Age: 8 Years 9 Months 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength, Double Oaking in Kelvin Barrel
• ABV:  55% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Fat and heavy, this is a double oaked beast. Heavy toffee, tobacco, barrel char, cocoa, and a fudgy, rich, decadent nose. The palate is full of rich desserts, heavy oak and a touch of barrel char, demerara sugar, sweet cream, pepper and baking spice rounds out the profile. Heavy, powerful, rich. Long finish, more toffee, a touch of espresso and cocoa here with more oak, caramelized sugar and a decadent maple note exit. Viscous, rich and full of flavor without bludgeoning you with proof.  

Week 40 – Knob Creek 9yr Single Barrel Rye T8ke x TFI r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Clermont, KY  (Beam)
• Aged: Kentucky (Beam)
• Bottled: Kentucky (Beam) 
• Age: 9 Years 5 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Proofed
• ABV:  57.5% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A fat, funky rye, this release is all bass and full of spice, maple and big, bold blackberry fruits. Rich on the nose, heavy graham cracker, ginger, black pepper, maple and a crackle of baking spice. The palate is rich and oaky, the age is apparent right away, lacing together big, bold oak spice, lovely black pepper, funky tobacco and rye spice, a hint of blackberry and bold toffee. Long finish, heavy and oaky once more. Gorgeous and thick, rich and dark, and a reminder that Knob Creek Rye is finally all grown up.   

Week 40 – Frey Ranch Cask Strength Bourbon Single Barrel r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Nevada, USA  (Frey Ranch)
• Matured: Nevada, USA  (Frey Ranch) 
• Bottled: Nevada, USA  (Frey Ranch)
• Age: 6 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  61.63% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich cola, cherries, cocoa, beautiful pepper spice and heavy caramel on the nose. It’s big, fat, rich.  Rich on the palate again, lovely and deep. Heavy cola, sweet oak. caramel candies, brulee and brioche. Delighted to find Frey’s typical grain note absent, replaced instead with buttercream, brulee and caramelized sugar and barrel char. Long finish, rich and heavy with more cola, caramelized sugar, tobacco and toffee. 

Week 39 – Dancing Goat 8yr Limousin Rye Cherry Vanilla Bitters Finish r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Indiana  (MGP)
• Matured: Indiana & Wisconsin 
• Bottled: Wisconsin, USA (Dancing Goat)
• Age: 8 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  57.2% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A big burst of rye spice, fruit and oak on the nose, this one’s a wild release. Sweet honey, baking spice, rye spice and a pop of pepper crackle in before tart cherry. A year and a half older rye paired with the cherry here works wonders, bringing along cherry cola, Luxardo cherry syrup, sweet vanilla and a rich pop of spice. Using higher aged rye components works really well here, and preserves and amplifies the complexity, while adding more bitters nuance throughout. Long finish that’s loaded with tart and juicy cherry, balancing vanilla and plenty of rye spice. 

Week 39 – Dancing Goat 9yr Limousin Rye Cherry Bitters Finish r/Bourbon Private Selection

This barrel is an unblended portion of our bitters blend so you an try it on its own. It’s short in volume!

• Distilled: Indiana  (MGP)
• Matured: Indiana & Wisconsin 
• Bottled: Wisconsin, USA (Dancing Goat)
• Age: 9 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  57% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: The more aromatic of the two ‘single bitters’ selections, there’s heavy luxardo, big baking spice, pepper, candied ginger and a pop of sweet honey. Super rich on the palate, loaded with tannin, baking spice, toffee, more cherry, tart fruit acidity and gorgeous tannin and viscosity. Really rich on the palate, long finish that’s loaded with sweet oak, rye spice and cracked pepper, and more rich cherry. 

Week 39 – Dancing Goat 8yr Limousin Rye Vanilla Bitters Finish r/Bourbon Private Selection

This barrel is an unblended portion of our bitters blend so you an try it on its own. It’s short in volume!

• Distilled: Indiana  (MGP)
• Matured: Indiana & Wisconsin 
• Bottled: Wisconsin, USA (Dancing Goat)
• Age: 8 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  57.9% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: The masterful balancer of this blend, the vanilla dials up the viscosity and balances out the rye spice beautifully. Lovely and fall forward, this release pushes spice first with undertones of vanilla bitters that round out the oak, cracked pepper and generous rye spice. Palate is rich and viscous, with the herbal rye spice falling off and bringing in sweet oak, maple, gorgeous sweet praline and some decadent vanilla as well. Finish is long and carries remarkably. A perfect neat pour, and turns a Manhattan into a gem. 

Week 39 – George Dickel Single Barrel 9yr Bourbon r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Tullahoma, TN  (George Dickel)
• Bottled: Tullahoma, TN, (George Dickel) 
• Age: 9 Year Age Statement
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives
• ABV:  50% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Huge toffee and brulee on the nose, it’s a pleasant blend of caramel, sweet tea, orange peel, bright pepper, moderate oak and pralines. Palate is rich and full, plenty of oak without any bitterness, loaded with baking spice, warm pastry, orange peel, a touch of mocha, toffee and more sweet tea and brulee. The finish is long, a bit more oak here, with tons of fruit and sweet toffee. 

Week 39 – George Dickel Single Barrel 15yr Bourbon r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Tullahoma, TN  (George Dickel)
• Bottled: Tullahoma, TN, (George Dickel) 
• Age: 15 Year Age Statement (17 Years)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives
• ABV:  52.3% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: The older, bolder, oakier cousin to our other Dickel this week, this is like a black foreset cake with tons of cocoa, icing, toffee, oak and tobacco. It’s loaded with brioche sweetness on the palate, nice pillowy texture that balances heavy rich sweetness with gobs of oak. Caramel, nougat, toffee on the finish with balancing spice, ginger, black tea and tobacco. 

Week 39 – Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon T8ke x TFI r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Clermont, KY  (Beam)
• Aged: Kentucky (Beam)
• Bottled: Kentucky (Beam) 
• Age: 9 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Proofed
• ABV:  60% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A classic Knob Creek profile with a twist, this release sits heavy on the caramel, toffee and peanut brittle and funk of Knob Creek and adds a peppery twist. The nose is rich with oak, butter cake, toffee and heavy caramels, blackberry and peanut brittle. The palate is rich and layered, pleasant for 60% ABV and complex. There’s big oak, peppery spice, toffee, tobacco and more peanut brittle and caramels left and right. Long finish that’s a rich combination of rich dessert, toffee and a pop of tobacco and pepper. Looooong finish. 

Week 39 – “Rezpiral Destilado de Agave Simeon Ramirez Tobaziche “The Dream Of A River” T8ke Hand Selected Exclusive Batch

• Distiller: Simeon Ramirez
• Community: San Agustin Amatengo, Oaxaca
• Maguey (Agave): Tobaziche
• Mille: Combination of machete by hand, mechanical milling
• Cook: 2 days, earthen oven, black oak burn
• Fermentation: 4 days, cypress tanks 
• Distillation: Single pass distillation, refrescadera still
• Distilled: November 2024
• ABV:  47.5% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom T8ke Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:Rich on the nose and loaded with minerality, cotton candy sweetness, a pang of salinity and savory herbs, gorgeous limestone and rainwater with a light, fruity pop of tropical fruits and honey. The palate is effervescent, bright and a cornucopia of rich pepper, bright tropical fruit, minerality, some pepper and lovely sweetness. Long finish, cedar, slate, lemon, lime, rock candy sweetness, a touch of mesquite smoke and gorgeous savory spice.  

Week 38 – Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Private Selection Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Lynchburg, TN (Jack Daniels)
• Matured: Lynchburg, TN (Jack Daniels)
• Bottled: Lynchburg, TN (Jack Daniels)
• Age: 6 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Proofed
• ABV:  94pf   
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich and decadent nose, orange peel, honey roasted peanuts, brittle, toffee, sweet cream, sweet caramels and butterscotch pop with a touch of pepper and barrel char. The palate is moderate in viscosity, the ethanol is dialed way down, replaced by big, sweet, cream, honey, light sweet oak, toffee, tobacco and a hint of peanut brittle, bananas foster and creme brulee. Long finish that’s a combination of honey, oak and sweet cream. Nights are a touch cooler here, pairs perfectly with black walnut bitters and demerara for an old fashioned with no proof adjustment necessary! 

Week 38 – Corbin Cash 8yr Cask Strength Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Atwater, CA (Corbin Cash)
• Matured: Atwater, CA (Corbin Cash)
• Bottled: Atwater, CA (Corbin Cash)
• Age: 8 Years 6 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  68% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A big, sticky, sweet, luscious rye thats powerful and packed with character this Corbin Cash single barrel is punchy and bright, heavy and rich. Heavy cream, maple, brown sugar blends with lovely char, cracked pepper, a punch of black tea and herbal rye with a huge nose. The palate is rich and sticky, it’s chewy and viscous, heavy with herbal rye spice, heavy sweet caramels and brulee, nice tobacco and a pile of rye funk. The finish is long, powerful and heavy, packed with character and boldly hanging around. This is a bruiser, and its one of our best ryes of the year.

Week 38 – Green River 6 Year Single Barrel Cask Strength r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Owensboro, KY (Green River)
• Matured: Owensboro, KY (Green River)
• Bottled: Owensboro, KY (Green River)
• Age: 6 Years (July 3rd 2018 – July 24th, 2024)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• Mashbill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
• ABV:  66% ABV | 132pf   
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Heavy caramel, sweet oak, toffee, cinnamon, big bakings pice and a touch of cherry. It’s heavy, rich and char driven. The palate is viscous, rich and loaded with maple, brown butter, vanilla bean, toffee and more of that char, cherry and tobacco. Long finish that’s far from hot, loaded instead with sweet oak, toffee and snickerdoodle cookie, cinnamon and some barrel char. Delicious, a big big whiskey. 

Week 37 – Rebel Cask Strength Limited Edition “K2” r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Heaven Hill)
• Matured: Kentucky, USA (Lux Row)
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Lux Row)
• Age: 5 Years, 4 Months  
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  63% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Punchy and rich on the nose, this release is heavy on brown sugar, big toffee, a pinch of cinnamon, and tons of caramel. The palate is rich, it’s layered and syrupy, the proof is pleasant and adds this bold richness. Gobs of taffy, caramel, toffee, honey and a light pinch of cinnamon persists, this is solidly in that wheater profile where sweetness and spice bundle together. Long finish, rich again and full of toffee, spice, caramel and a pinch of maple. 

Week 37 – Rebel Cask Strength Limited Edition “Everest” r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

This barrel is the older of the two although a touch lower proof. If you can call 60% ABV low proof at all. This is an oakier, more heavily structured wheater that’s anything but meek. 

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Heaven Hill)
• Matured: Kentucky, USA (Lux Row)
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Lux Row)
• Age: 5 Years 11 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  60% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Pleasant oak, tobacco, toffee and maple pop first on the nose with decadent waffle cone popping as well. The palate is rich, a touch drier with some oak, tobacco, butter cream and maple candies. There’s a hint of nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, and a long finish full of sweet oak, cake batter and a pinch of cinnamon. 

Week 37 – Starlight Single Barrel Bourbon Barrel Proof r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (Starlight Distillery)
• Matured: Indiana, USA (Starlight Distillery)
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (Starlight Distillery)
• Age: 4 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  118.6% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Gorgeous on the nose, there’s a bouquet of brown sugar, apple, pear, plum, maple and sweet, soft, spice. Sweet and rich, enticing. Rich on the palate, it carries this unique rich texture that melds together fruit and sweetness with great viscosity without being this big, syrupy, oak bomb. Devoid of any youth notes despite the age, it’s a lovely sweet, nuanced, layered and complex bourbon with tons of maple and brown sugar. Long supple finish with more great texture. 

Week 37 – Starlight Single Barrel Honey Finished Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (Starlight Distillery)
• Matured: Indiana, USA (Starlight Distillery)
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (Starlight Distillery)
• Age: 4 Years + Honey Finish
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  115.1% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A pop of fresh clover on the nose, this bourbon blends spice and sweetness pleasantly. The honey influence here brings a lovely floral character, rich sweetness and a hint of clove and spice. The palate is pleasant, rich, layered, not too thick from the honey finish with a pleasant viscosity. sweet caramels, pleasant floral character, a light hint of pepper and some sweet honey spice. Long finish, rich here with a touch more sweetness, clean and crisp.

Week 37 – Starlight Single Barrel 1948 Brandy Finished Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (Starlight Distillery)
• Matured: Indiana, USA (Starlight Distillery)
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (Starlight Distillery)
• Age: 5 Years 6 Months + 1948 Cask Spanish Brandy Finish
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  112.3% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Dark and deep, this is a finish for fans of big whiskeys. The nose is heavy on plum, dark fruits, sweet tobacco, pleasant clove and pepper, some fig and stewed fruits. The palate is rich and savory, a great blend of sweetness, oak and savory spices. Long finish, laces together rich tobacco, dark fruits and fig, plum and currant, big pepper spice and a pillar of oak.  

Week 36 – Blue Note Uncut “The Cherry On Top” r/Bourbon Single Barrel Barrel Proof Bourbon

A great Blue Note selection never misses, with an incredible combo of age, proof, price and quality. This 5 Year Owensboro distilled Kentucky Straight bourbon is the final scoop on a sundae of awesome, wrapping up our Blue Notes from 2023 and 2024. This barrel had a great yield as well, making it the perfect scoop. 

• Distilled: Owensboro, KY (Green River)
• Matured: Kentucky, USA (Green River)
• Bottled: Tennessee, USA (Green River)
• Age: 5 Years 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  57.75% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Big honey, sassafras, root beer, toffee and a hint of waffle cone, this single barrel is a fizz of sweet fruits, sweet oak, plenty of spice and a final dessert kick. The palate is rich, a little less spritely due to lower ABV than previous barrels, full of vanilla cream, berry, honey, cherry, orange peel and some strawberries and cream. Long finish that bundles together root beer, cola, ginger and a pop of butterscotch and brioche. 

Week 36 – Blue Note r/Bourbon x Walk To End Alzheimer’s #ENDALZ Single Barrel Barrel Proof Bourbon

• Distilled: Owensboro, KY (Green River)
• Matured: Kentucky, USA (Green River)
• Bottled: Tennessee, USA (Green River)
• Age: 5 Years 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  57.75% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom Walk To End Alzheimer’s Labeling 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Lavish and loaded with maple, brown sugar, tobacco, black pepper, a prickle of ginger and a big root beer character on the nose. Palate is lightly oaky, heavy on caramel, baking spice, butter scotch and brown butter, waffle cone and more of that lovely owensboro root beer and cherry. Killer finish that’s long lived and loaded with vanilla bean and demerara sugar. 

Week 36 – Backbone 9 Year r/Bourbon Single Barrel Barrel Proof Bourbon Selection

• Distilled: Lawrenceburg, IN (MGP)
• Matured: Indianapolis, USA (Backbone)
• Bottled: Indianapolis, USA (Backbone )
• Age: 9 Years, 1 Month 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  60.6% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Heavy toffee on the nose, it’s big, brash, rich and loaded with character. The palate is thick, rich, viscous, packed with maple candies, tobacco, big sweet toffee, caramelized sugar and a hint of cocoa and espresso. The finish is long, a hint of spice and nice structure, plenty of oak, maple, toffee and a decadent pipe tobacco, cherry and cake batter on the finish. I keep considering a cocktail for this release but each time I pour it, I seem to just pick up the glass and walk away. 

Week 36 – Herradura Reposado Single Barrel Tequila r/Bourbon Selection

• Distilled: Jalisco, MX (Herradura)
• Matured: Jalisco, MX (Herradura)
• Bottled: Jalisco, MX (Herradura) 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Proofed
• ABV:  40% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Orange peel and minerality on the nose, sweet cream, honey, rainwater, peach, light crackle of pepper and some honey. Crisp mouthfeel, nice blend of peach, honey, minerality and a pop of orange peel. Medium finish, clean and crisp with a final touch of apple, pear, peach and pleasant light oak. Great neat, crushes a paloma.

Week 36 – Domaine de Charron 1996 27 Year Old Cask Strength Armagnac Selection T8ke Reserve Collection Private Select

• Distilled: France (Domaine de Charron)
• Matured: France  (Domaine de Charron)
• Bottled: France (Domaine de Charron ) 
• More Info: Single Cask, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• Additional Info: Distilled from Baco Grapes
• ABV:  48.7% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Bold and desserty on the nose, there’s a rich old oak, big cherry cola, a hint of barrel char and a touch of tobacco. The palate is moderate in proof, these lower proof, old single barrels have a presence to them that is rich and satisfying without that fat, numbing, texture of extremely high proof, tannic releases. Plenty of tannin, sweet cream, a hint of morello cherry and cocoa. Long, masterpiece finish. 

Week 36 – Domaine de Charron 1992 31 Year Old Cask Strength Armagnac Selection T8ke Reserve Collection Private Select

• Distilled: France (Domaine de Charron)
• Matured: France  (Domaine de Charron)
• Bottled: France (Domaine de Charron ) 
• More Info: Single Cask, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• Additional Info: Distilled from Baco Grapes
• ABV:  48.4% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Woodier with more developed fruit, this release takes four more years in oak and demonstrates the tremendous depth that Armagnac can have. Rich brown sugar, old oak, dank dark cherry, sweet cola, pleasant rancio, deep syrupy peppery blackberry. Long finish that’s heavy, rich and full of cassis, black pepper, tobacco and cola. 

Week 36 – Domaine de Charron 1989 33 Year Old Cask Strength Armagnac Selection T8ke Reserve Collection Private Select

• Distilled: France (Domaine de Charron)
• Matured: France  (Domaine de Charron)
• Bottled: France (Domaine de Charron) 
• More Info: Single Cask, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• Additional Info: Distilled from Baco Grapes
• ABV:  47.1% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: The crown jewel of the collection, this release stews together everything I love in armagnac. Heavy cola, morello cherry, blackberry, cassis, fig, currant and plum come together with tobacco, brown sugar, rich cola and a dose of oak that’s well integrated. The palate is rich, a heavy viscosity that’s layered and viscous. Gorgeous blackberry, some pepper, decadent cola and maple with sweet pipe tobacco and a long, heavy, oaky finish. This profile won’t be around forever in Armagnac, but the finish sure will be. This thing can carry. 

Week 36 – Bardstown Bourbon Company Single Barrel Rye Selection 

• Distilled: Bardstown, KY (BBC)
• Matured: Bardstown, KY (BBC)
• Bottled: Bardstown, KY (BBC )
• Age: 6 Years 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  59.9% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon x TPB Sticker
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Big and fruity on the nose, spearmint, big pepper, ginger, lovely rye spice and a hint of orange peel and pear. Pleasant baking spice and nutmeg. The palate is rich and the proof is sneakin’ here – big rye spice again, cocoa, and caramel notes, pleasant fruits and brown sugar. Orange peel, apple bake, and honey. The finish is long and spice driven, apple bake, cinnamon, toffee, buttercream. A pop of spice to send it off. 

Week 35 – Bye Week

Week 34 – George Dickel 15yr Single Barrel Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Tennessee, USA (George Dickel)
• Matured: Tennessee, USA (George Dickel)
• Bottled: Tennessee, USA (George Dickel)
• Age: 15 years (17 yrs actual)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives
• Barrel: 06-C31- 14002
• ABV:  50.6% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Big and heavy on the nose, tons of sweet tea, black tea, honey, orange peel, orange bitters, a pop of graham cracker, maple and a pop of oak. I like how expressive these are on the nose without being total oak overloads. The palate is rich, the proof settling at 50.6% brings a nice structure and complexity. Maple, brown sugar, tobacco, sweet tea and cracked pepper roll on through. The finish integrates a bit more orange peel, big oak structure here with pleasant vanilla bean, cracked pepper and a hint of cinnamon. 

Week 34 – Copper Sky 17 Year American Hazmat Light Whiskey Single Barrel  r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Matured: Indiana & Colorado USA (MGP & Copper Sky)
• Bottled: Colorado, USA (Copper Sky)
• Age: 17 Years, 6 Months 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  70.2% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Sneaky on the nose, this cask is full of brown butter, demerara, maple and vanilla bean. Creamy and sweet on the nose with a pop of cola and cracked pepper. Rich on the palate, the proof sneaks by once again as it did me during tasting. I’ve had a couple of these casks now and this one shows a lot more restraint on the proof than the rest I’ve tried. Great combination of sweet caramel and cola, there’s a pleasant bit of oak but not overbearing. The finish is long and rich, packed with caramel candies, butterscotch, sweet oak, honey and a final bit of brown butter and pepper. 

Week 33 – Dancing Goat 8 Year Limousin Rye Sorghum & Sassafras Bitters Finish r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Matured: Wisconsin, USA (Dancing Goat)
• Bottled: Wisconsin, USA (Dancing Goat)
• Age: 8 years 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  58.5% ABV  
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Rock candy, demerara sugar, a crackle of rye spice, honey and ginger pop on the nose. It’s decadent, spicy, loaded with character without being overbearing. Butterscotch, cinnamon and a pop of nutmeg hang on. The palate is rich, loaded with apple, pear, honey, caramels and butterscotch, candied ginger and a delicious pop of oak. Long finish, the rye spice brings things back from a pleasantly sweet and spicy palate, there’s more ginger, rye spice, toffee and a hint of ginger beer on the finish. My recommendation to split base with barrel proof rye for cocktailing, enjoy this on a cube with lime, or enjoy neat stands as this rye is a beauty that rides the line of unique and interesting masterfully. 

Week 32 – Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, Barrel Proof, Rye r/Bourbon Selection

This barrel  represents one of my favorite releases from a major brand in years. While many of you didn’t get to taste our first Jack Daniel’s Rye from the summer barrel slam last summer, I’m glad that we have another of these available now. We’ll also have another JD Rye all our own, through SharedPour this winter, but that’s a ways off. 

Jack Daniel’s rye is produced from 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley, so it’s a rye through and through. It’s a big one, huge in proof and flavor, and represents a killer rye that’s as complex and bold as any bourbon before it. 

• Distilled: Tennessee USA (Jack Daniel’s)
• Matured: Tennessee USA (Jack Daniel’s)
• Bottled: Tennessee USA (Jack Daniel’s)
• Age: NAS
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  132.9pf | 66.45% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Rich honey and maple up front with tobacco, sweet cream and a pile of oak. Rye drives up on the palate with heavy rye spice, sweet maple and demerara sugar, barrel char, heavy spice and decadent oaky sweetness. I’m amazed how big and full these ryes are, loaded with spice and sweetness, just enough char and oak to be uber complex. Long finish, absolutely packed with tobacco, sweet oak, maple and heavy baking spice and a crackle of rye. Big on oak, spice and sweetness, minimal herbal character, no mintiness or dill. Heavy, fat, decadent, powerful and oh so sneaky easy to drink despite being 130+pf. 

Week 31 – Barrell Craft Spirits “T8ke Grey Label Infinite” 17 Year Whiskey – Chapter II: Ratafia de Champagne 

Our second release with Barrell this year in a custom bottling, this is the second release of Grey Label Infinite to exist on the market. It also bears an age statement. The youngest component of this whiskey is 17 years old, and it represents one of the most exciting bottlings I’ve have the privilege of working on with the Barrell Craft Spirits team. My hat goes off to Nic Christiansen who was the driving force behind this final blend and it is a masterpiece. It’s a privilege to work with Barrell on these releases, and I’m excited to unveil our most daring release yet, exclusively for us. This project started in May of 2023, so it’s a long time coming. 

With last year’s T8ke Private Bourbon blend and the 10th Anniversary blend, I was encouraged by reception and committed to think bigger, and to put more time and effort into creating a couple pillared releases that are true exclusives to our group. Barrell shares that vision and our first question was: “but how do we go bigger than last year?” It wasn’t long before we were discussing the first grey label private release for a group. At this tier in their production, nothing was off limits. 

If you’ve never seen packaging like this before, it’s because it’s exclusive to our group entirely. 

The components for this blend are insane. And, yet, we were able to be very aggressive with the pricing. This will come in under last year’s promotional Seagrass Grey Label pricing and our second release one again yielded 1,005 bottles. I say second, because this is the second chapter of a story we’re telling all year long. There will be one more chapter after this release, dropping in Fall of 2024. The first chapter dropped in March. 

This release features Ratafia de Champagne as the finish, which has been one of my favorite finishes of all time, and represents one of the most popular finishes in our program. It’s a French liqueur produced in Champagne, France that’s rich, decadent, balanced and super opulent. 

This release is bottled in true Grey Label fashion. Gold foiled labels, display box with gold foiling, and that weaponized metal/rubber cork. 

Blend Components: 

• Tennessee Bourbon: 17 Years
• Indiana Bourbon: 17 Years
• Canadian Rye: 17 Years
• Canadian Whiskey: 17 Years
• Scottish Whiskey: 22 Years
• Canadian Whiskey: 24 Years

This blend was composed and married, before another portion was pulled for finishing in Ratafia de Champagne casks. That portion comprises the second chapter of 2024’s Grey Label Infinite project for r/Bourbon. It is avant-garde, it is unique and it is unlike any other whiskey you’ll try. The final chapter this fall will continue to add and build upon this continued architecture, with the addition of the oldest ky bourbon this program has seen and one final finish. 



I present to you, Infinite Chapter II. It will go quickly, and it will release at 12pm Central this coming Monday. There is enough inventory we don’t need the wave system as there will be plenty of time for y’all to checkout for this release but it will likely sell out same day. So, set your calendars, and get set. If for some reason this goes faster than last time, we’ll implement waves for the final release this year. 

• Distilled: Various
• Aged In: Various
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Barrell Craft Spirits)
• Details: Cask Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering
• ABV: 59.11% ABV 
• Age: 17 Years
• Yield: 1,005 Bottles minus safety case holdbacks.
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Expressive, bold, almost musical. The nose is packed with honeyed oranges, sweet cream, apricots, rich tobacco, satisfying brioche and opulent demerara sugar. A hint of cracked pepper and baking spice lead into caramel apple, toffee, icing, sweet oak and a blast of clover honey. The palate is chewy, monstrous, rich and decadent. Layers of honey, apple, tobacco, demerara and brioche combines with brown butter, brulee. It’s bolder, richer, more layered than Infinite I and it bakes in this decadent sweetness, richness and texture, amping up the mouthfeel and the richness from Chapter 1. The finish is long, full of spice, sweetness, rich dessert and lovely, harmonious oak. Baked apple, bold tannin, brioche and brown butter see this pour out. A completely evolutionary growth from the first release to this release, in an ever expanding, ever complex, Infinite bottling. 

Week 30 – 100 Mill Street Barrel Finished Gin ‘T8KE-01’ Single Barrel Bottling

• Distilled: Minneapolis USA (100 Mill Street)
• Matured: Minneapolis, USA (100 Mill Street) 
• Bottled: Minneapolis, USA (100 Mill Street)
• Age: 17 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  57.5% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Gorgeous and bright, creamy and filled with maple and honey, bright citrus, a crackle of cedar, cracked pepper and buttercream. The barrel contributes pleasant baking spice, a touch more honey and adds really satisfying viscosity here. The palate is rich, juniper is far from dominant as the fresh citrus, cracked pepper, sweet baking spice and honey take center stage. Long, silky, finish – honey, buttercream, fresh grated cinnamon, lemon, pepper, maple and a hint of cedar. Super rich.  

Week 30 – Copper & Cask MF-761 7 Year Single Barrel Bourbon r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Indiana USA (MGP)
• Matured: Florida USA (Copper & Cask)
• Bottled: Rhode Island USA (Copper & Cask)
• Age: 7 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  62.7% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  A butterscotch and honey bomb, this barrel opens with huge cola character, big spice, pleasant sweet oak and gobs of tobacco, vanilla bean, creme brulee and old, decadent, cigar box. The palate is rich and viscous, the high proof is sneaky but satisfying: it presents a chewy, oily palate that’s rich and satisfying. Long, cherry cola and birch beer driven finish. 

Week 30 – Copper & Cask MF-573 7 Year Single Barrel Bourbon r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Indiana USA (MGP)
• Matured: Florida USA (Copper & Cask)
• Bottled: Rhode Island USA (Copper & Cask)
• Age: 7 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  62.4% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  Heavy on cola but a bit more savory, this barrel leans a touch less into the char driven oak side of things and dials up the sweetness. Cola, root beer, salted caramel, pleasant oak and baking spice sit on the palate with a satisfying mouthfeel though slightly less ‘chewy’. Long finish with cherry cola, more root beer and honey, lovely creme brulee and a touch of cocoa as well. 

Week 30 – Copper & Cask MF-800 9 Year Single Barrel Bourbon r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Indiana USA (MGP)
• Matured: Florida USA (Copper & Cask)
• Bottled: Rhode Island USA (Copper & Cask)
• Age: 9 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:   63.5% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes:  The epitome of opulent, this whiskey is big everything. Heavy oak, bold tannin, sweet cream, pungent cigars and creme brulee. There’s cola, tobacco, a crackle of pepper, deep fruits like blackberry, currant, fig, and apricot. The finish is long and heavy, driven by fudgy oak, decadent tobacco, more cola and a hint of barrel char. Rich palate, chewy, oily, heavy, dense and rich. Whew. 

Week 29 – River Roots 13 Year Hazmat Malt r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: California USA (Undisclosed) 
• Bottled: Ohio USA (River Roots) 
• Age: 13 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength, Hazmat Proof
• ABV:  74.02% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Bold maple and tobacco storm in right from the get go with tons of big cherry, cola, cigar wrapper and baking spice on the nose. Wild and rich, opulent. The palate is viscous and layered, extra complex and oddly well behaved for a 148pf whiskey, far from punishing. Bold tobacco, toffee, honey, caramels and loads of vanilla and brittle candy. 

Week 28 – Still Austin Cask Strength r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Texas USA (Still Austin) 
• Aged In: Texas USA (Still Austin) 
• Bottled: Texas USA (Still Austin) 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Cask Strength
• ABV:  58% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Gorgeous black tea and honey on the nose, writhing with a bit of cola and root beer. It’s spritely, sweet, complex and has just enough cola and char on the nose to have stuck right out when picking. The palate is rich and dark, there’s pleasant oak here, it’s bold and char driven without any bitterness or youth. Cola and root beer pop once more with sweet tea, cracked pepper, a hint of cocoa and more pleasant root beer float character. It’s rich, dark, barrel driven but perfectly balanced. Long finish, gobs of cola, pepper, more black tea / sweet tea, a touch of graham cracker and waffle cone and a sweet, tobacco finish. Hats off to Nancy and Still Austin on this one, as they’re one potent team. 

Week 28 – Angel’s Envy r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky USA (Angel’s Envy) 
• Aged In: Kentucky USA (Angel’s Envy) 
• Bottled: Kentucky USA (Angel’s Envy) 
• Age: NAS
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, High Proof
• ABV:  55% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Decadent and rich, this toffee and nougat bomb is packed with pound cake, tobacco, cherry and oak before the port punches through. Rich mouthfeel, the proof is present but sneaks around – it’s satisfyingly rich and easy to drink without punching you in the jaw. Layered, pleasant texture that’s filled with caramel, red berries, pound cake and a touch of tobacco. Really well balanced, with plenty of bourbon showing alongside the port character. Why they don’t make these more available boggles me, but I’m glad it’s back in the program. 

Week 26 – George Dickel 15yr Single Barrel r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Tennessee USA (George Dickel) 
• Aged In: Tennessee USA (George Dickel) 
• Bottled: Tennessee USA (George Dickel) 
• Age: 15 Year Age Statement
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives
• ABV:  50.6% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Big honeyed fruit on the nose, rich with cherry, orange peel, lemon zest and big clover honey. Black tea, a touch of maple, big oak and sweet cream. The palate is viscous and layered, full of oak but not too much oak. Lovely combination of dry tannin, sweet tea, a touch of tobacco, big pepper and satisfying orange peel. Long finish, heavy and opulent, more sweet cream, honey and sweet tea driven here. 

Week 25 – Starlight 7yr Bourbon Pear Brandy Finish r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana USA (Starlight) 
• Aged In: Indiana USA (Starlight) 
• Bottled: Indiana USA (Starlight) 
• Age: 7 Years + Pear Brandy Finish
• More Info: Cask Strength, Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives
• ABV:  119.6 pf
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Gorgeous structure on the nose: big oak, sweet maple, vibrant cracked pepper and balancing acidity and a pop of light fruit from the Pear Brandy cask. The palate is rich and viscous, the proof shows through a complex, layered palate. Not quite chewy, but there’s a really pleasant mouthfeel from the additional age. Honey, fresh pastry, waffle cone come together with baking spice, vanilla bean, nougat and rich pear influence: a light, balanced fruit character. Brandy is all about balancing acid and sweetness – humans love both when balanced properly, and this does it nicely. The fruit brings a brightness to the dessert character and spice structure of the bourbon. Long finish, a touch more pepper and pear here after a sweet nose and pala

Week 24 – Driftless Glen Single Barrel Rye #1722 r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• Aged In: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• Bottled: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• Age: 8 Years, 2 Months
• More Info: Cask Strength, Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, 53 Gallon Barrel maturation 
• ABV:  62% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A raucous rye, this is bold, brash, loaded with fat, heavy notes and a stunner from tip to tail. Espresso, cola, red berries, toffee and pipe tobacco pop on the nose and palate, the mouth feel is viscous and heavy, powerful and rich. The finish is long, accentuates the cola, espresso and red berry notes with a gentle, tannic structure that’s satisfying and balancing. 

Week 24 – Driftless Glen Sauternes Finished Rye Exclusive Cask Series Edition 6 r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• Aged In: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• Bottled: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• More Info: Cask Strength, Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, 53 Gallon Barrel maturation 
• ABV:  59% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: One of my favorite releases yet, the bold rye spice that Driftless Glen is showing at these higher age statements blends beautifully with the brioche, maple and decadent brulee notes from the Sauternes. Rye works so wonderfully with a good finishing cask. The nose is packed with cracked pepper, coffee, creme brulee, brioche, icing and tobacco and oak. The palate is rich and viscous, drinks much more like a 100pf whiskey, loaded with sweet cream, honey, big rye spice, orange peel, morello cherry, a punch of herbal rye and gorgeous sweet wine. Long finish, heavy on the palate with a great texture and syrupy texture leads out with a pop of spicy rye and a simmer of sweet sauternes. 

Week 24 – Driftless Glen Oloroso Finished Bourbon Exclusive Cask Series Edition 7 r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

A long time ago, I thought – what if Angel’s Envy was good? Wild thought right? That set me on this path although I ended up using different wine casks: Oloroso Sherry, the perfect combination of fruit, spice, tannin and deeper, darker flavors that bring complexity to the whiskeys they touch. 

• Distilled: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• Aged In: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• Bottled: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• More Info: Cask Strength, Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, 53 Gallon Barrel maturation 
• ABV:  59% ABV
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A beautiful complexity on the nose: red berries, pipe tobacco, toffee, honey, orange peel and a pop of oak and sweet blackberry. The fruit is well integrated, dark and balanced. The palate is full of rye bread, toffee, cocoa, cola and blackberry reduction, toffee and big oak. Long finish, complex and full of tobacco, black cherry, cola and big oak. 

Week 24 – Driftless Glen Bourbon Finished Gin Single Gin r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• Aged In: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• Bottled: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• Age: 14 Months r/Bourbon Driftless Glen Single Barrel Bourbon Cask Finish, 
• More Info: Cask Strength, Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, 53 Gallon Barrel maturation 
• ABV:  56% ABV
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A beautifully round gin, built not to be too much of any one thing. The nose leads with sweet orange peel and honey, light butterscotch and a hint of caramel and wood spice. The palate pops with fresh herbs and honey, a light lemon butter character, big caramel sweetness and a pop of minerality with light juniper, pepper and cardamom. The palate has a satisfying viscosity that’s vibrant and bright. Long finish, perfect blending of sweet fruits, light barrel influence and honey, caramel and toasted oak and beautiful botanicals from the gin.  

Week 24 – Driftless Glen Single Barrel Bourbon #3615 r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• Aged In: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• Bottled: Wisconsin USA (Driftless Glen) 
• Age: 7 Years 9 Months
• More Info: Cask Strength, Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, 53 Gallon Barrel maturation 
• ABV:  61% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Last nut not least we have a syrupy, heavy, single barrel bourbon that’s loaded with heavy cocoa on the nose, beautiful orange and cherry peel on the palate and a finish that’s full of sweet oak, tobacco, honey and a pop of big oak. It’s incredible how decadent these Driftless are becoming and it’s really wild to look back when we were buying sub-4yr whiskey from them. My how the time flies and the best casks yet continue to roll in. 

Week 22 – Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky USA (Beam) 
• Aged In: Kentucky USA (Beam)
• Bottled: Kentucky USA (Beam)
• Age: 9 Years, 6 Months 
• More Info: 120pf, Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering
• ABV:  60% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: The first place my brain goes with this week’s release is that the peanut brittle and pipe tobacco industries colluded on this barrel: it’s rich and as decadently beam as a Knob Creek can get but laced with tons of pipe tobacco, sweet cream, raisin bread and dark fruits like blackberry and cherry. I rare get much fruit on Knob Creek but it pops on this barrel, pairing well with the heavy viscosity that’s characteristic of their bourbon, and a long finish that’s a caramel, salted peanut, toffee bomb.

Week 21 – Maestro Dobel Anejo Single Barrel r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Mexico 
• Aged In: Mexico
• Bottled: Mexico (NOM: 1122)
• Age: 1 Year 8 Months Aging in French & Hungarian Oak stave barrel. 
• More Info: Brick Oven, Roller Mill, Copper Pot distilled. 
• ABV:  40% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Sweet on the nose, bundling together pepper, lemongrass, honey, sweet cream, a hint of slate and minerality, a dab of grassiness and herbaceous essence. Moderate palate, easy sipping with vanilla bean and full of salinity and minerality, honey, lemongrass and more crushed stone and pepper. Long finish. 

Week 21 – Hampden Estate 11yr Jamaican Rum Rolling Fork Single Barrel r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Trelawny Estate, Jamaica (Hampden Estate)
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Rolling Fork)
• Details: Cask Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 59.43% ABV 
• Warehouse: 1-05-56
• Labeling: Custom Badge Sticker
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich and powerful on the nose, huge tropical fruit and funk, laced with pepper, sweet cream, mango, banana and caramel candies. Butterscotch, maple, dole fruit syrup, apples, pears, a bright banana fosters and blast of sweet, savory Jamaican funk rise on the nose. The palate is rich and viscous, bold and layered, packed with butterscotch, maple, tropical mango, passionfruit, banana, rich caramel and a hint of char. The finish is long, extends well past a typical rum, full of tropical funk, signature rotting fruit, banana, maple, toffee and mango, papaya and apples. It’s powerful, bold, brash and entirely characteristic of that incredible Jamaican rum profile. Whew. 

Week 21 – Rossville Union 6yr 95/5 Barrel Strength Rye Single Barrel r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged In: Indiana, USA
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 54.1% ABV 
• Age: 6 Years
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Punchy and pepper forward it’s classic MGP rye at its core with honey, punchy herbal rye, a hint of dill and a spritely mint finish. Big baking spice throughout, plenty of pepper, a solid core of root beer and ample herbal spice. 

Week 20 – Starlight VDN Finished Bourbon Single Barrel r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (Starlight)
• Aged In: Indiana, USA
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (Starlight)
• Details: Barrel Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 54.35% ABV 
• Age: 4.5 Years + VDN Wine Finish
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Big and rich, it’s been a hot, hot minute since we’ve had a Vino De Naranja for r/Bourbon. Starlight kicked off our experience with the exotic, macerated, wine finish and these barrels continue to be a favorite of mine. This is the only finish I doubled up on this year for a bourbon and it’s a real hoot. Sweet on the nose with notes of nutmeg, honey, a touch of orange and sweet nougat, the palate is creamy and rich, full of sweet cream, honey, nougat, baking spice and gentle, complex, wine influence. I love how wines like Tokaji and VDN bump the viscosity of their base spirit and this is no different. Long finish with a delicious blend of sweet oak, savory spice like light cinnamon and clove, with a long, creamy, finish. 

Week 20 – Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Knob Creek @ Jim Beam)
• Aged In: Kentucky, USA
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Jim Beam)
• Details: 120pf, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 60% ABV 
• Warehouse: 1-05-56
• Age: 9 Years 2 Months
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Signature Knob Creek peanut brittle, cream, creme brulee and cocoa combine with a monster mouthfeel for a barrel that’s been all over the country. This barrel took a journey after selection in Winter 2023 and is finally available to the wider group. Knob Creek always impressed with a great combination of age, killer taste profile and maintains great value as well. Creme brulee is the leader here with supporting notes of peanut brittle, cream, a hint of coffee and cola, with a crackle of pepper. It’s a signature Knob Creek profile dialed way up, with a faint pop of root beer on the finish. Delicious stuff. 

Week 20 – Blue Note Juke Joint Uncut Single Barrel #18867 r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection “Sweet Tea Supreme”

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Green River)
• Aged In: Kentucky, USA
• Bottled: Memphis, TN (Blue Note)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 58.95% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Crisp and delicious, the nose crackles with cream and cola, tons of maple, pepper, light fruits, beautiful black tea and a sultry sweetness, more savory and sweet than past selections. The palate is rich and creamy, the texture on these is super satisfying without becoming cloying, syrupy, too rich. Great balance of sweetness and oak with the sweetness bringing black tea, honey, sweet cola and a light hint of pepper. Long finish, sweet oak, faint fruits and more satisfying tobacco and tea as this summer porch sipper swaggers away. 

Week 20 – Blue Note Juke Joint Uncut Single Barrel #18997 r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection “Cream Soda King”

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Green River)
• Aged In: Kentucky, USA
• Bottled: Memphis, TN (Blue Note)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 61.50% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: These barrels shine with their creamy texture and satisfying viscosity and this barrel reigns as king in that regard. Sweet honey on the nose, creamy and sweet with vanilla, brulee, butterscotch and caramel. The palate is rich and creamy, loaded with butterscotch, more brulee and a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg, cream soda and a pop of vanilla. Long finish that’s laced with sweet cream, icing, honey, butterscotch and a light crackle of pepper. Not too sweet, beautifully creamy and packed with delicious character. 

Week 20 – Blue Note Juke Joint Uncut Single Barrel #19756 r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection “Summer Cola Float”

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Green River)
• Aged In: Kentucky, USA
• Bottled: Memphis, TN (Blue Note)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 58.60% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Last but not least is the most satisfying of the set, this barrel brings big cola notes, rich texture and an impressively decadent finish. The nose is full of cola, sweet cream, vanilla, rich oak and a pleasant fizz of honey and a dash of pepper. The palate brings the boldest of the three viscosities, rich, thick, full of cola, cream, sweet maple, a hint of tobacco, rich vanilla and tons of texture. The finish sees this pour off with heavy vanilla, cola, tobacco and a hint of bold oak. A perfect, rounded, third to this pair of summer sippers. 

Week 19 – Starlight Turkish Apricot Brandy Finished Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (Starlight)
• Aged In: Indiana, USA
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (Starlight)
• Details: Barrel Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 58% ABV 
• Age: 4.5 Years + Turkish Apricot Brandy Cask Finish
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Beautiful vanilla cake and waffle cone on the nose with sweet, subtle, peaches, pears, baking spiced and apricot essence. I love the subtle influence of apricot, lacing in pleasant complexity without going nuts. The palate is rich and viscous, full of baking spice, sweet maple, a hint of cinnamon, orange peel, fig and honey. Really pleasant viscosity and the finish carries nicely: full of sweet waffle cone, honey, vanilla icing, orange peel, fig and a hint of apricot once more. It’s a fitting follow up to one of my favorite finishes at Starlight and a great synthesis of exotic and enticing. 

Week 19 – Rolling Fork 12yr Cask Strength Jamaican Rum r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Jamaica (Clarendon)
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (Rolling Fork)
• Details: Barrel Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 66.87% ABV 
• Age: 12 Years
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: For fans of rum and the rum curious alike, this well aged Jamaican single cask introduces creative and interesting funk with a backbone of sweet cream, bold brown sugar, toffee and colorful tropical fruits. While most Jamaican lovers look for the max funk available, I love the rum coming out of Clarendon for masterful balance: it has all of the dna of spritely, bright, colorful Jamaican rum and moderate, integrated funk: bananas foster, mango, papaya and citrus zest. 

Week 19 – Rolling Fork 13yr Wheated Bourbon Cask Strength Guyana Rum r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Guyana (Diamond Distillery, Port Mourant)
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (Rolling Fork)
• Details: Barrel Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 58.75% ABV 
• Age: 13 Years
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Less funk driven and more opulent in nature. this 13yr Guyana is a Port Mourant still bottling from Diamond distillery and always reminds me of my first rum love: back in the days of selecting rums for XXX:One, there was a diamond that stole my heart but ended up gong unselected by the rest of the panel so I had to watch it sail off. This release has a lot of that reminiscent character and I love the texture, viscosity and opulent character. It’s silky and rich, loaded with sweet brown butter, caramels, a grapefruit, black tea, cardamom, honey and maple character that’s lacy and citric on the edges: zesty and fun. The finish is long and layered, baking together apple crisp, maple, clover honey, pineapple, ginger and sweet cream. Lovely stuff that’s totally unique without straying into any particular extreme. 

Week 19 – Found North T8ke-03 “Mixmaster” Private Blend r/Bourbon Exclusive Release

• Distilled: Canada (Undisclosed)
• Bottled: New Hampshire, USA (Found North)
• Details: Barrel Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering
• ABV: 61.6% ABV 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Ok, we get it. You get it, I get it. I like Sauternes and sweet wines. Both were evident and representative in T8ke-01 and T8ke-02. T8ke-03 strays a bit from that DNA and heads in a fresh and new direction: blending both moderate and highly aged corn and rye and then finishing with new wood and red wine. The result is a playful and respectful understanding between the sledgehammer that is fresh oak (what folks are using to create double oaked whiskeys) and the vibrant punch of red wine character and the acidity required to hold these bold influences in balance. The result is a behemoth, a gargantua of character that relies less on age and more on character to drive a delicious storytelling. Oak, cocoa, creme brulee and icing pop on the nose with a hint of grating spice: pepper, clove, a hint of saffron and sweet cider. The palate develops with blackberry, cherry, a crackle of pepper, sweet oak, fat cocoa, balanced against moderate tannin, and a sneaky proof. Long finish with exceptional hold, combining heavier oak, dark fruit, a crackle of spice and gobs of savory red wine character. 

Week 18 – Rossville Union “Out of Left Field” Single Barrel Cask Strength Rye r/Bourbon Private Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged In: Indiana, USA
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Details: Barrel Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 56.6% ABV 
• Age: 6 Years
• Mashbill: 51% Rye, 49% Malted Barley
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A striking single barrel from left field, this release is packed with pepper, cream, sweet maple and a zesty pepper finish.

Week 18 – Stellum Serpens J5 Barrel Proof Single Barrel Rye r/Bourbon Private Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged In: Kentucky, USA
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Barrell/Stellum)
• Details: Barrel Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 56.75% ABV 
• Age: 6 Years
• Mashbill: 95% Rye / 5% Malted Barley
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Stellum continues its stranglehold on nearly unbeatable value, and this rye is a subtle beast at 113.5pf. Brown sugar, bold blackberry, a touch of sweet tropical fruits and bold, maple reduction hold for ages. 

Week 18 – Starlight Pineau des Charantes Finished Barrel Proof Bourbon r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (Starlight)
• Aged In: Indiana, USA
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (Starlight)
• Details: Barrel Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 56.5% ABV 
• Age: 4.5 Years + Pineau des Charantes Cask Finish
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Few groups get the opportunity to select one of Starlight’s rarest wine finishes. Pineau des Charantes combines the sweetness of grape with the structure and complexity of cognac, creating one of the world’s most unique beverages. This bourbon kicks off with baking spice, rye bread, toasted almond and a healthy dose of oak before complex red berries, stewed fruits, currants and blackberry join the show. Rich mouthfeel, long finish with currants, blackberry and cherry reduction.

Week 17 – Bye – No barrels

Week 16 – Lost Lantern Cedar Ridge Single Barrel Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection 

Our first Cedar Ridge is an interesting one, and a bit outside what you may see from them any other day on the shelf. It’s a cask strength, single barrel, of wheat whiskey, and it’s an absolute stunner. 

• Distilled: Iowa, USA (Cedar Ridge)
• Aged In: Iowa, USA
• Bottled: New Hampshire, USA (Lost Lantern)
• Details: Barrel Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 123.6 Proof 
• Age: 6 Years
• Mashbill: 100% Malted White Winter Wheat
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich and complex on the nose, this whiskey is a butterscotch, honey, baking spice bomb with tons of layers alternating sweetness and satisfying spice. Sweet cream and honey abound on the nose with touches of caramel, toffee, clove, a hint of cinnamon and delicious ginger. The palate is viscous and layered, rolling pleasantly with that wheat, supple, texture that’s velvety and decadent. Long finish, packed with caramel, honey, vanilla and graham cracker crust with a dash of pepper and cinnamon.  

Week 16 – Lost Lantern Rich Grain Distilling 7 Year Old HAZMAT Mississippi Straight Wheated Bourbon P3 r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection 

Part of a two barrel release, this hazmat, small yield release reminds me of some of the earliest Driftless Glen in 30gal barrels that absolute shocked the whiskey world. This release is a wheated bourbon from Rich Grain and is colossally short – 51 bottles produced before safety cases, etc etc 

• Distilled: Mississippi, USA (Rich Grain Distilling)
• Aged In: Mississippi, USA
• Bottled: New Hampshire, USA (Lost Lantern)
• Details: Barrel Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 144.8 Proof 
• Age: 7 Years
• Mashbill: 66% Mississippi Corn, 17% Wheat, 17% Malted Barley
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: An incredibly short barrel, this bruiser takes wheat in the mash and swings hard regardless. Viscous, powerful, dense and chewy, it’s a brute of balance, lacing together big tannin, syrupy texture on the palate, sweet honey and waffle cone, maple and brown sugar and a kick of clove and oak. The finish is long, darn near eternal, as this pour hangs on without burning out your palate. 

Week 16 – Lost Lantern Rich Grain Distilling 7 Year Old HAZMAT Mississippi Straight Bourbon P4 r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection 

Part of a two barrel release, this hazmat, small yield release reminds me of some of the earliest Driftless Glen in 30gal barrels that absolute shocked the whiskey world. This one is a rye bourbon mash and yielded a scant 72 bottles before safety cases, etc etc. 

• Distilled: Mississippi, USA (Rich Grain Distilling)
• Aged In: Mississippi, USA
• Bottled: New Hampshire, USA (Lost Lantern)
• Details: Barrel Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 141.4 Proof 
• Age: 7 Years
• Mashbill: 66% Mississippi Corn, 17% Rye, 17% Malted Barley
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: The cream of the crop, this pour is likewise powerful but holds onto the reins nicely with about the best balance between 140+pf whiskey and texture that I’ve seen. Rich and powerful on the nose, there’s loads of baking spice, toffee, espresso, barrel char, icing and a hint of tobacco. The palate is viscous, the ethanol sneaks a little more than the higher proof wheated bourbon but still presents satisfying viscosity and a chewy mouthfeel, alongside tons of pancake syrup, cocoa, tobacco and a cola root beer character. Lovely stuff. Long finish, sweet and cola forward as it grips for ages. 

Week 15 – Penelope 10yr Single Barrel Barrel Strength r/Bourbon Private Selection 

This barrel is the oldest Penelope Bourbon I’ve had the opportunity to select, a 10yr single barrel, barrel proof private select, and it’s one of my favorites. I’ve been badgering their team for years to let me select from their high corn stocks and it’s finally here! 

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP/Penelope)
• Aged In: Indiana, USA
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (MGP/Penelope)
• Details: Barrel Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 110 Proof 
• Age: 10 Years
• Mashbill: 99% Corn, 1% Malted Barley
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich and buttery nose, heavy and rich, packed with caramel, butterscotch, creme brulee, barrel char, a hint of graham cracker and lovely, caramelized sugars. There’s plenty of oak but it’s well mannered and well integrated, bringing with it satisfying baking spice and sweetness. The palate is rich, viscous, and layers in satisfying sweetness: honey, caramel, butterscotch, nougat and some caramelized sugars mix nicely with moderate oak, pleasant structure and balancing spice. Long finish that’s decadent and packed with delicious, dessert character that marries sweet and savory. 

Week 15 – Penelope 6yr Barrel Strength Toasted Rye r/Bourbon Private Selection

This is the first rye, and the first toasted rye, we’ve done through Penelope as well. A good week of firsts. I love how rich and rye forward this is from front to back, with the toasted barrel finish rounding out the nose and finish and bringing a creamy texture and delicious integration of sweet and spice on this single cask. 

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP/Penelope)
• Aged In: Indiana, USA
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (MGP/Penelope)
• Details: Barrel Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• Finish: Char 1, Heavy Toast, Barrels
• ABV: 55% ABV 
• Age: 6 Years
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Punchy and intriguing on the nose, there’s so much going on here! Rich on the nose, vanilla pops first with plenty of rye spice, honey, rich herbal rye and a hint of dill and baking spice. The palate exudes a really creamy texture, it’s rich yet velvety at the same time. Rich rye spice continues once more, loaded with maple, butterscotch, pleasant herbal-y rye character, a faint pop of orange peel, clove and cracked pepper. Long finish, beautiful balance of spicy rye, herbal character and vibrant, pleasantly layered sweetness and dessert character. 

Week 14 – Yellowstone High Proof Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

This barrel features the highest bottling proof that Yellowstone supports, sporting a 119pf bottling proof (59.5% ABV). It’s our highest proof Yellowstone selection so far and also the oldest since our last pick in 2021 (wow time flies!).

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA
• Aged In:Kentucky USA
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Yellowstone)
• Details: High Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 119 Proof 
• Age: 5 Years, 4 Months (Nov 2018 – March 2024)
• Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Sweet butter cream and cherry, cola and cocoa pop on the nose with tons of toffee, a dash of fruit and some sweet oak and baking spice. Heavy on the palate, rich and syrupy. Pleasant viscosity without being dominated by oak, there’s a nice orange peel note with sweet cream, candied ginger, honey, caramels and some cola. The proof brings extra body and complexity, but still manages to drink easy and sweet, in a barrel that’s a perfect followup to past Yellowstone’s long passed. 

Week 14 – Ezra Brooks Cask Strength Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

This barrel is our first Ezra in a hot, hot minute. Bottled at 126pf at true cask strength compared to their previous 120pf cap on barrels, this release is all flavor and spice, for those that aren’t as big on wheaters. 

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA
• Aged In:Kentucky USA
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Yellowstone)
• Details: High Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 63% ABV 
• Age: 5 Years
• Mashbill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 13% Malted Barley
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Bold, oaky, spicy, and well rounded, the savory tower of this trio shines brightly once more. It’s been more than a year since we’ve had an Ezra and it’s worth the wait with this bold, rich and oaky bourbon that’s loaded with baking spice, cherry cordial, a fat bowl of creme brulee and pleasant mouthfeel. Long finish full of cream, cherries, toffee and oak. Delicious. 

Week 14 – Rebel Cask Strength Wheated Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

This barrel is a wheated bourbon picked to pair perfectly with our Yellowstone and Ezra, also bottled at an elevated 126pf compared to our previous selections at 120 and 124pf. 

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA
• Aged In:Kentucky USA
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Yellowstone)
• Details: High Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 63% ABV 
• Age: 4 Years 11 Months (April 2019 – March 2024)
• Mashbill: 68% Corn,20% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Delicious and packed with sweet butterscotch, pralines, honey and a hint of cinnamon and spice, it’s a wheater that’s showing well and with beneficial age to it. Rich on the palate, full of cream, sweetness, honey, toffee and more artful cinnamon, the wheat is drinking nicely with plenty of complexity. Long finish that’s got pleasant, sweet oak, caramel candies, honey butter and a touch of nougat. Exceptional wheater!

Week 13 – Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Beam)
• Aged In: Kentucky USA
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Beam)
• Details: 120pf, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 60% ABV 
• Age: 10 Years (Distilled Feb 2014, Bottled March 2024)
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich and full of cracked pepper, sweet butter cream, fresh honey, toffee and a hint of peanut brittle. Rich and creamy on the palate, pleasant richness and satisfying texture as well. There’s a lot more dessert here than I typically get in Knob Creek, but I’m here for it. Heavy oak character, a pleasant dryness on the palate paired with brulee and honey. Long finish, a prickle of ethanol (it is 120pf!) and lovely sweet oak, tobacco and peanut brittle. 

Week 13 – Backbone Bone Snapper Single Barrel Fusion Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged In: Indiana USA
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (Backbone)
• Details: Cask Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 60.8% ABV 
• Age: 6 Years 3 Months 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Whoah! Wild stuff here. Gorgeous, exotic, nose. Full of honey, red berries, citrus peel, heavy rye spice, a pop of vanilla and a hint of balsamic, ango, tobacco and a kick of ginger. The palate is viscous and rich on the palate, gorgeous structure that’s loaded with rye spice up front, citrus and cream in the mid palate and tobacco, raisin, blackberry and rye funk on the back palate. There’s plenty of black tea, sweet blackberry reduction and a hint of graham cracker on the palate. Long finish, lower oak character here with more fruit, rye spice, honey, a hint of ango and balsamic once more with heavy blackberry, orange peel, rye spice and graham cracker. Crazy good stuff, and unlike anything already on your shelf for sure. 

Week 12 – NULU 6yr Amburana Finished Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged In: Indiana and Kentucky USA
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (NULU)
• Details: Cask Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 58.2% ABV 
• Age: 6 Years + Amburana Finish
• Mashbill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Beautifully layered baking spice and honey come together on the nose with french toast, clove, maple and spice popping after a moment. The amburana shows through a bit less on the nose compared to layers of caramel, maple, brown butter, tobacco and rye spice. The palate is rich and dense, satisfying and savory, with a blend of black pepper, clove, ginger, honey, amburana spice popping up and pound cake, toffee and tobacco. Rich pipe tobacco and decadent spice emanate nicely and the viscosity is satisfying with a perfect proof. Long finish that favors baking spice and brown sugar, with strong oak, pepper and clove presenting the Amburana nicely through the finish as well. Far from the most powerful Amburana we’ve had, this barrel dishes on decadent desserts and keeps the Amburana from stealing the show. 

Week 12 – NULU 6yr Orange Brandy Finished Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged In: Indiana and Kentucky USA
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (NULU)
• Details: Cask Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 56% ABV 
• Age: 6 Years + Orange Brandy Finish
• Mashbill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Bold, strong, bourbon character peaks on the nose, heavy baking spice, cracked pepper, sweet caramels and a hint of barrel char. I liked how rowdy and spicy the base bourbon on this release is, because it takes the orange in stride and integrates handily. Finishing gets so much more interesting when well aged whiskey lays the foundation, and there’s plenty of bourbon foundation here. Orange peel pops in on the nose, sweet at first with a natural acidity and a pop of orange character. The palate is rich and viscous, natural and satisfying, full of honey, caramels, orange peel, big pepper spice and a hint of clove. Impressive oak character here helps balance the orange brandy character and presents a nice, complex, marriage of the two. Delicious, long, eternal finish that’s all sweet oak, a twist of orange satisfying spice and caramels.   

Week 12 – J.T. Meleck 5yr Single Barrel r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Louisiana, USA (Meleck)
• Aged In: Louisiana, USA
• Bottled: Louisiana, USA (Meleck)
• Details: Cask Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 63.55% ABV 
• Age: 5 Years 4 Months (Distilled October 5th 2018, Bottled Feb 2023)
• Mashbill: 100% Louisiana Rice
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Luscious nose that’s loaded with sweet butter cream, light honey, icing, creme brulee and a touch of toasted oak. It’s crazy how creamy and good natured this nose is, sneaking the proof right by you under a tray of desserts. The palate is viscous and rich, silky on the palate with an impressive texture that’s opulent like a nicely prepared pot de creme. Like a rice krispie treat, there’s sweetness, a hint of rice, plenty of satisfying oak, butter cream, vanilla and butterscotch, a hint of brown butter and more heavy cream and a pinch of sweet tea. The finish is long, velvety, creamy and opulent all the way through. This is really impressive stuff, and I’ve not yet had anything like it. The texture, viscosity and “pillowy” texture on the palate, to borrow the descriptor from a good friend, is unusual and makes for a really decadent whiskey. Super cool stuff. 

Week 12 – Mammoth Distilling 18yr4mo HAZMAT Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Undisclosed Canadian
• Aged In: Canada & Michigan 
• Bottled: Michigan USA (Mammoth Distilling)
• Details: Cask Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 71.12% ABV 
• Age: 18 Years 4 Months
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: I wish I had the free time to make a sticker for this release, because I”d have called it The Sneaky Mammoth. It’s really hard to picture a colossal creature being sneaky. It’s also hard to picture a 140+pf whiskey being sneaky. Yet, here we are. The nose is sweet and spicy, maple driven with a pop of ginger, pepper and a light touch of oak. There’s a hint of clove, a touch of vanilla bean and fig sweetness. The palate is viscous, syrupy, heavy and huge. The ethanol is present here and while you can feel it on your palate, it’s not punishing or overbearing, hence the sneak. Palate is full of caramels, vanilla, sweet oak, light pepper, ginger and some subtle, apple, pear and tobacco. The finish is powerful and long, and this is where this barrel really excels. The finish is rich and complex, driven by sweet oak, satisfying brulee and maple, tobacco and some light fruit and honey. Despite a huge age statement, the oak presence is satisfying and well integrated, never overbearing. Same with the ethanol. Nice work, Sneaky Mammoth. 

Week 11 – Subtle Spirits “THE HIVE” r/Bourbon 7yr9mo Cask Strength Rye Whiskey Private Selection

Welcome To The HIVE.

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged In: Kentucky and California, USA
• Bottled: California, USA (Subtle Spirits)
• Details: Cask Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel, Fully Custom Art
• ABV: 59.5% ABV 
• Age: 7 Years 9 Months + Finishing Time
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Heavy caramel and dark fruit on the nose, toffee combines with blackberry, butterscotch, nougat, a touch of red berry, white grape, tobacco and decadent rye spice. The rye spice and fruit mingle elegantly, disguising a touch of spice and shrouding the ethanol entirely. The palate is rich, viscous, powerful and layered. There’s sweet oak, heavy spicy, toffee and caramel. The tannin is big and fat, rich and complex without bitterness or growing drying. The fruit integrates nicely, bringing more blackberry, currant, white grape, raisin, tobacco and date fruit to bear. The spicy rye character jumps in, bringing cracked pepper, clove, a hint of orange peel and white pepper to combine with the rich sweetness and layered fruit character. Long finish brings it all together, pushing forward more rye spice yet, powered by opulent oak, brown sugar, rye spice and cracked pepper with facets of blackberry, decadent white grape and a final zip of spice. This pour hangs in the glass expertly, changing with every sip. 

Week 11 – Blue Run “The Black Butterfly” Cask Strength Wheated Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Heaven Hill)
• Aged In: Kentucky USA
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Blue Run)
• Details: Cask Strength, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel, Fully Custom Art
• ABV: 65.2% ABV 
• Age: 9 Years
• Mashbill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: It’s all dessert all day: bundling together oak and pure dessert character we find Black Butterfly raiding every bakery in town. The nose is huge and loaded with nougat, brown sugar, icing, satisfying caramels and butterscotch, with a kick of oak, a hint of cinnamon and crackle of spice. The palate is viscous and layered, borderline syrupy with satisfying oakiness on the palate, a sweetness that sticks with you and plenty of balancing spice. Rich maple, brown sugar, nougat and butterscotch litter the palate up front while cinnamon, a touch of clove and cracked pepper develop with each sip. There’s more oak than you’d expect for 9 years, balancing out the sweetness and delivering the spice with precision. Long, rich finish that’s cinnamon and butterscotch all the way home. What a monster. 

Week 11 – Paladar Reposado Single Barrel Tequila r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

Maestro distiller Eduardo Orendain Jr distilled this from Blue Weber Agave, using a blend of wild and cultivated yeasts. agaves were roasted in brick ovens, fermented in a pine vat and distilled on alambique copper and stainless steel stills. It was aged for 4 months in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled at 46% ABV. 

• Distilled: Tequila Arette de Jalisco SA (Mexic)
• Aged In: Mexico USA
• Bottled: NOM1109 (Paladar Tequila)
• Details: Additive Free, Custom r/Bourbon Labeling and Art
• ABV: 46% ABV 
• Age: 4 Months
• Mashbill: 100% Blue Weber Agave
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Crisp on the nose, rainwater, peach, cracked pepper, faint honey sweetness and a hint of cracked slate pops on the nose. Fresh and vibrant, dangerously drinkable. Moderate mouthfeel, spritely and clean on the palate with pleasant mineralogy, honey, light vanilla, a hint of apple and citrus zest and a long, lively finish. Pour closes out with a lightly earthy character, more faint vanilla, sweet honey, stone fruit, a pop of minerality and beautiful texture. If there’s a place to dive in: it’s here. 

Week 10 – Bulleit 7yr 36% Rye Single Barrel r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Undisclosed)
• Aged In: Kentucky, USA (Bulleit)
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Bulleit)
• Details: Proofed to 52%, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 52% ABV 
• Age: 7 Years
• Mashbill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
• Yeast: #2 – Strawberry Fruity
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon LabelingTasting Notes: Sweet caramel and baking spice develop with a surprising amount of oak, baking spice, honey and toffee. Really rich nose that’s heavy on sweet and spice. The palate develops a bit of espresso, cocoa, fudge and rock candy, butter cream and butterscotch. The finish is long and developed, layered with cracked pepper, baking spice, maple candies, toffee and more butterscotch. Pleasant tobacco and leather character, rich and savory. 

Week 9 – Piggyback 6yr Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Vermont, USA (WhistlePig)
• Aged In: Vermont, USA 
• Bottled: Vermont, USA (WhistlePig)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 54.2% ABV 
• Age: 6 Years 6 Months
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Bold, spicy, fruity and loaded with rye character, this barrel was the standout from our day of selections, even against the higher age statement 10 year casks. Fruity and bright on the nose with apple, blackberry, a hint of peach and bright maple and spicy ginger and black pepper. There’s enough oak to balance but it’s not an oaky rye – that’s a better look to the 10yr. This 6yr is full of baking spice and sweetness, some of that fruity character from the nose and a delicious berry reduction, maple and peppery rye character on the palate. Long finish, less spice here, leaning back into dessert and fruit. 

Week 9 – WhistlePig 10yr Single Cask Cask Strength Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Canada (Undisclosed)
• Aged In: Canada & USA
• Bottled: Vermont, USA (WhistlePig)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 59.4% ABV 
• Age: 10 Years
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Vibrant and spicy, this 10yr release sacrifices some of the lighter fruits of past picks and doubles down with a structured, tobacco heavy rye profile that’s packed with herbal, spicy rye, sweet maple and waffle cone. The palate is rich, it has the most oak of our past 10 year picks so it falls outside the Ryedration collection, and branches in a new direction. Heavy fig, date, tobacco, caramel and a pop of clove strikes first. The finish is long and brings in more tobacco, sweet cream, a touch of pear and beautiful herbal character. 

Week 9 – Hughes “Belle of Bedford” 11yr 7mo Barrel Proof Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged In: Indiana & Pennsylvania, USA
• Bottled: Pennsylvania, USA (Hughes Belle of Bedford)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 55.4% ABV 
• Age: 11 Years 7 Months
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Last but not lease is our time capsule to the old days of rye: a dilly, herbal bomb that’s laced with oak and big in every way. The nose is herbal, packed with dill, spice, clove, a touch of pepper, light grassiness and big tobacco and oak. The palate is viscous and syrupy, packed with oak, savory dill, maple and heavy tobacco and blackberry balsamic character. The finish picks back up on herbal rye and oak, sweet cream, ginger and oak. It’s a formidable rye and it’s nothing short of awesome. 

Week 8 – Starlight Honey Finished Bourbon Single Barrel r/Bourbon Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (Starlight)
• Aged In: Indiana 
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (Starlight)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 58.75% ABV 
• Age: 4 Years + Honey Finish
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Gorgeous nose full of honey, balancing oak, clove, pepper and a pop of peaches, pears, apple and honey. There’s a bit more oak on the nose compared to our first honey, which balances the sweetness nicely and presents a good deal of complexity. Rich on the palate with a satisfying viscosity and mouthfeel – rich but not too syrupy, buttery and full of honey, baked apple, toffee and a hint of peach. Balancing oak and baking spice. Long, rich finish that shines as all honey finishes seems to do – long and delicious, it hangs for a great deal of time, balancing sweetness, spice and oak for a really opulent, natural, decadence. Touch of pepper and oak as it fades, easy drinking from start to finish. Just the right amount of honey. 

Week 8 – Starlight Maple Finished Bourbon Single Barrel r/Bourbon Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (Starlight)
• Aged In: Indiana 
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (Starlight)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 54.15% ABV 
• Age:  4 Years 6 Months + Maple Finish
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Rich and packed with dessert on the nose, the base bourbon is spicy and punchy, taking the sweetness of the maple nicely and spreading it around. Pepper, clove, ginger meets maple, brown butter, toffee. The maple character is very rich and natural, those of you in northern states know how varied and different maple syrups can be. This product has the dark, rich, roasty maple character of a rich maple, and blends nicely with balanced oak and savory baking spice. The palate is rich and natural, viscous and delicious. Ethanol is well integrated, no heat here, and the sweet oak, maple and baking spice carry in a really great way. Long finish, incredibly satisfying. 

Week 8 – Starlight “Cigar Batch” Rum Amburana Finished Bourbon Single Barrel r/Bourbon
Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (Starlight)
• Aged In: Indiana 
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (Starlight)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 56.8% ABV 
• Age:  4 Years, 6 Months + Finishing Time
• Tasting Notes: A first for our program, the combination of flavors on this release *just work*. Sweetness and complex flavors from the rum character, a punch of baking spice and amburana character from the, well, amburana, and plenty of lovely bourbon character from the bourbon. The nose is full of buttery toffee, sweet cream, a tickle of tropical mango, peach, pear and tangerine and classic amburana notes: ginger, baking spice, clove and pound cake. The palate is rich, super layered. Easily the most complex of this week’s whiskeys the amburana is placed nicely, not too powerful and also keeps the rum in check: the whiskey is packed with flavor and there’s a new note to find with each pour. Baking spice, ginger, clove and raisin bread kick off while stewed fruit, papaya, banana and mango pop in for a moment. Rich oak, pleasant spice and decadent richness despite a very drinkable 56%. Long finish, more oak and amburana show while rum and bourbon notes balance for a unique, balanced end. 

Week 8 – Dancing Goat 8 Year Honey Finished Limousin Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged In: Indiana & Wisconsin
• Bottled: Wisconsin, USA (Dancing Goat)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 52.8% ABV 
• Barrel #: 9764
• Age:  8 Years + Honey Finish 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Zesty and full of life on the nose, this barrel is crazy good, starting with black pepper, waffle cone, a pop of oak and then sweet honey. The palate is rich and full of spice and oak, the extra aging and rye spice show more heavily than the honey at first. The honey is rich and full of character – it reminds me of local honeys from the farmers market that have a touch of floral character beyond simple sweetness. It’s a decadent nose, unreal. The palate is balanced and rich, it’s not in your face but there’s tons going on: sweet maple and honey character, punchy rye spice and no shortage of oak, the hefty age on this barrel before finishing shows it as the most balanced and rye spice works to balance the honeyed sweetness very nicely. Long finish, this makes a screamin’ boulevardier, just saying. If you’ve been hesitant to try one of these Limo ryes, now’s the time as this presents on a whole extra level from previous finishes we’ve done. Crazy good stuff. 

Week 7 – Eagle Rare 10yr Single Barrel “Beagle Rare” r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Buffalo Trace)
• Aged In: Kentucky, USA (Buffalo Trace)
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Buffalo Trace)
• Details: 10 Year, Single Barrel
• ABV: 45% ABV 
• Age: 10 Years
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Rich and fun, this Eagle Rare barrel is all cherry cola all day long. Bright cherry and cola on the nose meet moderate oak and plenty of character. Eagle Rare has always evoked a more fruit forward profile in the BT family for me and this barrel is no difference. Bold tobacco, sweet cherry, black tea and honey, pleasant oakiness and a pinch of pepper roll through. The palate is moderate in viscosity, easy sipping and layered with fruit, caramels and sweet vanilla and cream. At 45% ABV it’s plenty complex but not overpowering, there’s enough oak from the aging to balance and offset the sweetness from the vanilla and fruit. Long, dry finish that’s cherry cola and crushed pepper all day long. A perfect sipper as warm weather approaches and the dog days of summer awaits. 

Week 7 – Penelope Rose Cask Strength Single Barrel Private Select

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged In: Indiana & New Jersey, USA
• Bottled: New Jersey, USA (Penelope)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 57% ABV 
• Age: Blend of 3, 5, 6 yr bourbon finished in Grenache Rose Casks. 
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: On the nose, this release is a gorgeous combination of fruit and acidity with sweet bourbon character and a pinch of baking spice. If you’re looking for bold oak you’re at the wrong bus stop, hold on til we get to the next barrel. Rich caramel and peach, pear, cherry and a hint of raspberry pop on the nose with candied ginger, baking spice and clover honey. The palate is viscous and satisfying with the elevated proof and tons of sweet cream, rock candy, caramel and a touch of pepper. Long finish, easily the best part for me, the combination of tart and sweet fruit with light oak, rich cream sweetness and a vanilla and honey profile. Gorgeous whiskey that I’ve long wished existed – I’m a fan of standard Penelope Rose but there’s no comparison here: this is how it should be. 

Week 7 – George Dickel “15 Year” r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Tennessee, USA (George Dickel)
• Aged In: Tennessee, USA 
• Bottled: Tennessee, USA (George Dickel)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 52.3% ABV 
• Age: 17 Years 8 Months
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Powerful, bold, tannic and opulent, this is old bourbon at its best. Heavy nose full of toffee, oak, heavy baking spice, orange peels, cordial cherry, espresso and a punch of pepper. The palate is rich and drying, it’s viscous and complex and full of oak. It’s not bitter, but if powerful tannin isn’t your jam, think twice. There is oak galore in this pour that blends satisfyingly with the orange peel and cherry on the nose, there’s espresso and heavy cola and rootbeer sweetness on the palate as well. The tannin takes the place of Dickel’s characteristic minerality and absolutely shows up in bold fashion with this barrel. Long finish, dry and laced with more orange, dark cacao, cherries, toffee and brown butter. Goliath. 

Week 7 – Three Chord 6yr Cherry Bounce Finished Single Barrel r/Bourbon Private Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged In: Michigan, USA 
• Bottled: Michigan, USA (Three Chord)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 54% ABV 
• Age: 6 Years
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Luxardo cherry pops on the nose with cola, molasses, black tea and honey. There’s a touch of pepper, some pleasant oak. The palate is rich, complex and nuanced – the cherry bounce is an element here, not an overshadowing flavor. Balanced and full of caramel, oak, toffee and more cherry cordial character. Long finish, heavy on molasses, baking spice, a kiss of cherry and satisfying oak and clove as it sails off. 

Week 7 – Stellum Serpens N4 Barrel Proof Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

Last but not least is a long overdue Stellum Rye selection, selected for its boldness and heavy rye spice. It’s unyielding and powerful, and somehow yet one of the best bargains in whiskey: I give you Serpens N4!

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged In: Kentucky, USA 
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Barrell Craft Spirits)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 59.29% ABV 
• Age: 6 Years
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Powerful rye character, this barrel was picked reminiscing Stellum’s Black Label profiles: heavy rye spice, unyielding complexity and powerful complexity that presents a pour that’s all rye. This isn’t a bourbon drinkers rye, it’s not a dessert lovers rye, it’s a rye lovers rye. Heavy spice and a pop of ginger greet the nose with maple, some brown butter, some black tea and a hammer of clove, rye spice and zest. The palate is rich and powerful, complex and once again rye spice focused. Some tannin presents but rye, clove, pepper and a crackle of ginger pop on the palate with a hint of herbal zip. The finish is long, unabashed and full of life: maple, brown butter, a hint of blackberry and balsamic punch with ginger, clove and pepper. 

Week 6 – Westward Cask Strength r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Oregon, USA (Westward)
• Aged In: Oregon, USA
• Bottled: Oregon, USA (Westward)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 66.14% ABV 
• Age: 7 Years
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Incredibly decadent on the nose, packed with toffee, waffle cone, cake batter, nougat and light cocoa on the nose. There’s hefty oak, maple and raisin bread left and right, Heavy tobacco rolls through on the palate, paired with a ridiculous mouthfeel, viscous and layered, syrupy, chewy. Eternal finish packed with waffle cone, tobacco, raisin bread, toffee and more honey. This drinks like an old, old sherried scotch but with the viscosity and mouthfeel of high proof, well aged bourbon. It’s a beast, and it’s packed with character. Unreal. 

Week 6 – Westward Cask Strength Cabernet Matured r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

They do so few of these bottlings, it managed to throw off the bottling crew a bit – they were so used to their wine finishes being Pinot Noir that they applied the ‘Finished in Pinot Noir Casks’ sticker to this as well, despite it being Cabernet. So, go with the badge on this bottle for the finish type.

• Distilled: Oregon, USA (Westward)
• Aged In: Oregon, USA
• Bottled: Oregon, USA (Westward)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 64.88% ABV 
• Age: 7 Years
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Note: Label incorrectly says both Pinot Noir and Cabernet – this was finished entirely in Cabernet)
• Tasting Notes: Every bit a wallop as our Cask Strength barrel, this Cask Strength Cabernet release takes that cocoa, toffee, maple, tobacco profile and coats it with dry tannin, opulent red berries and a delicious pang of balsamic, tart currant and decadent blackberry. The nose is all cream and tobacco, maple and waffle cone, rich oak and cherry cordials. The palate is powerful, packed with toffee, pleasant oak, red berries, tart currant, cocoa, and a drizzle of maple. The finish on this release hangs as well as the first, pairing up big tannin and sweetness with tart berries, lovely tobacco, a hint of char and a killer blackberry note. Super rich. 

Week 6 – Starlight Calvados Finished Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (Starlight)
• Aged In: Indiana, USA 
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (Starlight)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 105.4pf
• Age: 4 Years  + Calvados Finish
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Rye and Calvados come together as a decadent duo, popping first with a punch of rye spice, then giving way to lovely Calvados complexity and sweetness. The nose is full of brown sugar and vanilla bean, a pop of rye spice and cracked pepper, with a hint of herbal spice and a hint of ginger. The Calvados sweeps in balancing acidity and fruit character, adding in balanced apple character, warm flaky pastry, honey and a hint of acidity. The finish is long and well balanced once again, a moderate mouthfeel balances flavor with the proof, baked apple, a hint of cinnamon, warm brown sugar and a long finish full of baking spice and lovely rye complexity. 

Week 6 – Copper Sky Limited Release Tokaji Finished r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (MGP)
• Aged In: Colorado, USA 
• Bottled: Colorado, USA (Copper Sky)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 58% ABV
• Age: 6 Years + Tokaji Finish
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Rich on the nose, heavy with honey, toffee, plum, tobacco, red berries and a hint of cola – unique and fun with a heavy emphasis on the tokaji, bringing decadent richness to the nose. The palate is rich, super satisfying mouthfeel with an ABV that simply sneaks by, loaded with pleasant oak, big berry character, toffee, tobacco, more cola and a hint of cherry cordial. The finish is long, layered and puts it in park for a hot minute. Sweet, creamy, vanilla meets toffee, plum, tobacco and a final hint of butterscotch and oak. Thee Tokaji barrels are super expensive, but so satisfying and lend a perfect complement when the bourbon being finished has enough age and spice to balance. Lovely stuff. 

Week 5 – Backbone “Bone Snapper” 8yr 10mo Barrel Proof Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Tennessee, USA (George Dickel)
• Aged In: Tennessee & Indiana, USA
• Bottled: Indiana, USA (Backbone)
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 64.7% ABV 
• Age: 8 Years 10 Months
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: The nose opens with gobs of pipe tobacco, cigar wrapped, butter cream and sweet caramelized sugars and creme brulee. Rich, opulent dessert character paired with some funky, decadent, savory tobacco notes. The palate is oak and spice driven up front – orange peel, spicy pepper, some orange peel and a crackle of clove with a syrupy, viscous texture on the palate. The Dickel minerality is not present, instead replaced with tobacco, caramel and toffee, a hint of char and big spicy oak. Long finish with more char, caramel, creme brulee, funky rye spice and black tea, cola and a hint of cherry. As opulent as they come. 

Week 4 – Rebel Cask Strength Single Barrel Wheated Kentucky Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Undisclosed)
• Aged In: Kentucky, USA
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Lux Row)
• Mashbill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malt
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 60% ABV 
• Age: 4 Years, 7 Months (April 2019 – Nov 2023)
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Sweet wheat and honey pop on the nose with a silky, viscous, layered moutfeel. These always fall a bit less tannic than their Ezra cousins, and I love the combination of sweet caramel, buttery texture, a pinch of cinnamon. These are always unabashed wheated bourbns and this barrel is no different, the finish is long and sweet first, with hints of oak and pleasant cinnamon, baking spice and vanilla on the finish. Super well developed. 

Week 4 – Puncher’s Chance 6yr6mo Barrel Proof Single Barrel Kentucky Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Undisclosed)
• Aged In: Kentucky, USA
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Puncher’s Chance)
• Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 57.7% ABV 
• Age: 6 Years 6 Months
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: Bold and rich, this barrel’s loaded with char, baking spice and rich bourbon notes, it’s quintessential KY bourbon in a lot of ways. Rich pepper, orange peel, baking spice and caramels pop on the nose. Great combination of spice and sweetness, there’s a good bit of oak and a pinch of tobacco. The palate is rich, pop of red cherries, toffee, baking spice and tons of dessert notes. Touch of maple, orange peel and more baking spice. Long finish, the oak shows here a bit more with gobs of caramel, a bit of funk and more cracked pepper and orange peel. 

Week 4 – Knob Creek 8yr8mo Single Barrel Select Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Jim Beam)
• Aged In: Kentucky, USA
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Jim Beam)
• Details: 115pf, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• Warehouse: 1-04-05
• ABV: 57.5% ABV 
• Age: 8 Years 8 Months
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling
• Tasting Notes: I’m just waiting for some rogue group to pull out a Booker’s Rye Jr abomination of a sticker, but they wouldn’t be wrong in the end. This rye’s loaded with vanilla ice cream, stewed fruits, big spice and pepper, ginger and rye bread with a blast of toffee on the nose. It’s big, it’s sweet, there’s spice, and there’s enough oak to feel like this thing is built to carry. Rich palate, sticky toffee and plenty of oaky complexity with maple, rippin’ rye spice and orange peel. A bit oakier, more concentrated than the first cask, the finish is long, loaded with rye spice, oranges, a hint of cherry, toffee and crackle of clove. Unreal and awesome. 

Week 3 – WhistlePig 10yr10mo “Ryedration IV” Barrel Proof Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

Ryedration is back and the fourth chapter of this refreshing, crushable, richly flavored rye is here. Hailing in at 10 years 10 months old, it’s a testament to the ryedration series and bears the fun art to match. Typically these come in right at 160 bottles or so, but unfortunately this barrel came in a bit short. There’s still plenty to go around, but not as many cases as I typically hope to see from these well aged ryes. 

• Distilled: Canada (Undisclosed)
• Aged In: Canada & Vermont, USA
• Bottled: Vermont, USA (WhistlePig
• Mashbill: 100% Rye
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 55.95% ABV 
• Age: 10 Years 10 Months
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling & Ryedration Custom Sticker
• Tasting Notes: Beautiful dessert and fruit returns to the stage in this rye full of orange peel, tobacco, rich oak and delicious maple. Blackberry, orange peel, a hint of funky rye and sweet cream wafts on the nose. The palate is rich and shows a nice structure with plenty of oak but not too much: butter cream, clove, spice and some warm maple syrup. Funky rye sees the finish through: rich and combining sweetness and baking spice with a pleasant finish that’s unique drinkable. 

Week 3 – WhistlePig Piggyback 6yr6mo Barrel Proof Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

100% distilled at WhistlePig farm, this rye is a full 6 years and 6 months old, also bottled at barrel proof. 

• Distilled: Vermont, USA (WhistlePig)
• Aged In: Vermont, USA
• Bottled: Vermont, USA (WhistlePig
• Mashbill: 100% Rye
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Additives, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• ABV: 56.3% ABV 
• Age: 6 Years 6 Months
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labelings
• Tasting Notes: Rich and loaded with dessert and rye spice, this is a punchy rye at first that gives way to pleasant dessert character and baking spice. The nose is packed wall to wall with candied ginger, maple, a hint of toasted caramel, light herbal rye spice and a pinch of pepper. The palate is rich and satisfying, 56% presents a pleasant viscosity, tons of maple, another dash of black pepper and some black tea and orange peel. Long, satisfying finish that’s citrusy and sweet. While our first Piggyback was well suited for a Manhattan, I gave this a go in a Boulevardier, and may never look back. 

Week 2 – Old Elk 7yr 10mo Wheated Single Barrel Bourbon r/Bourbon Private Barrel Selection “Eternal Elk: A Close To The Cosmos

• Distilled: Indiana, USA (Greg Metze / MGP)
• Aged In: Colorado USA (Old Elk
• Bottled: Colorado, USA (Greg Metze / Old Elk)
• ABV: 55.95% ABV 
• Mashbill: 51% Corn, 45% Wheat, 4% Malted Barley
• Age: 7 Years 10 Months
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling & Custom Eternal Elk Holographic Sticker
• Tasting Notes: The nose opens with rich, sweet maple, creamy vanilla, cinnamon and sweet buttercream. Layers of oak pop, showing a bit of lift over our previous 7yr releases without becoming dry, powerful or bitter, they contrast nicely with the sweetness the wheat content brings here. The palate is loaded with caramel and butterscotch, creme brulee and maple. The wheat contributes really nicely to the texture on the mouthfeel here, viscous and decadent, a hint of baking spice and cinnamon sneaks in, balancing against the sweet wheat once more. Long finish, tons of nougat, brown sugar, sweet cream and a pop of cinnamon once more. The oak continues to hold stead, creating a long finish that presents sweetness without cloying, or becoming too try and oaky. A fitting close to the series. 

Week 1 – Four Gate 7yr Kentucky Bourbon r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Undisclosed)
• Aged In: Kentucky
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Four Gate)
• ABV: 61% ABV 
• Mashbill: 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
• Age: 7 Years
• Details: Barrel Proof, No Coloring, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling & Custom Wooden Hang Tag Medallions
• Tasting Notes: Bold and powerful on the nose, this is loaded with rich toffee and caramels, sweet oak, tobacco and a heavy, rich combination of floral baking spice, cracked pepper and decadent molasses. The palate is loaded with dry tannin, cake batter, apple butter, faint cinnamon and rich brown butter. Opulent texture that’s almost custard adjacent, with hints of red berry, tobacco, sweet cream and a dash of orange peel. It tastes much richer and structured than I’d expect for 7 years old and at 60+% ABV it’s got a great, buttery, texture on the palate. The finish is long, complex and full of character. Maple. oak structure, more of that floral baking spice combined with brown butter, rich tobacco and a hint of orange peel leads this pour off. 

Week 1 – Knob Creek 8yr6mo Single Barrel Select Rye r/Bourbon Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky, USA (Beam)
• Aged In: Kentucky
• Bottled: Kentucky, USA (Beam)
• ABV: 57.5% ABV 
• Age: 8 Years 6 Months
• Details: Proofed to 115pf, No Coloring, No Filtering, Single Barrel
• Labeling: Custom r/Bourbon Labeling & Custom Wooden Hang Tag Medallions
• Tasting Notes: Off the bat this rye means business. Extra aging brings a fat stack of depth, complexity, extra oak and nice structure to this rye. Stewed fruits, tobacco, rich cream and a hint of rye bread pops immediately on the nose. A hint of herbal cinnamon, cocoa and nougat develops with time, big toffee character. The palate is rich, layered and plenty complex at 115pf. Sweet oak combines with decadent caramel on the palate, rich and layered, orange peel, more maple and a faint touch of rye bread. The finish is long and hangs and hangs, full of rye spice, orange peel, sweet cream and stewed fruits, toffee and a crackle of pepper.