2024 Single Barrel Program Barrels

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.

Are you old enough to be here?