Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

After leading with cedar, the nose shifts decidedly to dessert with dried strawberries and raspberry jam. A little dark chocolate and oak join the party along with crushed cloves and allspice berries. On the palate, this presents more powerfully than its 126.7 proof suggests. It’s dark, deep and complex leading with charred oak, cooked red fruits, baking spice, cigar leaf and bitter chocolate.

For Bourbon Nerds: This terrific barrel is a short one, so get it while you can.

Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The nose leads with a rush of floral and candied aromas followed by white pepper, rye spice and a little clover honey. Toasted oak leads on the palate before spice notes become more honeyed. Toasted marshmallow and campfire hint that chocolate might arrive, but not in abundance. Darker notes like raisins and prunes interwoven with ground cinnamon makes this more pie-like and old fashioned cocktail ready.

For Bourbon Nerds: If you’re a cocktail lover, especially one practicing the reliable maxim of “better spirit, better cocktail,” then consider this. You’ll be rewarded with fruit character and spice complexity.

Green River Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

An array of fruit on the nose presents as Juicy Fruit Gum and fruit pastry. Quickly, aromas shift to white pepper, rye grain and oak. Fruit and spice transition to the palate alongside vivid baking spice, peppermint, honey and toasted oak. This whiskey punches well above its 123 proof, which means slow sipping is recommended and decadent cocktails are encouraged.

For Bourbon Nerds: If you’re the type who likes to memorize bourbon mash bills via your palate, this barrel is a Cliff’s Notes on Green River aromas and flavors.

Chicken Cock Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

Thanks to its powerful proof, the nose is big and bossy before softening some toward honey, yellow apple and golden raisins before darkening to cured tobacco and campfire. The palate is rich and slightly viscous, and flavored with dried figs, chocolate-covered cherries and cigar leaf. Drink this neat (sip slowly!), over ice or in a decadent old fashioned or boulevardier cocktail.

For Bourbon Nerds: If you’ve followed Chicken Cock’s revival, this is some of the oldest of its newly made and modern whiskey. That the brand is leaning firmly into powerful and complex releases such as this one is impressive.

Barton Full Proof Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

On the nose caramel and cooked corn lead, followed by light floral aromas, clove, cinnamon and nutmeg. On the palate comes cooked sweet corn, honey, golden apple, dried peach and cooked cherry.

For Bourbon Nerds: What else is there to say about a 1972 Full Proof other than, “Why, of course I’d like a pour!” It’s marketing hook should be, “Ever Reliable” because it checks every box for classic bourbon.

Barton Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

Corn casserole leads on the nose followed by nougat, creme caramel and sawn cedar. On the palate are banana, golden apple and raisin followed by Coca-Cola cake.

For Bourbon Nerds: Do you want a bourbon to pair with dinner? Yeah, we know the tasting notes hint at “dessert,” but sometimes sweeter iterations are the best offsets for savory foods.

Barton Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The nose delivers an unusual combination of spring flowers, milk chocolate, vanilla frosting, leather and charred oak. The palate is chock full of baking spices, fresh peaches and plums and flamed citrus.

For Bourbon Nerds: Barton is home to about 500,000 barrels in aging. This release tells the story of just one of them. Think about the stories one can start with that splash of liquid trivia.

Wenzel Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey

TASTING NOTES

Not surprisingly, this “95/5” MGP whiskey starts with mint before moving to cotton candy, caramel and winter green candies. The palate does surprise with a rich blend of golden apple, honey and toasted oak, which shifts to creme brulee, orange marmalade and confectioners sugar. This drinks a little softer than its 111.3 proof, but make no mistake, it’s a great, robust rye.

For Bourbon Nerds: If you’re not a fan of rye, don’t give up trying. This is not only well made, it’s well matured. It’s everything a good rye whiskey should be. It’s not a spice bomb nor does it taste of pickles or dill. The rye-averse should give this one a chance at the Wenzel booth.

Steelhouse Blueprint Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

TASTING NOTES

When we did this pick in mid-spring, it was the only one we’d done with ample air flowing in from outside. On that day, free-flowing floral notes were abundant, and made the experience completely different than tasting inside a rickhouse. Add to the fact that this is is 100% rye grain, and floral notes were embedded there also. The whiskey also is loaded with aromas of baking spice, warm bread crust and baked pastries. On the palate is golden apple, honeysuckle, toasted oak, cooked grain and Demerara syrup. Despite the simple aroma and tasting notes, this is a brightly flavored, full-bodied whiskey that drinks way below its 133 proof. Our tasting team was surprised when we learned its ABV was that high.

For Bourbon Nerds: Of the many profound changes occurring in the American whiskey scene since spirits sales have slowed is the glut of great bulk whiskey that’s being sourced by NDPs like Old Steelhouse. Let this one serve as a great example what NDPs have to offer in this year’s Distillers’ Row lineup.

Barely Legal Bourbon, Oloroso Sherry Cask Finished

TASTING NOTES

We tasted three rounds of whiskey: four in the first round, three in the second, and two in the third. Since we taste everything blind, the fifth whiskey, i.e. the letter “E,” was a popular choice. Some jokingly called it, “’E’-asily my favorite,” and not surprisingly, it withstood three other challenges. The nose is highly floral with confectioners’ sugar and cotton candy, a little baking spice, orange cream, tobacco, dried fig and cinnamon toast. On the palate comes honey syrup, a wisp of smoke, bitter chocolate, orange marmalade and toasted marshmallow.

For Bourbon Nerds: Take a look at that mash bill to see that a recipe that’s barely bourbon can produce deep complexity and flavor variety when managed carefully.

 Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The bourbon begins with toffee, cold creamed coffee, bright candied cherry and chocolate graham cracker, then leans into fresh peach and spring flowers. The palate is deep, dark and loaded with cooked stone fruit, toffee, dark caramel, a bit of leather and charred oak.

For Bourbon Nerds: Among an array of tasting table snacks available were Dark Hershey’s Kisses, which when combined with this sourced Barton whiskey, created a nigh-magical chocolate-covered cherry note. Despite the haz-mat proof, it doesn’t drink anywhere near as hot as that.

KBF Revere Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The nose starts with a lovely blend of spice and floral notes bolstered by white pepper and lemon peel. Tobacco and vanilla taffy join the party before giving way to cherry Fruit Rollups. Vanilla taffy carries through to the palate along with orange cream candy and light caramel. The finish is long, herbal, fruity, warm and slightly dry.

For Bourbon Nerds: This bourbon’s barrel entry proof was 97.5 proof. Distiller Cody Turner expects the proof to increase only slightly prior to bottling.

Silk Velvet Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The nose starts with a combination of black cherry, dried figs and dates that moves to cacao nibs and charred oak. Baking spice notes are ample, as is flamed citrus. As one might assume given its proof, it takes charge of the palate with cooked cherry and blackberry, dried fig and bitter chocolate. Toasted almond, cinnamon and flamed orange peel align nicely with the high, but neat-sip-worthy proof.

For Bourbon Nerds: Though made and aged in Kentucky at Green River Distilling Co., Jacob Call, who was master distiller there and is now master distiller and co-owner of Western Kentucky Distillery, sent this barrel and several others to age in Dallas for 3 years. As expected, Texas’s hot climate raised proof and beautifully intensified the whiskey’s darker notes.

Lux Row Estate Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The lightly fragrant honeysuckle belies the richness of the palate. Brown sugar and spring stone fruits have their say but fail to impede the rye spice and bitter chocolate forcing their way to the center palate. Dried dates and figs join them there, as do toasted rye bread and a little Nutella.

For Bourbon Nerds: This release, a pet project of master distiller John Rempe’s, is made from estate grown corn. Whether I was “tasting” the story behind that, I don’t know, but it comes off incredibly rich and full bodied, which I’d credit to good corn. Sip it slowly neat and let it wrestle with grilled beef or a rich dessert.

Yellowstone Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

On the nose it’s classically Yellowstone: light and lively, nutty, malty, floral, ripe peach and warmed brown sugar. On the palate come caramel, honey syrup, dried flowers, tropical fruit and light spice. It’s an easy and delicious and approachable Bottled-In-Bond sipper.

For Bourbon Nerds: If you drink seasonally (I don’t since, for me, every bourbon is always in season), this has spring and fall evenings all over it.

Kentucky Pot Distilled Rye Whiskey

TASTING NOTES

The nose is warm and welcoming with ample spice, oak, burnt citrus and magnolia blossom. On the palate, it’s complex and offers up lemon peel, toasted oak, sawn cedar, cinnamon, eucalyptus, a little wintergreen, light caramel, green apple and browned butter.

For Bourbon Nerds: This 7-year rye is made in one-barrel micro-batches on a potstill. The clean and bright flavors and crisp mouthfeel could fool many into thinking it was column distilled.

Bespoken Spirits KBF Reserva 2026

TASTING NOTES

The nose corrals aromas of cotton candy, cocoa powder, light caramel candy and some dark honey. On the palate, it’s beautifully fruity and floral, almost tropically so. Despite being mouth-coating, the finish is short, delightfully spicy and leaves behind loads of clover honey and butterscotch.

For Bourbon Nerds: There’s cask finishing and there’s precision finishing in micro-batches. This is Bespoken’s specialty and it does it well. Go to their booth to hear the story of how that’s done.

Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

Notes of warm caramel and spring flowers bloom from this solidly reliable bourbon. The nose then moves onto milk chocolate, charred oak and a little stone fruit. This drinks well above its 110 proof and provides a sweet-and-spicy punch that invigorates the palate with cinnamon red hots, white pepper and cooked apples.

For Bourbon Nerds: This bourbon debuted at the 2025 KBF and drew rave reviews for its surprising complexity at only 4 years old. This year’s iteration is deliciously different, featuring a much fruitier presentation and lighter body.

Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The nose starts as classic bourbon—caramel corn, baking spice, a little black pepper and citrus—before moving to candied lemon, honey and golden raisin. The caramel and candied notes echo beautifully on the palate and leave traces of honey and lemon in its wake.

For Bourbon Nerds: Make no mistake: This isn’t a toddy in the bottle. It’s lean and lithe and speaks confidently with its 121 proof. It is a great sipper and will also a cocktail boss. For those who see those lemon and honey tasting notes, consider contrasting them with bitters such as smoked chili or chocolate.

Maker’s Mark Private Selection Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The nose leads with light caramel, wheat bread crust and bright notes of citrus and cinnamon. The palate starts off bold and busily spicy before softening and darkening toward tobacco and a little leather. The finish rounds out with dried stone fruit, toasted oak and vanilla. Like most Maker’s releases, this is created to be sipped neat, and some of our team members envisioned doing so (logically) by a campfire.

Specifically for Maker’s Bourbon Nerds: After six tries, our group settled on a stave combination of P2 (1), Cu (2), 46 (3), Mn (3) and Sp (1). IYKYN.

Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The nose is potent and vividly bourbon laced liberally with notes of overripe apples and apple brandy. The palate is a great and balanced blend of youth and age to create a bourbon with baking spice, cinnamon, bitter chocolate, charred oak. But it’s the apple brandy notes that catch your attention and tap your memories of great apple crumble.

For Bourbon Nerds: This one is begging for a food pairing with, you guessed it, any dessert centered on apple or light bodied and fragrant tree fruit. It will also serve well in fruitier bourbon cocktails.

Augusta Distillery Private Reserve

TASTING NOTES

The nose on this bourbon is rich, laced with dark caramel, milk chocolate, cinnamon buns and baking spice. On the palate comes caramel corn, clove and cinnamon, citrus rind and orange creamsicle. For Bourbon Nerds: If you like a big and robust pour made for slow, contemplative sipping, this is your jam.

New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The nose is wholly enticing and reminiscent of a smouldering campfire: warm and smokey. Logically, behind that smoke lies fire-cured tobacco, a little leather and a vague reference to fire-grilled beef. It has a sweet side, too: freshly baked and molten caramel corn, molasses and some magnolia blossom tossed in by surprise. Campfire smoke also leads at the palate, followed by rye spice, toasted oak, dried fig, leather, light caramel and honey and a touch of cinnamon. It’s a stout pour at this proof, signaling it will be the boss within a cocktail.

For Bourbon Nerds … or Scotch Nerds: This doesn’t have the peat smoke featured in a Penicillin cocktail, but it has enough to smoke up its lemon-honey bourbon sibling, the Gold Rush. Highly recommended in that role.

Lucky Seven Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The nose is light but inviting, beginning with lemon pound cake, warm bread crusts and clove. The palate serves up a toddy-like combo of lemon and caramel, toasted walnuts, rye spice, cigar leaf and toasted barrel.

For Bourbon Nerds: If you need a gently assertive pour to introduce a friend to the world of bourbon, this is perfect. Unlike your hazmat stash in the corner, this elegant pour has all the manners and poise of a debutante.

E.J. Curley Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The nose starts off beautifully floral and herbal, and perhaps because the loading dock doors were wide open to welcome inside a cool June morning breeze. The nose is classic bourbon: baking spice, light caramel, expressed orange peel and some toasted macadamia nuts. The palate is surprisingly creamy, laden with lemon meringue pie, orange soaked pound cake and toasted oak.

For Bourbon Nerds: This supple and delightful spirit that drinks waaaay below its proof. This would be a rockstar for food pairing.
debutante.

Pursuit Series Episode 088 Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The nose pops with ample spice followed by rich notes of vanilla, caramel and warm graham crackers. It’s powerful but balanced on the palate with blonde brownies, toasted marshmallows, fire-cured tobacco and oak smoke.

For Bourbon Nerds: Pursuit owners Ryan Cecil and Kenny Coleman have built their releases on skilled blending, but according to Cecil, “We decided the barrels you tasted to today (all six of which were the same mash bill) were too good to be blended and should stand on their own.” And stand tall they did.

Whiskey Thief Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The nose starts off rich with creamed corn and light caramel before shifting to a little tropical fruit backed by fresh-ground baking spices. The palate starts off malty, slightly creamy and buttressed by caramel, lemon curd, cooked pineapple, vanilla bean and pancake batter.

For Bourbon Nerds: If you ever get a chance to pick a barrel outside—or at least on the edge of a wide-open rickhouse as we did at Whiskey Thief—do it. If you must, ask the brand team to open a nearby door to let the breeze in—which we’ve also done. The aromas of fresh air, whiskey soaked barrels and evaporating whiskey may seem insignificant, but it really heightens the experience. 

Cinder & Smoke Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The nose starts off a little muted though notes of bitter chocolate and oak emerge before further awakening some with black pepper, lilac and dark honey. It’s lively on the palate without fully flexing its 123 proof. Flavors start off as herbal and move to toasted rye bread before sweetening (after a few minutes’ pause) to vanilla pound cake and butter cream on subsequent sips.

For Bourbon Nerds: When sourced whiskey prices peaked a few years ago, Tom Bard, who co-owns The Bard with wife, Kim, said some advised him to sell a particular lot of Barton barrels. Though tempted, he didn’t sell, and the exceptional whiskey within them has rewarded him for waiting a few years.  

NuLu Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon

TASTING NOTES

The nose begins softly with confectioners’ sugar, honey, ripe golden apples and milk chocolate. The palate starts off with a blend of pot de crème, baking spices and toasted oak. Spices increase as the effect of a second rest in oak asserts itself in balance with baked apple and pie crust—courtesty of its heavy toast. The large percentage of wheat in this mash bill tames any tannin you might expect from a double oaked bourbon of this age. 

For Bourbon Nerds: Good barrel pickers stand up for their choices with sound arguments, and they concede graciously when they’re outvoted. In other words, we prefer to be opinionated and kind. This was one of those picks where six options were whittled down to two favorites, and opinions for each were reasonable. The majority voters for this barrel believe you’ll love it for its surprising creaminess and full-orbed roundness.