Save The Date: In July, a special bourbon-tasting event is coming to Charlie’s Still on Main.
I will conduct a curated bourbon tasting on Monday, July 24, at 7:30 p.m. We dive deep into the history and significance of four select whiskeys. If you want to learn more about bourbon with no marketing BS added, this event is for you. The kitchen will not be open for this event, but appetizers to complement the tasting will be provided. Tickets will be limited and pre-sold only on a first come basis.
This will be a very special bourbon tasting with some surprises. For more information and to get on the pre-event waitlist, please email info@bourbonfool.com and put bourbon tasting in the subject line.
Understanding Single-Barrel Bourbon
There is no legal definition of what a single barrel means. It is implied that all bourbon in a bottle designated as a single barrel came from one barrel.
The original single-barrel bourbon
Blantons may be the most famous single-barrel bourbon, first released in 1984 by Master Distiller Elmer T. Lee in honor of Albert Bacon Blanton. Blanton’s was created before the current bourbon boom at the George T. Stagg Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. You will recognize it today as Buffalo Trace.
Now many different distilleries offer single-barrel options, either as part of their portfolio of bourbons or as a special release bottle.
Remember that no two barrels of bourbon are identical because of the nuances in the wood. However, they will be similar because the same mash bill or recipe is followed each time, along with specific storage and age specifications.
Single-barrel bottles can be exceptional. However, they can have different flavors because of the uniqueness of the barrel. If you love a single-barrel bourbon, remember that the next time you purchase it, there could be a variance in flavor.
Watch a single-barrel pick.
My good friend Charlie Berry and I recently picked a single barrel of Elijah Craig Bourbon at the historic Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Here is a light-hearted, quick look at the barrel selection process. Watch the barrel pick HERE.
