All the way in Maurertown, Virginia, lies the Filibuster Distillery. Until the writing of this post, I’d just heard of them but had not tried any of their whiskey. They were kind enough to remedy that.

What we have here is a single barrel straight bourbon whiskey distilled at bottled by Filibuster. This specific bottle lists a LOT of information. The whiskey geek in me is greatly appreciative.

• Water source: Virginia limestone
• Aged: 2 years, 5 months
• Ingredients: Corn, Rye, Barley
• Fermentation Duration: 72 hours
• Source: Shenandoah HWK Farms
• Barreled at: 120 Proof
• Barrel No: A/18/B/1-3
• Bottling Date: 06/13/20
• Barrel type: 18 months Air Dried

This barrel was bottled at a cask strength of 115.1 proof. At almost two and a half years old, Filibuster wouldn’t be my typical preferred age for a bourbon. I tend to lean for something in the 7-10 year old range. But, as we know, age is just one factor in the overall character of a whiskey.

The nose is full of kettle corn, grass, black pepper and a light touch of vanilla. The grains really come through here. Taste-wise, we’re looking at a nice bed of caramel topped with pineapple, spice, and some fresh herbs. This bourbon is very friendly at proof, not at all requiring added water. The finish features sweet corn, caramel, and some spice.

Perfectly enjoyable. That’s how I’d describe this 2 year, 5 month old single barrel bourbon from Filibuster. Nobody expects a super complex bourbon at this age, so what’s left is a really pleasant whiskey. One that I’d prefer to sip than to mix. I’d love to see what these whiskies will do as they age to 5, 7, or even 10 years. Next time I visit Washington DC, I’ll be sure to make time to visit Filibuster Distillery in Maurertown. I hope my wife doesn’t mind. 😉

filibusterbourbon.com

Thanks to Filibuster Distillery for the sample. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Barrell Craft Spirits has seen a great deal of expansion in the last couple of years. There’s the wonderfully received Private Releases as well as whiskeys that have undergone secondary finishing such as Dovetail and the new Armida. But it seems their bread and butter is still good ol’ straight bourbon whiskey. In my mind, blending batches of bourbon is what they do best.

Batch 025 is a 5 year old bourbon with barrels from Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana. Their website goes into further detail in terms of batch breakdown:

13 to 15-year corn-forward bourbons and 5 to 9-year-old wheated bourbons were slowly layered in with a selection of 9-year-old high-rye bourbons.

The result is 113.4 proof cask strength bourbon that is as complex and interesting as anything Barrell Bourbon has released to date. The nose is grain-forward with hints of sweet corn with an undertone of fresh tropical fruit and maple syrup. The palate reveals a mellowness that’s not to be confused with lacking flavor. Hints of vanilla icing, fruit cocktail, and espresso form the DNA of this whiskey. A sprinkling of cinnamon and the slightest touch of oak help unify flavors here. The long finish sees lingering ripe fruit and slight minerality.

Barrell has done it again. How many times can I type that phrase? I’m not sure of the answer, but it’s refreshingly true. Always looking towards the future, Barrell Craft Spirits continues to blend and release engaging whiskies. Twenty five unique batches of bourbon in just a few years, all varying in character from “wow, that’s pretty good” to “can I just buy a couple of cases of this?”. You can rest assured, you’ll have a blast discovering Barrell Bourbon Batch 025.

barrellbourbon.com

Thanks to Barrell Craft Spirits for this production sample. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Baker’s Bourbon is doing something fun to end the year. Remember when we had fun? Ah, those were the days…

Anyways… starting today, fans of Baker’s Bourbon (let’s be honest – who isn’t?) can track the journey of their single barrel of Baker’s at www.BakersBourbon.com/Single-Barrel-Journey. Once there, just enter the barrel ID from the neck tag of your bottle of Baker’s. Remember, this is only for the recent single barrel rebrand of Baker’s. The website will give you more information about your specific barrel and what makes it unique.

Baker’s is also launching this service with a limited time promotion. Once you’ve completed your barrel journey, you’ll be taken to a page to enter to win a unique photo with Baker Beam himself in front of your bottle’s rackhouse and/or an exclusive tasting with Jim Beam Master Distiller Freddie Noe.