Nose: Old lawn wicker and worn-out leather tobacco pouches mingle with Christmas plum pudding, rich and most marzipan, and campfire-kissed marshmallow with this faint trace of burnt incense ash. After two to six months of additional maturation, those barrels are batched before proofing and bottling. The hot juice was left for around four years before the barrel was hand-pocked and bottled as-is at cask strength. Club Bourbon. Nose: The nose opens with a rush of sharp cinnamon bark wrapped up with old saddle leather, freshly fried apple fritters, walnuts, old cedar bark braids twisted up with dried wild sage, and a hint of dried yellow mustard flowers with an underlying sense of maple syrup over pecan waffles. Finally, the whiskey is batched, proofed, and bottled. A rising star in the Bourbon market, Makers Mark prides itself on being neither bitter nor sharp, but somewhere comfortably in the middle. Its dry and long, offering palatable notes of oak, corn, and some more caramel. Finish: That vanilla creates a lush finish full of salted toffee syrup, more marzipan, and a hint of cinnamon candy. If you can get your hands on this single-barrel release, buy two. This very limited batch of single-barrel bourbon is made from wheated bourbon mash bill with 70% corn, 16% wheat, and 14% malted barley. Finish: That leads towards a mid-palate of dark red fruits stewed in mulled wine spices and cut with a dollop of fresh honey before the (long) finish dries out towards an old wicker chair, a very distinct hint of a cellar funk, and a touch of dried mint. That hot juice then rests for six years in new American oak. Elijah Craig has a particular legacy in the world of bourbon drinking, and the Elijah Craig Small Batch provides a brilliant continuation of just that. Buffalo Traces Old Charter Oak series is expanding with a Spanish Oak edition this month. Damian Lillard On Manipulating Defenses And Gives His Takeaway From The Nuggets Title Run, The Denver Nuggets Won A Title By Building Bigger And Smarter, Jim Jones on Dipset, Roc-A-Fella, Fred The Godson, & His Newfound Focus On Music, Fresh Pair Returns With A Special Episode Starring Bun B, Forest Claudettes Wistful Mess Around Performance For UPROXX Sessions Shines, Conan Gray Talks Texas, Viral Fame, And More While Breaking Down His How I Blew Up Story, The 100 Best Bourbon Whiskeys From Kentucky, Ranked, The 100 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2022, Ranked, The Absolute Best Bottle Of Whiskey From Each Of The 50 States, Our Head Drinks Critic Reveals The Expensive Bourbons He *Wont* Pay Above Retail For, The Absolute Best Bourbons Between $50-$60, Ranked. Palate: That spicy oakiness drives the palate toward orange-infused marzipan with a hint of spiced apple cider, tart cherry, and soft vanilla oils. This small-batch Single Barrel Bourbon follows an old-school Kentucky recipe with a high rye content. Blantons is nothing if not a satisfying whiskey, and the Single Barrel Bourbon is an excellent example of just that. Slovenia would you like to set this as your default country of delivery? McFadden also happens to be the co-owner of 2019 Kentucky Derby winner Country House and built this whiskey around his stables in eastern Kentucky. Registered in England and Wales (Company No. The mash is then distilled mostly twice to remove impurities and increase the strength of the liquid. Those whiskeys are blended and bottled as-is otherwise at nearly cask strength. The alcoholic beverage is made from fermented, sometimes malted, grains of barley, rye, wheat . While this is a distillery exclusive, its worth tracking down, especially if youre looking to bring something cool back from your trip to Kentucky bourbon country this year. Palate: That sweet spice cake drives the palate with a hint of rum raisin and dark fruit leather rolled with butterscotch pudding and light orchard bark. This sourced whiskey (from MGP of Indiana) is all about finding the best barrels and batching them to create something more. Finish: That creaminess drives the finish toward an orange marmalade tobacco end thats full of subtle notes of spice, vanilla, and apple/pear/cherry cream soda and cedar bark. This new brand has Kentucky Derby history running deep. Finally, the whiskey is batched and bottled as-is. This is a low-corn bourbon made with a mash of 68% corn, 20% rye, and 12% malted barley thats left to rest for 10 long years. The blending process of amazing cask strength barrels is front and center thanks to the whiskey going into the bottle untouched by water, leaving it batch proof.. Weller might be the original wheated bourbon, but Maker's might be the most poured one. The top 5 smoothest Bourbons are:Elijah Craig Small BatchFour Roses Single BarrelKnob Creek 9 Year OldMakers MarkBulleit Bourbon, The top 5 Bourbons are:Four Roses Single BarrelKnob Creek 9 Year OldPappy Van Winkles 23-Year Family ReserveElijah Craig Small BatchWild Turkey 101 Bourbon. Nose: A rich buttery note comes through on the nose with a hint of salted corn next to savory figs with a hint of honey and freshly ground nutmeg mixed with some vanilla cream. Finish: The end leans toward rich and salted buttercream with a nice layer of dark fruit leather, sharp winter spice barks, dried red berries, and a hint of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Palate: The taste leans into the peppery spice with an apple/pear vibe next to red fruit, vanilla beans, and caramelized grains. However, its the term used for whiskey thats been produced in select numbers on a limited basis.Sour Mash: The most common mixture of crushed malt and grain meal, sour mash, means adding some of the already used mash into a fresh batch for fermentation. The barrels were six to 13 years old when batched and bottled as-is without filtering or proofing water. Buy it now before it sells out. Slainte Hospitality announced that it will open Tartan House at 1027 E. Main St. near the NuLu and Butchertown neighborhoods. Its full-flavored and one-of-a-kind, with a reliable, easy-to-drink taste and a smooth and satisfying finish. This is consistently one of the best bourbons that are widely available. And dont be put off by the whisky spelling: it uses a process similar to that of Scotch, but thats where the similarities end. Finish: The end has a lightly dried rose vibe with some soft marzipan covered in dark chocolate and layered into an old fruit cake with candied and dried fruits, citrus, nuts, and plenty of dark winter spice. Palate: The taste starts off creamy and full of toffee as apple pie filling with plenty of cloves and cinnamon leads to peppery mint chocolate and salted caramel drizzle with a twinge of pine resin. That in turn means that the huge-name releases like Buffalo Traces Antique Collection or the Pappy Van Winkle line and the like arent out this yet (they save those iconic expressions for the holiday rush). Finish: The end really leans into the floral and citrus dank with an underlying sense of a corn field right after the harvest when everything is still green. Buy for dinner parties when you want to casually impress. Jim Beam is a brand of bourbon whiskey with a product portfolio that includes Ultra-Premium Bourbons like Jim Beam Signature Craft Quarter Cask Bourbon, Straight Bourbon Whiskey like Jim Beam Double Oak, White Whiskey like Jacob's Ghost, Straight Rye Whiskey like Jim Beam Rye and Liqueurs like Jim Beam Red Stag. Nose: The nose opens with a deep sense of dates, plums, and mild winter spice barks and berries next to rich bourbon vanilla buttercream, soft chewy tobacco, and a hint of tart cherry. With notes of caramel, vanilla, raisins, and a hint of charred oak, youll want to savor the taste of this premium Single Barrel again and again. Those barrels come together and go into the bottle 100% as-is. The definition, that is. Nose: The nose is lighter but leans into rum raisin and caramel with a hint of Cherry Dr. Pepper and cinnamon toast. Then, a combination of rye, wheat, and malted barley can also be added. Rich and full in the mouth with great . Since the temperature in Iowa swings by 100 degrees through a single year, aging doesnt need to last forever. Finish: The end leans into the warmth of the spices with a woody edge that then slowly fades through orchard fruit creamed with vanilla honey. Bourbon Street The Whiskey Baron The Last Drop Whiskey Always The Rye Crowd Just Whiskey Tapped Out The Bottle Room The Bellywash Rustic Spirits The Golden Cask Whisky and Chill Red River Saloon The Blue Martini Wise Owl Whiskey Whiskey Up The Thirsty Oak The Great Buckle Whiskey Lane The Whiskey Soaker Ambition Whiskey Bar The Drunken Donkey 10 Biggest Bourbon Brands, Blind Tasted And Ranked - UPROXX Finish: The end is short and has a touch of vanilla cake and holiday spice. Learn more about how we curate the best products for you. Once vatted, the whiskey is just touched with water before bottling. Finish: That warmth fades quickly as hints of dried cranberry tobacco and cedar braids filled with wicker and sweetgrass end the sip on a dry note with a touch of floral honey lurking underneath it all. This new series from Master Blender Jackie Zykan combines only 10 barrels of whiskey. Nose: Theres a rich sense of butterscotch candy on the nose with freshly fried sourdough doughnuts dusted in brown sugar, cinnamon, and maybe some spearmint next dusting of white pepper. Finish: That black pepper makes for a spiced finish as the pecan pie, orange, and custard all slowly fade away with a fleeting hint of an earthy cornfield after the rain. Buffalo Trace has been putting out these special oak releases for years now. This is a really good version of Kentucky Owl and worth checking out, if price isnt an issue that is. Although it takes a lot of skill, expertise, and patience to craft the perfect draught of bourbon, the ingredients are really up to the distillery. Bourbon sold in the U.S. must be produced in the country from at least 51% corn and stored in a new container of charred oak. This sourced bourbon from Bruce Buffer (of UFC fame) is an old whiskey. This distillery has spent years contract distilling for other brands, until this year when they released their first batch of this expression in April. Nose: Theres a light sense of nutty spice cakes on the nose with a vanilla bean foundation with hints of dark cherry, burnt orange, and dried apple. This whiskey is all about aging/finishing. Finish: The end has a classic warmth derived from spiced wood notes next to a hint of winter cake tobacco with plenty of dark and spicy syrup and buttery caramel. Those barrels spend years with the river gently rocking them before batching and bottling. This is the best one to date. I just sampled the latest batch of this over the weekend. The definitive guide to enjoying Bourbon. I think its even better than last years batch (which also won a ton of awards). 40% of the blend is an 11-year-old Kentucky bourbon, 21% is a 14-year-old Tennessee bourbon, 17% is a rum-cask finished bourbon, 14% is a wheated double-barreled bourbon, and 8% is an eight-year-old Kentucky bourbon. This is palate-expanding stuff that tastes wonderful. This small craft whiskey is made with a mash of 56% corn, 30% rye, and 14% malted barley. This is another great new bourbon that deserves your attention. An Old Fashioned is traditionally made with Bourbon or rye. The Biggest Bourbon Brands and Companies That Own Them - VinePair Read our earnings disclaimer to learn more. Four Roses has been around since 1888, making it through the prohibition period before disappearing from shelves for 40 years. Palate: The palate sort of leans into red fruit and dry grass with a light sense of orange and vanilla. This is a nice light summery bourbon. Nose: This is crafty bourbon turned up to 11 with a sweet porridge nose, raw leather, cold apple cider, and a hint of fresh oak. Nose: This is a stone-cold classic bourbon nose of dark Cherry Coke, spiced winter cakes, and salted caramel with an old oak barrel sense. The high rye mash bourbon (75/21/4 corn/rye/malted barley) aged for five years in Indiana before moving to Nashville for an additional 14 months of resting. This is a really good bourbon. This is a fantastic Heavens Door release and another great bridge between smoky Islay malt and bourbon. Weve compiled a list of some of the. Finish: The end is rich and full of stewed fruits peach, pear, orange, raisins and a mild sense of oaky spice and a mild graininess. This is a very insider/whiskey nerd bottler that happens to bottle superb bourbon. Nose: This smells rich and lush with deep creamy eggnog next to sweet dark fruit leather, old oak cellars, and a sniff of vanilla cake bespeckled with crumbled-up hard-toffees covered in dark salted chocolate. A crowd-pleaser, its a popular choice to pair with a beer. This feels very small but distinct. The bourbon is sourced (for now) and aged and bottled by the Dant Family in Gethsemane, Kentucky. The difference between Baccarat and the brands other offerings comes from a few final touches: an extra period aging in XO Cognac barrels, the handmade crystal decanters its served in, and its insanely velvety, fruity, sweet, citrus-tinged taste. I was lucky enough to get to sample a lot of whiskeys this year and narrowing all those drams down to 50 beloved. Woodford Reserves large bourbon collection can be bought at various price points, but its worth paying the extra dollars for an unrivaled taste. This is the new whiskey from famed blender Dixon Dedman (former head of Kentucky Owl). This is light and airy while delivering a great, unique profile that feels very summer.. The whiskey is a blend of mid to high-floor barrels from five warehouses. Nose: This opens with a rich matrix of cherry syrup, apple cores, sticky toffee, vanilla ice cream, and a bold line of wet and sweet oak with a mild earthiness. This innovative approach to aging whiskey pays off, with a rich and powerful flavor from start to finish. The whiskey is made from a 70% corn mash with a touch of local rye and malted barley mixed with Rocky Mountain spring water. Before I dive in, a warning this list is very expansive. Nose: Theres a sense of classic bourbon cherry on the nose with a hint of apricot jam over warm buttermilk biscuits with a hint of cinnamon and a faint whisper of Big League Chew gum. Scheurich selected very rare barrels that were at least 18 years old for this release and ended up with a mere 1,620 bottles. For another great option if you want a great value bourbon with a more modern twist, check our Bulleit bourbon review. Try it with a traditional Old Fashioned or branch out with a Bourbon Sour or Manhattan for a sensational drink. Nose: Chocolate malts cut with spiced cherry syrup drive the nose with a hint of cinnamon bark and eggnog nutmeg next to soft orchard vibes. Palate: The palate is lush and hits on butterscotch and apple chips with a light sense of vanilla frosting over cherry-chocolate cake with a whisper of mint in the background. For the sake of focusing on the important bits which Bourbon we recommend buying or drinking for every occasion youll find the common terminology further down. Palate: Rich winter spice cakes with a hint of rum raisin drive the taste toward dark cherry spiced tobacco with a rush of ABVs that cause a deep buzz before old cellar dirt floors and oak arrive with a dark sense of chocolate and espresso all kissed with salt. Jim Beam (also made at Jim Beam Distillery) Jim Beam Distillery, Clermont : Basil Hayden's (small batch) Booker's (small batch) Baker's (small batch) Jim Beam (also made at Jim Beam distillery Booker Noe plant) Knob Creek (small batch) Old Crow Old Grand-Dad Red Stag by Jim Beam Maker's Mark Distillery, Loretto Nose: Leather and spiced cherry drive the nose toward meaty dates and wet brown sugar with a very classic bourbon vibe. 10 Terms Every Bourbon Drinker Should Know - Food & Wine If you want to get a sip of some, , picking up a bottle from a Kentucky distillery is usually the best choice. Finish: A bright pepperiness drives the finish into spiced honey with a touch of toasted oats, marzipan, and burnt orange with a whisper of chamomile tea. Once batched, the whiskey is bottled as-is with no proofing. Its an attention grabber, with a pungent and powerful taste and plenty of contrasting notes. The whiskey is a barrel-strength version of Larceny wheated bourbon (68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley) created for a small batch of six to eight-year-old barrels. The best of the best are hand-selected by Angels Envys team for as-is batching and bottling with only 14,000 odd bottles making out this year. With notes of caramel, vanilla, raisins, and a hint of charred oak, youll want to savor the taste of this premium Single Barrel again and again. Each one will leave a unique impression on your palate, so dont hesitate to give all of them a try. The bourbon is made with 100% malted corn thats grown and malted at Frey Ranch. Nose: Toasted almonds and walnuts lead the way on the nose with a deep and rich vanilla cake lightly dusted with cacao, dry cherry, and cinnamon with a touch of old oak cellars and black-mold-encrusted old deck furniture. Palate: The palate is a mix of apricot jam, pear cores, and red berries with a mix of spiced orange candy tobacco wrapped around dry wicker and cedar bark. What Is Bourbon Whiskey? - The Spruce Eats The Whisky Exchange is the registered trademark of Speciality DrinksLimited. Moreover, the juice in the bottle is pretty damn tasty. It works but if youre looking for something dry or wood-forward, this is not the droid youre looking for. All RightsReserved. Nose: Woody huckleberry jam over raisin scones mingle with eggnog spices and brown sugar cookies, spiced cherry fruit leather, and a twinge of sweet yet old oakiness. Best Splurge Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon Whiskey. The whiskey in the bottle is made from a mash bill (recipe) of 70% Kentucky-grown corn, 21% wheat, and 9% malted 6-Row barley. Secondly, the whiskey is made from a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley so we know this is MGP distillate, and that usually means high-quality booze. Finish: Cinnamon bark and sweet orange marmalade mingle on the finish with a light sense of spiced apple cider, wet orchards in the late fall, and creamy pear pudding. Palate: Bright orchard fruits pop on the palate as fresh honeycombs (with a hint of earthiness) vibe with more marzipan, deep sourdough bread notes, and a good bit of old oak in old rickhouses just kissed with falling leaves and soft rain. Palate: The coffee cake leans toward banana bread with walnuts on the palate as huckleberry jam leans into an almost sour creamy espresso with a shot of mint chocolate syrup. This is just good whiskey. Finish: The nuttiness veers into marzipan on the finish as those spices take on a grassiness (hello, wheat) with a nice layer of Cherry Coke on the very end. The spring edition of Larceny is here. It also supports veterans, which is a crucial part of this brands ethos and worth supporting too. This bourbon whisky (yeah, it's one of the oddballs without an E stateside) is a staple . I just tried this again over the weekend, and goddamn this is delicious whiskey. The barrels are between eight and 15 years old. Finish: The spice warms slightly on the finish as the tobacco dries out and those reeds make a return. I dig sipping it over a large rock or mixing it into killer whiskey-forward cocktails. If you can find it, get it. Additionally, bourbon is always aged in new charred-oak barrels and distilled to no . The barrels in the mix are between six and 15 years old. Silverbelly Straight Bourbon Whiskey - Virginia ABC Distilled in a traditional style and named after the area in Kentucky where Abraham Lincoln grew up, this nine-year-aged bourbon is a popular choice at a friendly price point. Finally, the team at Lost Lantern thought this one was ready and bottled it as-is only yielding 65 bottles. This is a great table whiskey. In this case, Jimmy Red corn thrown in the mash. Nose: The nose is deep and classic with a sense of roasted nuts, toffee, and vanilla cake next to subtle winter spices, apple cider sharpness, and a hint of oak-toasted marshmallows. Finish: That cinnamon bark intensifies with dark red fruit, light chili pepperiness, and a sense of old malted cookies dipped in vanilla toffee on the very end. Nose: The nose opens with toffee, mild leather, orchard barks, blood orange, soft sweet grains, cinnamon sticks, cherry tobacco, plum, and a whisper of old pine accented by a touch of thyme. For whiskey specifically, this is the part of the process where any existing alcohol created during fermentation is removed. Finish: That butterscotch comes back in full force on the end with more peanut and maybe some walnut shell with a hint of milk chocolate powder and vanilla pudding cups. But Blantons higher-rye mash bill proved a success, and the brand has risen from strength to strength over the years. The double oak Bourbon brings out vanilla and caramel notes with a smooth start and a slightly sweet finish. But thats part of the fun, right? This iconic bourbon is perfectly aged for a minimum of ve years in American White Oak barrels with a level 4 char. Some really good bourbons are Four Roses Single Barrel, Pappy Van Winkles 23-Year Family Reserve, Elijah Craig Small Batch, and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. The Best Bottles Of Bourbon Whiskey For Under $20, Ranked. A to Z of American Whiskey brands : The Whisky Exchange Its peated bourbon and it works shockingly well. The sweetness and finish of this Bourbon are often regarded as being superior to any other Bourbon on the market. The whiskey in the bottle is made from a five-year-old bourbon made from a mash of 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% malted barley. Scotch Whisky A-Z Of Scotch Whisky New Scotch Whisky Special Offers Exclusive Bottlings Top 10 Whiskies 20 Whiskies Tasting Set Drink Sustainably. Finish: The end leans into almost savory figs and date leather with a sense of winter spice barks, burnt orange rinds, and singed vanilla pods next to a hint of marzipan tobacco and soft fresh honeycomb. This whiskey is from a very local craft distiller in Ohio. From here, you can dive deep into the rest of their wildly fun finishes. This is the best release from Wyoming Whiskey, full stop. Palate: That sweetness attaches to the dry grains on the palate with a sense of white cornmeal over smudging sage with a hint of orchard and winter spice bark rounding out the palate before the ABVs start to rise. Palate: A soft spice drives the palate as dry reeds lead towards cherry toffee and apple candies. This bourbon is bottled in South Carolina from sourced barrels. The palate opens with a sense of sweet stick toffee pudding (dates, cinnamon, nutmeg, salted caramel sauce) before hitting a high note on the ABVs with a spicy heat thats immediately countered by a rich cherry syrup and caramel sauce. This much-loved spirit has a distinct flavor profile and a history to match. That blend is proofed and then bottled. Finish: The end stays super lush on the mouthfeel as that pepper mellows toward allspice and clove with a sweet cedar vibe attached to a creamy nuttiness thats almost Nutella. In a whiskey market that's become increasingly fragmented and allocated, Knob Creek's classic small batch bourbon distinguishes itself. Crisp American and French oak notes combine in a bottle that youll save for only the most special of occasions. Single barrel bourbon, sweet or rare. Liquors / Chloe Jeong It's one of the most popular spirits in the United States, but what is bourbon, exactly? Its another winner of various national competitions. Then, the barrels are charred, offering a smoky environment that almost caramelizes the liquid. The whiskey is a two-year-old bourbon made with 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley, proofed to a hefty 103.8. Moreover, Wyoming Whiskey donates $5 from every bottle sold to Yellowstone Forever to help protect the park. Tasting Notes: Marmalade, honey, maple. This new whiskey from Heaven Hills Artisanal Distiller Jodie Filiatreau and Evan Williams is all about that wheat. 9. This whiskey was released for the struggling travel retail market late last year. Guinness McFadden co-founded the brand with the partners behind Justins House Of Bourbon. Nose: The nose opens with a sense of a fruit orchard on a sunny day with subtle spice barks and floral honey next to a moment of leather, caramel tobacco, and almond. Palate: Theres a woody huckleberry jam vibe on the front of the palate that leads to old-fashioned cinnamon apple fritter, pecan waffles, more orange marmalade, and nutty almond cookies dusted in powdered sugar and nutmeg. On the other hand, if you have a sweet tooth, this 100% is going to be your jam. The blend is a mix of contract-distilled Kentucky whiskey with Tennessee whiskey rounding out the mix. Its mostly a sweet and aromatic liquor with notes of chocolate, marzipan, honey, and brown sugar. Declaring the overall winner would be an almost impossible task. This is a great example of sherry finished bourbon. RD One is the new version of the Old Wm. It was then barreled 100% as-is. This Colorado whiskey is made from a mix of local corn, malted wheat, malted rye, and beech-smoked malted barley. This brand-new distillery-only release from New Riff goes hard on the grain-to-glass ethos. Palate: The palate leans into the spiced dark cherry with a hint of root beer (maybe even Dr. Pepper) next to singed apple and cinnamon bark with this fleeting sense of peanut brittle underneath it all. This is the same bourbon as above but finished in toasted French oak. Nose: The nose feels lush and oaky with a sense of Christmas cookies, mincemeat pies, and sticky toffee pudding next to stewed plums over fresh scones with a hint of brandy butter. This is sold out Still, if you can find a pour/bottle, youll be in for a true treat. That makes this the only whiskey you should be drinking if youre visiting the park this year. The batched barrels were vatted in a 1,000-gallon tank before being re-barrelled into French oak for a final rest. This whiskey pays tribute to Jeffersons founder Trey Zoellers grandmother Marian McLain who was an 8th-generation moonshiner and bootlegger back in the day (shes one of the earliest documented women in American whiskey to boot). Wild Turkey is another premium brand thats been distilling whiskey for more than 100 years. There are bourbons from all over the country. If youre looking for a bridge from Islay to Kentucky, you found it. This is a delicious but very bold bourbon. Smooth, woody, and with quality, Woodford Reserves Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon is made up of a wonderful mellow spice flavor. The ripple is that once batched the whiskey is re-barrelled into American honey and Brazilian Amburana oak casks. Are you ready to try the best bourbons? This is a nice crafty from Colorado and worth seeking out when youre in the Rocky Mountain State. This Indiana bourbon is from a veteran-owned brand. The Russell family has presided over a remarkable run for the bourbon brand for six decades; in that time, WT has become the best-selling American whiskey, and both of WT's Master Distillers, Jimmy and Eddie Russell, have been enshrined in the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. The whiskey in the bottle is made from classic Makers thats batched at Barrel Entry Proof (BEP), which is 110-proof (the average bourbon goes into the barrel at 125-proof) and then finished with ten bespoke wooden staves inside the barrel, all made from new (or virgin) oak. The best Old Forester (besides limited editions) are their single barrels. This North Carolina bourbon is starting to make some serious waves (its been winning some serious awards for a couple of years now).