BARRELL CRAFT SPIRITS
12 YEAR FRENCH OAK CASK BOURBON & TRIPLE RUM CASK WHISKEY
USA
WHY BUY:
The last time we came to you with Barrell Craft Spirits, you snatched up the entire inventory in a matter of hours. And we’re back with two more that show yet again why they're among the elite craftsmen in the business right now: a super high-octane Triple Rum Cask Finish Whiskey, part of their new Black Label Series, that clocks in at a positively HAZMAT 142 proof and that features some barrels that aged for as long as 25 years, plus — a bonus — a refined and nuanced 12 Year French Oak Cask Finish Bourbon. These won’t stick around for long, surely, so act quickly to secure yours.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
Barrell Craft has collected some serious hardware over the past few years: Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, two Platinum Awards at the L.A. Spirits Awards, Best American Blended Whiskey 12 Years and Younger at the World Whiskies Awards, and Best Bourbon at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (the latter an honor it took home not once but twice.)
OUR TASTING NOTES:
* The Triple Rum Cask Finish Whiskey is a great big wallop of a whiskey, but for all its strength on the palate, it’s by no means one-dimensional, and what struck us in our tasting was just how layered it is. Each of those three rum casks has contributed, and then some. The Barbados rum cask brings notes of toasted coconut and baked apple; the St. Lucian delivers tastes of honey, mango, and ginger; and the Jamaican high-ester rum cask imparts hints of tropical fruit, molasses, and allspice. In lesser hands, this could result in busyness, in dis-integration, but the result is just the opposite: seamless and well-structured, balancing richness, brightness, and spice with a satisfying and enduring finish.
* The 12 Year French Oak Cask Finish Bourbon underwent secondary maturation in hand-selected French oak casks. The aromatic benefits are obvious from the start: warm nutmeg and allspice, followed by toasted hazelnut and creamy vanilla, with a sophisticated touch of worn leather, establishing a tone of earthy refinement that the palate only builds upon. The French oak has resulted in a bourbon that is more subtle and refined than what a heavily toasted American oak tends to produce, and with a wonderful complexity and depth.
THE STORY:
Joe Beatrice founded Barrell Craft Spirits in 2013, in Louisville, Kentucky, in part to try to answer a question that had long bedeviled him: what happens when you combine different distillation methods, barrels, and aging environments on cask strength spirits? Inspired by Scotland's independent bottlers and their ability to elevate whisky through expert barrel-aging, the former marketing and technology entrepreneur began sourcing and blending exceptional casks from established producers with whom he and his team cultivated close relationships within the spirits community. The genius lies in the execution. Beatrice and his team are savvy sourcers and brilliant blenders, procuring barrels from Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and beyond, then weaving them into something magical through extraordinary knowledge, an unerring eye for quality, and exquisite collective palate. When Beatrice launched his company, he did so without a distillery, a bit of daring that might have failed, but didn't. Instead, he created a sensation.
FUN FACT:
Did you know? The FAA has banned the transport of all bottles of alcohol that clock in at 140 proof or more. The term “Hazmat Bourbon” has cropped up in spirit-geek circles as a cheeky response.
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only buy and source directly from the producer to ensure pristine provenance. These limited releases won't last long … secure your bottles today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2025. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer only valid in AZ, CA, FL, & TX. This offer will expire on Thursday, October 16, 2025.