On the surface , “ little batch bourbon ” is just what it ( kind of ) sounds like : a foot race of bourbon made by mix a comparatively modest number of barrels . But that relativity theory makes " pocket-size batch " a laden term . ego - reported numbers from distiller put a distinctive small portmanteau at 10 to 20 barrels . However , with no Union regularisation on the phrase , a major whiskey recording label could call its latest offer “ small lot ” if it ’s one barrel less than their stock output signal … or one more .
One thing ’s sure , however : there are a destiny of great small batch bourbons out there properly now . To facilitate you settle which should meet your liquor storage locker , we turn to whiskey bar owners Mike Raymond of Houston’sReserve 101 , and Larry Rice of Louisville’sThe Silver Dollar . Both carry a mental encyclopaedia of oak - aged liquors , and cracked open its musty pages to pick a few of their preferred special portmanteau .
RAYMOND’S PICKS
John E. Fitzgerald 20 YearRaymond speaks with great fondness of this deeply senior bourbon . “ In 1999 the Heaven Hill still acquired the Old Fitzgerald line of wheated Bourbon dynasty produced at the Stitzel - Weller still . 12 barrel were transfer to the Heaven Hill ’s Warehouse Y in Bardstown , KY , where they continue to maturate on the first flooring . Truly beautiful Bourbon dynasty if you’re able to get your hands on some . ”
Jim Beam Signature Craft 12 Year“Last year Jim Beam launched their touch Craft line as a reply to the ever - growing ‘ cunning ’ distillery opening across the U.S. Although I ’m a fan of the intact line , the 12 year is one of my favored Bourbon and it ’s easy to find at your local store . ”
Four Roses Small Batch“Four Roses Small Batch is a no - brainer . It ’s a beautiful whisky . During the ’ ninety they only ship their unbowed bourbon overseas . They did a promiscuous whisky here because bourbon had fallen out of fashion . ”
Four Roses Bourbon/Facebook
Wild Turkey Russell ’s Reserve 10 YearRaymond compactly makes the case for his final plectron with respect to Wild Turkey ’s original distiller : “ It ’s Jimmy Russell ’s bourbon of choice – what more do I have to say ? ”
RICE’S PICKS
Wild Turkey Russell ’s Reserve Small Batch Single BarrelRice echoes the fear for Russell , calling him an icon . He state a great fondness for Wild Turkey 101 as well as the rare hatchling in Russell ’s nest .
“ I ’ve always been a rooter , ” he says . “ When it was tough for Bourbon dynasty distilleries to get rid of their intersection in the ’ 80s and ’ ninety , he just kept doing the same thing . ”
Rice favors the unadulterated fear Russell gives his reserve pile by precede the “ booze up , piss down ” method acting many exercise to wring a bigger mint out of administration labeling requirements .
Courtesy of Heaven Hill
“ What he does and what a muckle of people do n’t debate is – he puts all his whisky in the barrel at 110 trial impression . One hundred and twenty - five validation is the max by law you ’re let to put in it .
“ What that means is when you ’re getting 90 proof whiskey or 100 proof whiskey , this means more water is add to it . It really changes the flavors of the whiskey . So even a gustation of whiskey – leaden alcohol airs off a minuscule scrap . If you add a few drops [ of piddle ] to it , you blame up the subtle flavors . When you put it in 125 proof , compared to 110 , it make a completely dissimilar product . ”
Partner Content From
Pepsi 1893 is Aspinwall made the old - fashioned way , with existent sugar , kola nut extract , aromatic bitter , and coruscate pee . mingle it with your favorite tone and reflect on the practiced times past .
Buffalo TraceAged for eight to nine years , Buffalo Trace is “ a great product . It ’s correctly at the $ 20 - 25 price kitchen stove . It ’s high enough cogent evidence to make cocktail . It ’s good enough to sip on . That ’s their traditional Secale cereale mash pecker . ”
[ Quick lesson , not that you do n’t already be intimate this : The mash throwaway is the list of grains by percentage , which will yield the sugary wort ( and the wort , in turn , is what the barm feeds on to excrete precious booze ) . Bourbon ’s mash bill must be at least 51 % maize by law , although it ’s often close to 75 % . A rye whiskey mash measure reduces the percentage of corn whisky , and replaces its sugariness with the kick of rye . This is not to be put off with Secale cereale whisky , which is 51 % rye whiskey . ]
Courtesy of Jim Beam
W.L. Weller“[Buffalo Trace ] also does a wheated mash bill – their Weller – which has really hail into fashion late ; because people find out the formula is very alike to their Pappy Van Winkle line , which is knockout to get , ” explain Rice .
In a wheated mash bill , like Weller ( or Raymond ’s above pick of Fitzgerald 20 Year ) , most or all of the rye is replaced with wheat . This gives it a gentler flavor that uplift the edible corn ’s lucre rather than contrasts them .
Rice adds : “ It comes in at 90 proof : gamey enough to make your cocktails . It ’s less hot , a little more subtle . You get more of the rich billet : the caramel , vanilla . ”
Courtesy of Four Roses Bourbon
Weller Antique“It used to be age - stated at seven years . They send away that long time statement , but now I would conceive of it ’s still senesce at six to eight geezerhood . " We look into with Buffalo Trace Distillery , and they say Rice ’s tasting bud are on point ; Weller Antique is still aged for seven years .
" It ’s 107 proof , which really stands up . The same wheated mash flier , just a different eld , dissimilar proof on it . We do two different mint juleps at the Dollar . One of them is our Weller Antique . It ’s plentiful and more or less gratifying . We like to employ that in high spirits proof in our mint julep . ”
Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bottled - in - BondIf you ’re new to whiskey , “ bottled in shackle ” is the most useful terminal figure you’re able to practice to run a risk on a new label . It intend the U.S. Treasury is observe over your whiskey to guarantee touchstone of quality – although plenty of great whiskeys eschew it because they want to bottle above or below the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 ’s 100 proof requirement .
Courtesy of Wild Turkey
McKenna BiB is “ a great value , being aged 10 years , bonded , and under $ 30 , ” says Rice . In addition to its standalone virtues , he advocate it if you need to spice up your hot chocolate . Pro Tip : You do need to spice up your hot chocolate .
Heaven Hill Old Style Bourbon ( White Label)“Heaven Hill put out a ton of great whiskey at a very low-cost price . Their White Label , six years old , is a $ 14 - 15 retail bottle in most markets . ”
Heaven Hill Old Style Bourbon ( Green Label)“It comes in at a lower proof at 90 , but for a $ 12 nursing bottle , that ’s a great whiskey . Point being , you do n’t have to spend $ 300 on a feeding bottle of Bourbon dynasty to make a good cocktail that you’re able to sip on . ”
Pepsi
Courtesy of Buffalo Trace Distillery
Courtesy of Buffalo Trace Distillery
Courtesy of Heaven Hill
Courtesy of Heaven Hill
