Barrel Proof Notes

Coming Soon to Barrel Proof Notes
Coming Soon to Barrel Proof Notes
Every great whiskey has a story. In our new Behind the Bottle series, Barrel Proof Notes goes beyond tasting notes to explore the distilleries, founders, master distillers, and traditions that... Read more...
A Whiskey Nerd Visits Virginia's Oldest Distillery
Discover the story behind Virginia's oldest distillery and one of America's most overlooked bourbon producers. From a dairy farm with surplus grain to award-winning bourbon, A. Smith Bowman Distillery has built a legacy of innovation, family history, and exceptional craftsmanship. In this Whiskey Nerd feature, we explore the people, the place, and the unique traditions that make Bowman one of Virginia's true whiskey pioneers, with a link to our full review of Bowman Brothers Pioneer Spirit Small Batch. Read more...
Fortuna Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review
Fortuna Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review
Rare Character didn't just revive an old bourbon label. They revived a forgotten piece of Kentucky whiskey history. We taste Fortuna Batch 1C and explore whether Phil Hollenbach's legendary bourbon... Read more...
Whatever Happened to Fortuna Bourbon? A Whiskey Nerd Digs Up Phil Hollenbach's Lost Legacy
A German immigrant built the Fortuna bourbon brand in 1870s Louisville, Prohibition buried it, and Rare Character dug it back up sixty years later — here's the whole story. Read more...
Hard Truth Sweet Mash Wheated Bourbon Bottled in Bond Review — Small Batch, 100 Proof
Bottled in Bond doesn't leave a distillery anywhere to hide — and Hard Truth brought a wheated mash bill to that standard. Sweet, structured, and full of character at 100 proof, with a surprising pepper kick on the finish. Read more...
Whatever Happened to Rye Whiskey? A Whiskey Nerd Explains
Long before bourbon, rye whiskey was America's whiskey — built by Pennsylvania farmers, nearly killed by Prohibition, and clawed back to life by the craft cocktail revival. Read more...
13th Colony Barrel Symphony Review
13th Colony Barrel Symphony: Composition No. 1 brings bourbon and rye together in a bold cask strength blend. The bourbon opens sweet, the rye builds slowly, and the finish lands with spice, oak, and serious structure. Read more...
Hurst Knoll Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Batch #01
Hurst Knoll Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Batch #01 proves that thoughtful blending matters. Bottled by Rare Character and crafted under the guidance of Pablo Moix, this mature Kentucky rye delivers caramel sweetness, citrus fruit, rye spice, and remarkable balance at 101 proof. It may be marketed as a cocktail rye, but it shines just as brightly neat. Read more...
Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon Review — Batch #15, 126.16 Proof
Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon Batch #15 (126.16 proof) is a bold, grain-forward Nevada bourbon with real rye bite, leather, smoke, and enough proof to hold its own beside a cigar. Barrel Proof Score: 3.25 / 5. Read more...
Old Elk Wheated Bourbon 7 Year Review — 2022 Series, Barrel #8287, 118.1 Proof
Some bourbons announce themselves with age, proof, and pedigree. This Old Elk Wheated Bourbon walks in with all three: 7 years old, 118.1 proof, 2022 series, barrel #8287. The bones are good. The delivery is complicated. Here's our honest pour. Read more...
What Is Chill Filtering? A Whiskey Nerd Explains
What Is Chill Filtering? So, here is how it usually goes. You pour a bourbon over ice — and suddenly it turns cloudy. Panic sets in. Did my whiskey go bad? Nope. Your bourbon is fine. You just accidentally discovered one of the most debated topics in modern whiskey culture: Chill Filtering. And if you spend enough time around whiskey nerds, somebody will eventually say with dramatic seriousness, "Thankfully, it's non-chill filtered." Usually while nodding approvingly at the bottle like they just discovered hidden treasure. But what does that actually... Read more...
13th Colony's New Bourbon-Rye Blend: A Whiskey Nerd's First Look
13th Colony’s new Barrel Symphony: Composition No. 1 brings bourbon and rye together in a cask strength blend of 87% six-year bourbon and 13% seven-year rye. We have not tasted it yet, but the specs alone make this one of the more interesting Whiskey Nerd releases of 2026. Read more...