Barrel Proof Notes

Oak & Eden Spire Select: The In-Bottle Finish That Actually Works
Oak & Eden Spire Select Wheat & Spire is not your typical soft wheated bourbon. This 114 proof store pick is finished in-bottle with an American oak spiral, bringing a dry, warm, oak-forward profile that proves the spire is more than just decoration. Read more...
Wax Sealed Bourbon Bottles: A Whiskey Nerd Weighs In
Wax Dips — Beautiful or Dangerous? Now we need to discuss one of the most divisive subjects in bourbon culture: wax-dipped bottles. Some people love them. Some people absolutely hate them. To most people, a bottle closure is just a way to keep whiskey inside the bottle. To whiskey nerds, it is part of the pour itself. A great cork creates anticipation. A bad cork creates panic. A wax seal can create BOTH. Wax seals look fantastic on a shelf. They feel old-fashioned and handcrafted. Certain bottles became instantly recognizable... Read more...
Blue Note Wheated Bourbon 101: Memphis in a Glass?
Born in Kentucky, Raised in Memphis, Finished with Soul Blue Note Wheated Bourbon 101 brings a strong Memphis story, 101 proof, and a 21% wheat mash bill, but our tasting found a lighter, spicier pour than expected. Here’s our honest Barrel Proof Notes review of a bottle with great branding, real promise, and a few surprises in the glass. Read more...
Things That Bother a Whiskey Nerd (And a Few That Don't)
The Cork Collection Most whiskey fans eventually end up with one, a drawer, a shelf, a box in the bar area...Filled with old corks. Nobody really plans for this to happen. It just does. Read more...
Double Oaked Bourbon: A Whiskey Nerd Breaks Down the Process
Double oaked bourbon sounds simple.   Put bourbon in a barrel. Then put it in another barrel. Done.  Right? Not exactly.  That second barrel can change everything. Bourbon already has to spend time in new charred oak to be bourbon in the first place. That oak gives us the familiar flavors we love: vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, spice, toasted wood, and sometimes a little smoke.  But double oaked bourbon takes that idea and says: What if we gave the whiskey one more conversation with the wood? That second barrel is... Read more...
13th Colony Straight Bourbon: Does the Maple Wood Spiral Change Everything?
Maple Without the Pancake Problem Maple-finished bourbon can go wrong fast. Too much sweetness and suddenly the glass starts feeling less like bourbon and more like breakfast syrup with a proof point. That is not what we want. Thankfully, 13th Colony Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished With Maple Wood Spirals takes a different road. This is not bourbon dumped into a used maple syrup barrel. According to 13th Colony, this release uses spiral-cut pieces of real maple wood placed inside the barrel. The idea is to pull character from the wood... Read more...
Buzzard's Roost Double Oak Cigar Blend: Smoke, Oak, and Something Unexpected
A Smoky, Oaky Cigar Blend That Actually Makes Sense Some whiskey labels make a big promise. Cigar Blend is one of them. It sounds rich. It sounds bold. It sounds like leather chairs, a slow evening, and a glass heavy enough to make a point. But as we covered in our Whiskey Nerd Guide to Cigar Blend Bourbon, Cigar Blend is not a legal bourbon category. It is a style term. At its best, it means the whiskey was built with enough depth, oak, spice, weight, and finish to stand... Read more...
Cigar Blend Bourbon: A Whiskey Nerd's Guide to What It Is and Whether It's Worth It
What That Fancy Little Phrase Really Means Some bourbon labels are easy to understand. Single barrel? One barrel.Barrel proof? Bottled close to what came out of the barrel.Bottled in bond? Rules, history, and paperwork. Then there is Cigar Blend. That phrase sounds like it belongs in a dark leather chair beside a fireplace, with a heavy glass, a slow evening, and somebody telling a story that may or may not be completely true. But what does Cigar Blend actually mean on a bourbon label? Let’s make it simple. Cigar Blend... Read more...
Corks vs. Screw Caps vs. Synthetic: A Whiskey Nerd's Guide to Bourbon Closures
Corks, T Tops, and Screw Caps...Oh My! Every whiskey fan remembers at least one great cork pop. Unfortunately, we also remember the bad ones. The cork that split in half. The one that crumbled into the bottle.The one so dry it practically disintegrated the second you touched it. Nothing ruins the mood faster than performing emergency cork surgery over a special bottle while your friends stand there pretending not to enjoy your suffering. And if you’ve been drinking bourbon long enough, it’s happened to you too. Real Cork Tops Whiskey... Read more...
Pikesville Rye: Comeback Kid or Collector's Trophy?
Pikesville Rye, a comeback story Some rye whiskeys try to soften the edges. Others try to overwhelm you with spice.Pikesville Rye manages to walk the line beautifully between the two. At 110 proof, this Kentucky-produced rye from Heaven Hill Distillery delivers exactly what many rye fans are looking for: bold flavor, real spice, warmth, and enough sweetness to keep you coming back for another pour. And after tasting it neat, this one absolutely earns its reputation.   Read more...
Why Cork Matters in Bourbon: A Whiskey Nerd's Guide
A Whiskey Nerd's Guide to Corks There are few sounds in the whiskey world more satisfying than a good cork "POP". To casual drinkers, it’s just the beginning of the pour. To most people, a cork is just part of the packaging. To whiskey nerds, it’s part of the story. A heavy cork with a clean pop has became associated with premium quality, craftsmanship, and tradition. Every bourbon fan remembers certain pops...their first allocated bottle, the celebration pour, that dusty bottle discovered on a forgotten shelf, the special release opened... Read more...
Welcome to Barrel Proof Notes: Honest Scores for Your Pours
Welcome to Barrel Proof Notes: Honest Scores for Your Pours
Welcome, Bourbon and Whiskey Lovers!  Barrel Proof Notes is a space dedicated to tasting, exploring, and sharing honest, unbiased opinions on the bourbons and whiskeys we actually sip and savor. ... Read more...