Editorial Standards
Our Mission
Barrel Proof Notes exists to help bourbon enthusiasts better understand America's native spirit.
We believe bourbon is more than a beverage—it's history, agriculture, chemistry, craftsmanship, engineering, business, and storytelling. Every bottle represents the work of countless people, from the grain farmer to the cooper, the distiller, the warehouse team, the blender, and the bottling line.
Our goal is to tell those stories accurately, fairly, and in a way that is approachable for everyone from the first-time bourbon drinker to the seasoned collector.
Our Core Principles
Everything we publish is guided by four principles:
Honesty
Our reviews reflect our genuine opinions. If we enjoy a bourbon, we'll say so. If we don't, we'll explain why. We believe our readers deserve thoughtful, honest evaluations—not inflated scores or promotional copy.
Fairness
Every bourbon is evaluated on its own merits. We do not favor large distilleries over small craft producers, nor do we judge a bottle based solely on rarity, price, secondary market value, or reputation. Every pour begins with a clean slate.
Accuracy
Whenever possible, we verify facts directly with the distillery, producer, or official industry sources before publication. If information cannot be independently verified, we clearly identify it as historical reporting, commonly accepted information, or opinion. If we make a factual error, we will correct it promptly.
Education
We want every article to leave readers knowing something they didn't know before.
Whether we're explaining Bottled in Bond, warehouse aging, barrel entry proof, or why a distillery changed its bottle closure, our goal is to make bourbon more understandable and more enjoyable.
Review Methodology
Every tasting review published by Barrel Proof Notes follows the same general process.
Our reviews evaluate:
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Appearance
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Aroma
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Flavor
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Finish
Each category is scored independently using our five-star rating system.
The overall Barrel Proof Score reflects our personal tasting experience with that bottle and should be viewed as an editorial opinion rather than an objective measurement.
Whenever practical, bourbons are evaluated:
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Neat
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In a clean Glencairn or similar tasting glass
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Without food during the evaluation
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Over sufficient time to observe how the whiskey evolves in the glass
If a bottle is evaluated under different conditions, we will disclose that in the review.
Editorial Independence
Our editorial decisions are made independently. Advertising, sponsorships, affiliate relationships, or product samples do not influence our opinions or conclusions. A positive review cannot be purchased. Likewise, receiving a complimentary sample does not guarantee coverage. If we choose to review a bottle, it will be evaluated using the same standards as every other bourbon we taste.
Sources & Research
Our articles may draw upon:
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Interviews
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Distillery communications
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Official press releases
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Public records
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Historical publications
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Industry organizations
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Government sources
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Published books
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Academic research
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First-hand observations
Whenever practical, we seek comment directly from the distillery or organization involved before publishing stories involving company decisions, production changes, or historical questions.
Corrections Policy
We strive for accuracy in every article. If you believe we've published information that is factually incorrect or incomplete, we encourage you to contact us. Verified factual errors will be corrected as quickly as possible, and significant corrections will be noted within the article.
Opinions expressed in tasting reviews are not considered factual errors and will not be changed simply because others disagree.
Artificial Intelligence
Barrel Proof Notes occasionally uses artificial intelligence as a research and editorial assistant.
AI may assist with:
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organizing research,
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summarizing publicly available information,
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grammar and style editing,
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SEO optimization,
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proofreading, and
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generating initial outlines.
However:
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All tasting notes originate from our own sensory evaluations.
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Every article is reviewed and edited by our editor before publication.
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Final editorial judgments, scores, conclusions, and opinions are made by a human—not artificial intelligence.
AI is a tool that supports our work. It does not replace independent tasting, reporting, or editorial judgment.
Transparency
When appropriate, we disclose:
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product samples,
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media bottles,
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distillery interviews,
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sponsored travel,
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affiliate relationships, and
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any circumstance that could reasonably be viewed as influencing our reporting.
Transparency builds trust, and trust is the foundation of everything we publish.
Our Commitment
Barrel Proof Notes is committed to producing independent journalism that celebrates bourbon while maintaining the credibility our readers deserve.
We respect the people who make bourbon.
We respect the readers who trust us.
Every article we publish is guided by one simple promise: