The Last Call

     Single barrel picks can be some of the most rewarding bottles on the shelf, especially when a retailer takes their selection process seriously. That's exactly what drew me to this James E. Pepper Single Barrel Barrel Proof Bourbon, selected by West Clay Wine & Spirits here in Indiana. Even more interesting, this was reportedly the very first James E. Pepper single barrel pick released for the state.      The purchase itself was completely unplanned. My wife and I happened to stop by the store while we were in the area and were offered a sample. One sip was all it took. The profile was unlike anything either of us expected. My wife immediately described it as one of the funkiest and most unique bourbons she'd tasted, and I couldn't disagree. By the time we checked out, only a handful of bottles remained, making the decision even easier.       According to information from the distillery and retailer, this barrel was just shy of s...

       There’s something exciting about finding a store pick that instantly feels different the moment you pick up the bottle, and this Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Tennessee Rye absolutely delivered on that promise. Picked by Rich out of Greentown, Indiana, this wasn’t just another random single barrel sitting on a shelf. This was one of those bottles that local bourbon groups talk about for weeks after it disappears, and judging by how quickly it sold out, people knew it was special.      Jack Daniel’s has quietly become one of the most reliable names in American whiskey when it comes to rye. A lot of people still associate the brand with Old No. 7 and whiskey mixed with cola, but their barrel proof rye program is on an entirely different level. These single barrels consistently bring bold character, heavy oak influence, and an oily richness that stands toe-to-toe with some of the best high-proof rye whiskey on the market.    ...

     Region 5 is one of those brands that feels rooted in passion before anything else. Born from a group of bourbon enthusiasts in Indiana, they’ve started to gain traction by focusing on transparency, solid age statements, and approachable pricing. This single barrel pick, selected by the Kokomo Whiskey Club, leans into that same philosophy while adding a layer of local collaboration that’s always great to see.      At 9 years old and bottled at 54.9% ABV, this MGP-sourced bourbon checks a lot of boxes on paper. Single barrel, cask strength, and a proven mash bill, it’s the kind of release that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but instead aims to execute the fundamentals really well. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/uimN7j1Lm4Y . Age Statement: 9 years (Single barrel). ABV: 54.9% (Cask strength). Mash bill:  75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. Area of Distillation:  Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Appearance: ...

     There’s been a lot of anticipation around this release, and for good reason. The standard Woodford Double Oaked is one of those gateway bottles that pulls people deeper into bourbon, myself included. It’s rich, dessert-like, and widely available at a great price, making it an easy recommendation for just about anyone.      So when word started spreading in late 2025 into early 2026 that a  single barrel, barrel proof version  was hitting shelves, expectations were high. This felt like the natural next step, take everything people love about Double Oaked and turn up the intensity. But as these bottles started appearing, one detail stood out immediately: the proof.      What’s unusual here is how this “barrel proof” version is handled. Based on available information and how these are presenting, it appears the whiskey may be proofed down before going back into that second barrel for additional aging. The result is a final ABV hov...

     American Light Whiskey has quietly been having a moment, and bottles like this are exactly why. Once overlooked, this category is finally getting the attention it deserves thanks to strong releases from brands sourcing well-aged stock and letting it shine. Circle City Whiskey Company steps into that spotlight with their first American Light Whiskey release, a 20-year single barrel pick coming in at a hazmat-level 72.5% ABV. Sourced from MGP and selected as a store pick, this is one of those bottles that immediately grabs your attention both on paper and in the glass.      This expression is a single barrel American Light Whiskey distilled at a high proof, above 160 proof, and aged in used or uncharred oak barrels. That aging method sets it apart from bourbon, allowing for a more subtle oak influence even after extended maturation. At 20 years old and hazmat, this whiskey leans heavily on time and barrel interaction to develop character. With a mash bil...

     Some bottles feel different the moment you pick them up, and this one absolutely falls into that category. This Single barrel pick Oat Whiskey from Dovetail Distillery is one of those releases that immediately stands out simply because of what it is. An oat whiskey at barrel proof already pushes outside the norm, and when you add in the fact that it’s coming from a craft distillery in Nevada that distills, ages, and bottles everything themselves, it becomes something you really want to sit down and take your time with.           Dovetail has already impressed me before, especially with their Cutthroat Oat Whiskey, which ended up in my top whiskeys of 2025. Going into this one, the expectations were already high, but I was curious to see if lightning could strike twice.      What makes this whiskey so interesting starts right at the grain. Instead of the usual bourbon-style mash bill with corn and rye, Dovetail is doing som...

     Hard  Truth  Distilling  has  become  one  of  the  most  recognizable  craft  distilleries  coming  out  of  Indiana  in  recent  years.  Known  primarily  for  their  sweet  mash  rye  whiskey,  the  distillery  has  steadily  been  expanding  into  bourbon  as  well.  While  some  of  their  earlier  bourbons  felt  fairly  standard,  the  newer  releases  with  higher  age  statements  and  barrel  proof  offerings  have  started  to  show  real  promise.           This  particular  bottle  is  a  distillery- selected  single  barrel  called  Decadence.  Bottled  at  cas...

     Larrikin Bourbon Company has officially made its way onto Indiana shelves in 2026, and not quietly. This single barrel, barrel proof High Wheat Rye selected by Handy Spot Liquor immediately stood out as something different. I had the chance to taste it on site alongside their bourbon pick, and it was one of those pours that makes you stop mid-sip and rethink what you thought you knew about mash bills.      Based in Kentucky, not far from  Wild Turkey , Larrikin has been transparent about sourcing while also working toward its own distillation. This particular release is sourced from Florida, which makes the profile even more intriguing with its unconventional mash bill to boot.      Larrikin, formerly known as Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company, went through a thoughtful rebrand to carve out a clearer identity. Founder Greg Keeley, originally from Australia and now based in Kentucky, is also a U.S. veteran, which adds a meaningful layer t...

     Larrikin Bourbon Company is one of those brands I had been watching from a distance, waiting for it to finally land here in Indiana. In 2026, we started seeing bottles hit shelves, along with a few store picks, including this single barrel selected by Handy Spot Liquor in Indiana. After tasting it in-store, I walked away… and then came back two days later to buy it. That alone should tell you something.      Transparency is a strong point for the brand, and on paper this nine-year, barrel proof single barrel looked promising. This is a single barrel Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at a hefty ABV and aged at least nine years. The mash bill is 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. Larrikin standard releases use the same mash bill and are also single barrels, while select barrels like this one are chosen by individual stores or groups. While the distillery is not officially disclosed, the mash bill and Kentucky origin suggest a strong possibilit...

     Some bottles just sit on the shelf and stare at you. This one did that to me for nearly a year. Old Blue Single Barrel Cask Strength from Wood Hat Spirits was part of a group store pick here in Indiana, originally hovering near the $90–$100 mark before eventually dropping to half price. Once the price fell, curiosity finally won.      Information on this bottling is surprisingly limited. The label states that it is grown, aged, distilled, and bottled by Wood Hat, which is a huge plus in the craft world. As a straight corn whiskey, we know the mash bill is at least 80% corn, but the remaining 20% is undisclosed. There is no age statement, and barrel size is not specified. I reached out for clarification but never received a response. So we go in with what’s in the glass.      Being craft and potentially made with smaller barrels, there are a lot of variables at play. Smaller cooperage can accelerate oak influence, and with a high-corn mas...

     Craft bourbon can be hit or miss, especially when age statements are young and prices creep upward. This single barrel from 18th Street Distilling out of Hammond, Indiana came with hesitation attached. At just three years old and originally priced around $80, it was a bottle that sat on shelves until a significant price drop finally made it too tempting to ignore.       18th Street is one of those distilleries doing everything themselves. They distill, age, and bottle their own whiskey while also maintaining a strong presence in the beer world. That hands-on approach has shown promise in the past, but this bottle felt like a real moment of arrival.      This is a single barrel cask strength straight bourbon, bottled at a hefty 62.8% ABV and aged a minimum of three years. Unfortunately, transparency beyond that stops there. No mash bill details, no barrel size information, and no specifics on warehouse conditions. What is known is th...

     Backbone Bourbon Company has built a strong reputation out of Indianapolis by embracing transparency and leaning into creative sourcing. While many know them for their MGP-driven releases, they’ve never been shy about exploring whiskey from across North America and beyond. This particular bottle immediately stops you in your tracks because it challenges expectations before the cork even comes out.      This is an Irish whiskey, but the color tells a completely different story. Deep, dark, and bordering on mahogany, it looks far closer to a heavily aged double-oaked bourbon than anything traditionally associated with Ireland. That alone made this release impossible to pass up, especially knowing it came from a small, almost accidental single barrel that found its way to Holly’s Package Store.      The whiskey began its life in Ireland, aged as an Irish whiskey before being shipped to the United States. Once stateside, Backbone finished it...

     West Fork Whiskey Company out of Westfield, Indiana continues to be one of the most interesting producers in the state, especially when it comes to creative finishes. This Hugh Hamer Street Bourbon is part of their sourced Old Hamer/Hugh Hamer lineup, pulling from MGP and finished with intention rather than gimmick. This particular bottle was a single barrel pick for the Brownsburg Bourbon Society, finished in grape brandy barrels.      Grape brandy finishes are not something you see often in bourbon, and that alone made this bottle intriguing. After tasting it at the distillery, revisiting it later with a fresh palate felt like the right way to really see if that grape brandy influence held up. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/dtLtdu2OnQg . Age Statement: +7 years. (Single barrel). ABV: 61.81% (Cask strength). Mash bill: 99% corn, 1% malted barley. Area of Distillation:  Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Appearance: ...

     Old Hamer continues to be one of those quietly interesting labels that rewards anyone willing to slow down and pay attention. This particular bottle is a single barrel, cask strength bourbon coming in at a robust 62.2% ABV and carrying an age statement of at least 10 years. While West Fork Whiskey Company handles their own distillation and aging under other labels, the Old Hamer and Hugh Hamer lineup is openly sourced from MGP, something they are refreshingly transparent about.      What makes this release stand out is that it was hand-selected by Whiskey Weather during a barrel pick at West Fork. After tasting multiple barrels side by side, this one proved that proof alone does not dictate quality. Despite being a few proof points lower than another available pick, this barrel showed better balance and sweeter character, ultimately earning a spot on my shelf. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/AgN8fJNDpi8 . Age State...