# BARREL PROOF NOTES

> INDEPENDENT BOURBON & WHISKEY PUBLICATION


## Posts

- [Haunted History, Spooky Sips, and Whiskey After Dark](https://barrelproofnotes.com/haunted-history-spooky-sips-and-whiskey-after-dark/): From paranormal investigations at North Carolina's Whiskey Prison to Halloween cocktail classes and candy pairings, discover October's seasonal distillery events along America's East Coast.
- [Song Dog Farm Distillery and the Flavor of Place](https://barrelproofnotes.com/song-dog-farm-distillery-and-the-flavor-of-place/): Barrel Proof Notes recently sat down with David Harris and Megan Draheim, the founders of Song Dog Farm Distillery, to discuss their journey, how they got there and why it matters to them.
- [Virgil Kaine Rip-Track Eight-Year Single Barrel Bourbon](https://barrelproofnotes.com/virgil-kaine-rip-track-eight-year-single-barrel-bourbon/): Grandma’s Fruitcake Meets Black Pepper with Virgil Kaine's Rip-Track Single Barrel. Buttered caramel, dried fruit, and a long run of black pepper define this pour. Virgil Kaine Rip-Track’s eight-year single barrel reminds me of Grandma’s homemade Christmas fruitcake—followed by a peppery finish that keeps going well after the sweetness has stepped aside.
- [Song Dog Farm Distillery: A First Year Worth Toasting](https://barrelproofnotes.com/song-dog-farm-distillery-a-first-year-worth-toasting/): As Song Dog Farm Distillery approaches its first anniversary at its Boyds, Maryland farm, recognition is arriving for nearly every part of the experience—from the whiskey in the bottle to the bottle itself and even the building where it is made.
- [High Wire Distilling: Where the Farmer’s Name Goes on the Barrel](https://barrelproofnotes.com/high-wire-distilling-where-the-farmers-name-goes-on-the-barrel/): At High Wire Distilling in Charleston, South Carolina, “local grain” is more than a line on the label. The identity of the farmer, and sometimes even the field where the corn was grown, can follow the grain all the way into the aging warehouse.
- [Twelve 33 Big Six Oloroso Bourbon](https://barrelproofnotes.com/twelve-33-big-six-oloroso-bourbon/): What happens when a South Carolina bourbon takes a detour through an Oloroso sherry cask? You get graham crackers and Fig Newtons in the middle of your whiskey...and its delicious.
- [Behind Bars at Whiskey Prison: Bourbon, History, and an Unexpected Brotherhood](https://barrelproofnotes.com/behind-bars-at-whiskey-prison-bourbon-history-and-an-unexpected-brotherhood/): Southern Grace Distilleries may have one of the most unusual distillery settings in America. After spending an afternoon behind the fence, we discovered that the whiskey is every bit as memorable as the prison.
- [Rain, Rare Whiskey, and a Family Welcome at Hollow Creek Distillery](https://barrelproofnotes.com/rain-rare-whiskey-and-a-family-welcome-at-hollow-creek-distillery/): Hollow Creek promised a special day for bourbon fans. They delivered one...and made it look easy.
- [Sixty Men Straight Bourbon Whiskey](https://barrelproofnotes.com/sixty-men-straight-bourbon-whiskey/): A strong Texas story, but a very young bourbon
- [13th Colony Distilleries: Where South Georgia Heat Becomes Part of the Whiskey](https://barrelproofnotes.com/13th-colony-distilleries-where-south-georgia-heat-becomes-part-of-the-whiskey/): Follow the scenic route into South Georgia and you'll find a distillery doing something distinctly its own. At 13th Colony Distilleries, the relentless summer heat, heavy humidity, and temperature swings of Americus aren't background scenery. They're part of the whiskey-making process.
- [BEHIND THE BOTTLE](https://barrelproofnotes.com/coming-soon-to-barrel-proof-notes/): At Barrel Proof Notes, we've always believed that every bottle deserves an honest score, but we also believe every bottle has a story.
- [Virginia's Oldest Distillery](https://barrelproofnotes.com/a-whiskey-nerd-visits-virginias-oldest-distillery/): Some distilleries are famous because they produce a unicorn bottle. Others because they have been around forever. Then there are places like A.
- [Fortuna Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review](https://barrelproofnotes.com/fortuna-kentucky-straight-bourbon-review/): Long before bourbon became a worldwide phenomenon, German immigrant Philip (Phil) Hollenbach built Fortuna into one of Kentucky's best-known whiskey brands during the late 1800s. At its height, Fortuna was one of the dominant bourbon labels in Chicago and throughout much of the Midwest before Prohibition and changing times slowly erased it from history. By the late 1950s, the brand had disappeared almost completely. Fortunately, that wasn't the end of the story.
- [Whatever Happened to Fortuna Bourbon? Phil Hollenbach's Lost Legacy](https://barrelproofnotes.com/whatever-happened-to-fortuna-bourbon-a-whiskey-nerd-digs-up-phil-hollenbachs-lost-legacy/): Phil Hollenbach came to the United States from Germany in 1869. By the late 1870s he was running a successful blending and bottling operation — and like a lot of ambitious whiskey men of the era, he eventually decided he needed his own supply instead of depending on someone else's barrels. See where that decision takes Phil by reading more here.
- [Hard Truth Wheated Bourbon Bottled in Bond —](https://barrelproofnotes.com/hard-truth-sweet-mash-wheated-bourbon-bottled-in-bond-review-small-batch-100-proof/): Hard Truth Distilling Co. has been pouring out of Nashville, Indiana — Brown County, hill country about an hour south of Indianapolis — since 2015. When the still finally went in, bourbon was the first thing Master Distiller Bryan Smith laid down, which means a bottle like this one has been years in the making for a distillery that's only recently started showing its bourbon hand.
- [The History of Rye Whiskey - an Origin Story and  a Revival](https://barrelproofnotes.com/whatever-happened-to-rye-whiskey-a-whiskey-nerd-explains/): The original Manhattan, the original Old Fashioned, the original whiskey sour — all of it was built on rye. Bourbon is the newcomer here. Rye is the whiskey that built the country, then nearly vanished from it, then came back from the edge of extinction to reclaim its spot on the shelf. Here's how that happened.
- [13th Colony Barrel Symphony Review](https://barrelproofnotes.com/13th-colony-barrel-symphony-review/): When 13th Colony first announced Barrel Symphony: Composition No. 1, we wrote about it as a curiosity piece. At that time, Symphony had not even been released. We only had the specs, the concept, and the promise. We were told by the folks at 13th Colony this had been in the works for sometime. Now we have it!
- [Hurst Knoll Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Batch #01](https://barrelproofnotes.com/hurst-knoll-kentucky-straight-rye-whiskey-batch-01/): Before we even poured a glass, the bottle made an impression. The presentation is outstanding. From the classic label design to the elegant bottle shape, everything about it suggests old-world whiskey craftsmanship. It looks like something that belongs on a mahogany back bar rather than a crowded liquor store shelf. Once opened, the whiskey backed up the appearance.
- [Old Elk Wheated Bourbon 7 Year — 2022 Series, Barrel #8287, 118.1 Proof](https://barrelproofnotes.com/old-elk-wheated-bourbon-7-year-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, and part of the 2022 series from barrel #8287. On paper, that sounds like a bottle with plenty of depth, power, and soft wheated sweetness. In the glass, though, this one was more complicated.
- [Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon — Batch #15, 126.16 Proof](https://barrelproofnotes.com/frey-ranch-farm-strength-uncut-bourbon-batch-15-126-16-proof/): Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon comes from Fallon, Nevada, where Frey Ranch Farmers + Distillers has built its identity around a true field-to-bottle whiskey model. The grain is grown there. The whiskey is distilled there. It is matured there. It is bottled there. That matters.
- [What Is Chill Filtering? A Whiskey Nerd Explains](https://barrelproofnotes.com/whiskey-nerd-on-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.
- [13th Colony's New Bourbon-Rye Blend](https://barrelproofnotes.com/whiskey-nerd-new-release-from-13th-colony/): There are whiskey releases that feel like a line extension, and then there are releases that feel like a distillery planting a flag.
- [Oak & Eden Spire Select: The In-Bottle Finish That Actually Works](https://barrelproofnotes.com/oak-eden-spire-select-wheat-spire/): Some bottles make you curious before you ever pull the cork. Oak & Eden Spire Select Wheat & Spire is one of those. There is literally an oak spiral inside the bottle. That is not a marketing note hiding in fine print. That is the whole idea. Oak & Eden has built its identity around what it calls in-bottle finishing, using a spiral-cut piece of oak, the spire, inside the bottle to continue shaping the whiskey after traditional barrel aging.
- [Wax Sealed Bourbon Bottles: A Whiskey Nerd Weighs In](https://barrelproofnotes.com/a-whiskey-nerd-comments-on-wax-dips/): 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.
- [Blue Note Wheated Bourbon 101: Memphis in a Glass?](https://barrelproofnotes.com/blue-note-wheated-bourbon-101/): The label on Blue Note's Wheated Bourbon gives it a strong identity right away: "Born in Kentucky, Raised in Memphis, Finished with Soul." That is a great line. It tells you exactly what the brand wants this bourbon to be, Kentucky bourbon character shaped by Memphis attitude.
- [Things That Bother a Whiskey Nerd (And a Few That Don't)](https://barrelproofnotes.com/observations-of-a-whiskey-nerd/): 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.
- [Buzzard's Roost Double Oak Cigar Blend: Smoke, Oak, and Something Unexpected](https://barrelproofnotes.com/buzzard-s-roost-double-oak-cigar-blend-bourbon/): Buzzards Roost is a Louisville-based whiskey brand co-founded by Jason Brauner and Judith Hollis Jones in 2019. The brand is built around secondary maturation, especially custom barrels designed to create specific flavor outcomes. Buzzards Roost says its whiskey begins in traditional new oak, then moves into custom-built secondary barrels that are toasted and charred to specific profiles. That matters here because this bottle is not just wearing the words Double Oak for decoration. Buzzards Roost has made double oak maturation a central part of its identity.
- [13th Colony Straight Bourbon: Does the Maple Wood Spiral Change Everything?](https://barrelproofnotes.com/13th-colony-straight-bourbon-whiskey-finished-with-maple-wood-spirals/): 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.
- [Double Oaked Bourbon: A Whiskey Nerd Breaks Down the Process](https://barrelproofnotes.com/whiskey-nerd-discussed-double-oaked-bourbon/): Double oaked bourbon sounds simple.
- [Cigar Blend - What does that really mean?](https://barrelproofnotes.com/whiskey-nerd-s-guide-to-cigar-blend-bourbon/): 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?
- [Corks vs. Screw Caps vs. Synthetic: A Whiskey Nerd's Guide to Bourbon Closures](https://barrelproofnotes.com/a-whiskey-nerd-s-guide-to-modern-bottle-closures/): Whiskey nerds secretly judge corks. Nobody admits this at first, but after enough distillery visits, bottle shares, and late-night pours, you realize whiskey people absolutely judge bottle closures. A heavy cork with a deep pop feels premium. A cheap synthetic stopper with a squeak doesn't exactly inspire confidence. That may not be entirely fair. But it's reality.
- [Pikesville Rye: Comeback Kid or Collector's Trophy?](https://barrelproofnotes.com/pikesville-rye-a-comeback-story/): 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.
- [Why Cork Matters in Bourbon: A Whiskey Nerd's Guide](https://barrelproofnotes.com/a-whiskey-nerd-s-guide-to/): A proper cork "POP"! There are few sounds in the whiskey world more satisfying than this. To casual drinkers, it's just the beginning of the pour. To whiskey nerds, it's important.
- [Barrel Proof Notes](https://barrelproofnotes.com/welcome-to-barrel-proof-notes-honest-scores-for-your-pours/): Barrel Proof Notes is an independent bourbon and whiskey publication designed to be a place for people like us.
- [What a Bourbon Bottle Tells You Before You Open It: A Whiskey Nerd's Take](https://barrelproofnotes.com/the-secret-language-of-whiskey-bottles/): Some bottles look like they belong in a dusty frontier saloon. Others look like they should sit behind velvet ropes in a luxury hotel bar. Some are square and serious. Some are tall and elegant. Some look like chemistry equipment. And some, the ones that end up in display cases, look like they were made for something more than just holding liquid. The bottle is the first argument the distillery makes.
- [Bluegrass Distillery Kentucky Straight Bourbon High Rye Blue Corn](https://barrelproofnotes.com/bluegrass-distillery-kentucky-straight-bourbon-high-rye-blue-corn/): A 7-Year Blue Corn Bourbon With Sweetness, Rye Structure, and a Smooth Kentucky Finish. Some bourbons get your attention before the first pour because of the label. Others do it because of the proof, the age statement, or the distillery story. This one gets your attention because of the grain.
- [Belle Meade Reserve Bourbon: A High-Rye Pour with Nashville History and Indiana Backbone](https://barrelproofnotes.com/belle-meade-reserve-bourbon/): A High-Rye Pour with Nashville History and Indiana Backbone. Belle Meade Reserve is interesting before the cork ever comes out of the bottle. The label on this bottle says 108.3 proof and states that it was distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana for Nelson's Green Brier Distillery. That matters because Belle Meade Reserve sits squarely in the high-rye, sourced-bourbon tradition that helped make the Belle Meade name popular with whiskey fans in the first place.
- [Bowman Brothers Pioneer Spirit Small Batch Bourbon](https://barrelproofnotes.com/bowman-brothers-pioneer-spirit-small-batch-bourbon/): Bowman Brothers Pioneer Spirit comes from A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg, Virginia, a name with deep roots in the Commonwealth and a story that reaches back to the early days after Prohibition. The Bowman name itself honors John J., Abraham, Joseph, and Isaac Bowman, Virginia militia officers from the American Revolutionary War. That tie-in is not just marketing copy. It is right there in the bottle experience.
- [Old Dominick 8 Year Reserve Bourbon: Memphis History, Big Spice, and a Pour That Made Us Think](https://barrelproofnotes.com/old-dominick-8-year-reserve-bourbon/): Memphis History, Big Spice, and a Pour That Made Us Think. Some bottles come with a story before you ever pull the cork. Old Dominick is one of those names. The brand has deep Memphis roots, going back to Domenico Canale and the original Old Dominick whiskey of the 1800s. Today, the revived Old Dominick Distillery sits in downtown Memphis, carrying that history forward with a full lineup of Tennessee whiskey, bourbon, vodka, gin, and specialty releases. That kind of background always makes a pour more interesting.
- [Pendleton 1910 Bourbon: Beautiful Bottle, Easy Pour, But We Expected More](https://barrelproofnotes.com/pendleton-1910-bourbon/): Some bottles get your attention before the cork ever comes out. Pendleton 1910 Bourbon is one of those bottles. The packaging is sharp, the Western character is strong, and the story has just enough intrigue to make you want to spend some time with it. A 10-year age statement. A 90-proof straight American bourbon. A Hood River, Oregon connection. Glacier-fed spring water from Mt. Hood. Indiana distillate. A beautiful bottle that looks great sitting on the bar. On paper, there is a lot here to like. See how we ultimately scored it by reading the full article.
- [13th Colony 113 Rye Finished With Maple Wood Spirals](https://barrelproofnotes.com/13th-colony-113-rye-finished-with-maple-wood-spirals-review/): A High-Proof Rye That Does Not Come Out Swinging. Some ryes announce themselves with a sharp elbow. This one takes a different route. That description sounds like it could go one of two ways. It could become an aggressive rye spice bomb. Or it could become overly sweet and lose the rye character altogether. See where this one took us by reading the entire article.
- [Boone’s "Homegrown" Bourbon: Big Proof, Young Whiskey, and a Pour That Needs More Time](https://barrelproofnotes.com/boone-s-homegrown-bourbon-review/): Big Proof, Young Whiskey, and a Pour That Needs More Time. Some bourbons are young and exciting. Some are young and promising. And some are young in a way you can smell before you even take the first sip. Where does Boone's "Homegrown" Bourbon fall...read further to find out.
- [Broad Branch "Big Winston" Cider Finished Bourbon](https://barrelproofnotes.com/broad-branch-big-winston-cider-finished-bourbon/): Some bourbons play it safe. This is not one of them. The Big Winston bourbon line from Broad Branch, and this particular bottle finished in cider barrels is exactly the kind of pour that makes you slow down and pay attention. Not because it is perfectly polished. Because it is different.
- [Augusta Distillery Wheated Bourbon Single Barrel Cask Strength](https://barrelproofnotes.com/augusta-distillery-wheated-bourbon-single-barrel-cask-strength/): This was our first pour from Augusta Distillery, and it definitely got our attention. Some bottles win you over with complexity. Some do it with balance. And some make their point before you ever take a sip. This one did exactly that. The color is deep, rich, and inviting, the kind of appearance that immediately tells you this bourbon means business. Frankly, it looks like what you want a quality bourbon to look like in the glass.
- [Swamp Fox Distilling Company - Digging Up a Georgia Legend](https://barrelproofnotes.com/swamp-fox-distilling-co-the-buena-vista-whiskey-story-that-quietly-became-a-georgia-craft-spirits-footnote/): Some distilleries announce themselves with bright lights and big-city polish. Swamp Fox Distilling Co. did something different. It set up shop in Buena Vista, Georgia, in a renovated 1908 cotton warehouse on the town square, leaned hard into local history, and built a small-batch whiskey identity around grain-to-glass production, Southern storytelling, and a name tied to one of the Revolutionary War's most elusive figures.
- [Sword & Sash Small Batch](https://barrelproofnotes.com/sword-sash-small-batch/): Ironclad Distillery Co. — Newport News, Virginia. Let's start here. This is not your typical bourbon. And that's exactly why it works. Sword & Sash is a collaboration tied to The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, which adds a meaningful personal connection for us. But this review isn't about the story on the label. It's about what's in the glass. And what's in the glass is... different.
- [Copper & Kings Straight Bourbon — American Apple Brandy Barrel Finished](https://barrelproofnotes.com/copper-kings-straight-bourbon-american-apple-brandy-barrel-finished/): Copper & Kings absolutely nailed the landing with the American apple brandy cask finish. It comes across sweet and crisp, bright, clean, and never overpowering. No candy coating. No artificial "dessert bourbon" energy. Just a smart, well-placed accent that lifts the whole pour.
- [1792 Bottled in Bond](https://barrelproofnotes.com/1792-bottled-in-bond/): Officially, 1792 Bottled in Bond is a limited-edition 100-proof release. The 1792 brand itself leans into spice, charred oak, mint, caramel apple, coffee, and black pepper. Other published reviews often describe Bottled in Bond as spicier and oakier than the 1792 Sweet Wheat, which tends to come across sweeter, lighter, and thinner on the palate. See how we scored it in the full article.
- [Heaven Hill Distillery 90th Anniversary Bourbon](https://barrelproofnotes.com/heaven-hill-distillery-90th-anniversary-bourbon/): Let's make this simple: if you love Heaven Hill, this bottle is going to make you smile.

## Pages

- [Meet the Editor](https://barrelproofnotes.com/meet-the-editor/): Barrel Proof Notes is an independent publication dedicated to bourbon, rye whiskey, and the people, places, and stories behind America's whiskey culture.
- [Subscribe](https://barrelproofnotes.com/subscribe/): Tasting notes without the fluff. Distillery stories worth your time. And an honest score for every bottle we open — Appearance, Aroma, Flavor, Finish.
- [Home](https://barrelproofnotes.com/): Barrel Proof Notes recently sat down with David Harris and Megan Draheim, the founders of Song Dog Farm Distillery, to discuss their journey, how they got there and why it matters to them.
- [Barrel Proof Articles](https://barrelproofnotes.com/blog/): Anthony explores America's whiskey culture through honest bottle reviews, distillery visits, and the stories of the people behind the spirits.
- [Code of Ethics](https://barrelproofnotes.com/media-press/code-of-ethics/): At Barrel Proof Notes, our reputation is built on one word - TRUST.
- [Editorial Standards](https://barrelproofnotes.com/media-press/editorial-standards/): Barrel Proof Notes exists to help bourbon enthusiasts better understand America's native spirit.
- [Our Tasting Review Process](https://barrelproofnotes.com/our-review-process/): At Barrel Proof Notes, every bottle has a story to tell.
- [Media & Press](https://barrelproofnotes.com/media-press/): Barrel Proof Notes is an independent digital publication written by Old Route One LLC.
- [Privacy Policy](https://barrelproofnotes.com/privacy-policy/): Barrel Proof Notes is the media division of Old Route One LLC. Our website address is: http://barrelproofnotes.com.

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