Week 52 – Art of the Spirits 10 Year Hazmat Single Barrel Barrel Strength Bourbon T8KE x F*ck Cancer

• Distilled: Missouri (Undisclosed)
• Aged In: Missouri & Colorado
• Bottled In: Colorado (Art of the Spirits)
• Age:  10 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 77% ABV | 154 Proof
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Colossal nose that’s loaded with brown butter, toffee, butterscotch, tobacco, brown sugar and maple candies and delicious sweet oak. Palate is rich, layered, syrupy from the bonkers proof and viscous – packed with maple, brown sugar, baking spice and cinnamon, heavy and punchy oak that’s well aged. Long finish, proofy here and full of creamier sweetness: vanilla, plum, toffee, berries, brown sugar and maple. Gonzo. 

Week 51 – T8KE x Driftless Glen 10 Year Single Barrel Barrel Strength Mizunara Cask Bourbon

• Distilled: Wisconsin (Driftless Glen)
• Aged In: Wisconsin (Driftless Glen)
• Bottled In: Wisconsin (Driftless Glen)
• Age:  10 Years (8.5 Years American Oak, 1.5 Years New Mizunara Japanese Oak)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 63% ABV | 126 Proof
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Huge, rich nose that’s full of black tea, sweet tea, maple and apple butter, toffee, rich caramels and a hint of espresso, sandalwood, and strong oak. Opulent on the palate, loaded with decadent sweetness, the spice and crackle of Mizunara black tea and sandalwood once more. Long finish, overflowing with black pepper, brown sugar, creme brulee, heavy oak, toffee, tobacco and a hint of ginger. When I started buying from Driftless 6 years ago, I never thought of the day we’d have a 10yr release together, and it’s incredible to see the day and the whiskey come to light. 

Week 51 – T8KE x Westland Distillery 7 Year Cask Strength Port Cask American Single Malt

This barrel was selected when I visited Westland in person this August, partially to purchase fresh single barrels and partly to sit for an upcoming documentary about whiskey. I love visiting Westland – I was born not far from their distillery in Seattle, their whiskey and staff is some of the best I could ask for and there is always a dog on the property. 

• Distilled: Washington State (Westland)
• Aged In: Washington State (Westland)
• Bottled In: Washington State (Westland)
• Age:  7 Years Full Port Cask Maturation
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 60.6% ABV | 121.2 Proof
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: I selected this barrel for its balance – not too woody, not too malty, not too wine driven and it delivers: rich nose with cocoa, cherry cordials, espresso and fresh croissants, toffee, light pepper and lovely oak. The palate is viscous and layered, natural and complex, blackberry, cherry tart, sweet cream and honey meets toffee, a hint of pepper and lovely rich oak. The palate is long – my favorite part – expertly melds sweet port character with balanced oak, delicious baking spice and malt character that’s layered and balanced. 

Bull Run! 

Week 51 – Bull Run Distillery 9 Year Single Barrel Barrel Strength Bourbon Sherry Cask Finish

• Distilled: Indiana
• Aged In: Oregon
• Bottled In: Oregon (Bull Run)
• Age:  9 Years + 36 Month Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 56.93% ABV | 113.86 Proof 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: I love Oloroso for its depth and texture and dryness. After 9 years of aging, there’s a lot of concentrated sweetness, caramels and tannins in bourbon and the Oloroso helps unlock those a bit while adding a balanced, wine finished, touch. The nose is loaded with brown sugar, vanillas, carmels and toffees with a hint of spice. The palate is round, rich, powerful with red fruits and some spices taking to the richness of the bourbon: together they are sweet, balanced, drying on the back palate: vanilla bean, caramels, barrel char, a hint of pepper, rich blackberry, stewed fruits, a hint of apple butter, cinnamon and almost a strawberry sort of creaminess. The palate texture is a touch on the thinner, drier side than you’d get from the heavy sugar content of a PX or another type of sherry. Long finish, composed and structured with caramels, baking spice, a hint of cedar and big oak, with blackberry, dark cherries and tart fruit on the finish. 

Week 51 – Bull Run Distillery 12 Year Single Barrel Barrel Strength Bourbon Madeira Cask Finish

• Distilled: Indiana
• Aged In: Oregon
• Bottled In: Oregon (Bull Run)
• Age:  12 Years + 35 Months Madeira Cask Finish 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 58.33% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: I love Madeira for its structure – it is a fortified wine bringing acidity, some sweetness, big natural fruit notes and structure that balances best with well aged bourbons. The nose on this pour is rich baking spice: cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice, toffee and a pop of lively acidity from the madeira – apricot, honey, pear meets jammy raspberry and currant to pair with structured, oak driven bourbon that’s loaded with caramels, brown sugars, big baking spice and gobs of oak. The result is a decadent palate and long finish that’s powerful, balanced and complex. It’s been so long since I found the right Madeira finish (years) so I’m thrilled to launch this today. 

Week 51 – Bull Run Distillery 17 Year Single Barrel Barrel Strength American Whiskey Pinot Noir Cask Finish #148

• Distilled: Indiana
• Aged In: Oregon
• Bottled In: Oregon (Bull Run)
• Age:  17 Years + 28 Months Oregon Pinot Noir Wine Cask Finish
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 61.24 ABV | 122.48 Proof
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: The heaviest Pinot Finish of the two this release is centered on decadent sweetness, jammy fruits and a hint of spice. The palate is full of red berries, grape and blackcurrant pairing with big maple sweetness, vanilla cream, nougat, apple butter and light pepper and moderate oak. Long finish, leans more jammy than dry, more fruit than oak, indulgent and lovely. 

Week 51 – Bull Run Distillery 17 Year Single Barrel Barrel Strength American Whiskey Pinot Noir Cask Finish #183

• Distilled: Indiana
• Aged In: Oregon
• Bottled In: Oregon (Bull Run)
• Age:  17 Years + 14 Month Oregon Pinot Noir Wine Cask Finish 
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 58.42% ABV | 116.84 Proof
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A more nuanced pairing, this single barrel leads with whiskey character: bigger oak, baking spice and honey, toffee, maple and vanilla cream with touches of red fruit, berry and that lovely, bright, pop of fruit on the nose. Palate is viscous and rich, touch more tannin, touch drier, with blackberry and currant still showing nicely, albeit more balanced against toffee and oaky dryness. Long finish that trades jammy fruits for orange peel, lovely oak, a hint of pipe tobacco and old tannin with blackberry and some strawberry in lighter shades. 

Week 50 – Backbone Bourbon Company Single Barrel #S511 Hazmat American Single Malt Whiskey

• Distilled: California (undisclosed)
• Aged In: California & Indiana
• Bottled In: Indiana (Backbone)
• Age:  7 Years 7 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 155 Proof (77.5% ABV)
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich and decadent nose loaded with tropical fruits, toffee, caramels and a hint of espresso combined with rich brulee. The palate is viscous and layered, complex and syrupy with apples, blackberry, toffee and butterscotch, almost a brittle candy sort of character with plentiful oak, sneaky proof and gobs of sweet caramel candies and a touch of plum. Oakier more balanced of the pair. 

Week 50 – Backbone Bourbon Company Single Barrel #S510 Hazmat American Single Malt Whiskey

• Distilled: California (undisclosed)
• Aged In: California & Indiana
• Bottled In: Indiana (Backbone)
• Age:  7 Years 7 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 145 Proof | 72.5% ABV 
• Yield: 56 Bottles
• Retailer: SharedPour
• Price: $99.99
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich on the nose with decadent sticky toffee pudding, cocoa, oak, blackberry and tropical fruits like mango, lychee, yuzu, pear, apples and a hint of cherry as well. Fat and rich palate, loaded with oak and bright fruits balanced by sticky toffee, caramels and lovely baking spice. 

Week 50 – Backbone Bourbon Company Single Barrel #S737 Double Oaked Rye Whiskey

• Distilled: Indiana
• Aged In: Indiana
• Bottled In: Indiana (Backbone)
• Age:  8 Years 5 Months (2 Years Double Oaking)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 63% ABV | 126 Proof
• Yield: 103 Bottles
• Retailer: SharedPour
• Price: $99.99
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Big spice punches first: cracked pepper, rye spice, a hint of ginger and herbal punch from the rye meets lovely, rich, creme brulee, cocoa and cola notes – it’s decadent and layered. Cola, blackberry and stewed fruits meets a touch of fig and rich oak to balance the spice of the rye. It doesn’t have the fake fudginess I sometimes find in double oaked releases, replaced instead with rich caramels, vanilla, a hint of espresso and cola to pair with plentiful oak and a balanced spiciness. 

Week 50 – Penelope Bourbon ‘T8KE x Bourbonfinds’ Estate Collection 10 Year Single Barrel 36% Rye #407 126.7 Proof

• Distilled: Indiana
• Aged In: Indiana
• Bottled In: Indiana (Penelope)
• Age:  11 Years (Filled 11/29/2014, Bottled December 2025)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 60/36/4
• ABV: 63.35% ABV | 126.7 Proof
• Yield: 108 Bottles
• Retailer: SharedPour
• Price: $169.99
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Lovely cocoa, espresso and a hint of flaky pastry on the nose, this release leans into decadent desserts, a hint of fudge and cocoa with lovely spice and caramels. Complex palate, oak is balanced nicely with the sweet and the spice. Long finish full again with cocoa, toffee, brown butter, a hint of tobacco and a crackle of pepper. 

Week 50 – Penelope Bourbon ‘T8KE x Bourbonfinds’ Estate Collection 10 Year Single Barrel 36% Rye #408 125.5 Proof

• Distilled: Indiana
• Aged In: Indiana
• Bottled In: Indiana (Penelope)
• Age:  11 Years (Filled 11/29/2014, Bottled December 2025)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 60/36/4
• ABV: 62.75% ABV | 125.5 Proof
• Yield: 90 Bottles
• Retailer: SharedPour
• Price: $169.99
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Creme brulee, cinnamon roll, and a brown sugar bomb, this release is dessert all day long with loads of caramel, a hint of cinnamon and clove,  plentiful brown sugar and almost an icing note on the nose. The oakier of the pair, this features plenty of strong oak, cinnamon again with caramelized sugar, a faint hint of cherry, lovely tobacco and rich maple. 

Week 50 – Penelope Bourbon ‘T8KE’ Estate Collection 10 Year Single Barrel 21% Rye 132.6 Proof

This barrel is my final solo Estate of the year, going hard at 66.3% ABV – the highest of the year. It leverages my favorite mashbill from them (hence why it’s so often featured in THE REVERIES) and is 11years old. This release is a blackberry and tobacco bomb and reminds me of all of the flavors I”d want if I ever made my own cigar. It doesn’t taste like a cigar to be clear, but it has the decadent dankness and a high proof that made my eyes go whoah. 

• Distilled: Indiana
• Aged In: Indiana
• Bottled In: Indiana (Penelope)
• Age:  11 Years (Filled 11/11/2014, Bottled December 2025)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 75/21/4
• ABV: 66.3% ABV | 132.6 Proof
• Yield: 64 Bottles
• Retailer: SharedPour
• Price: $169.99
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Dank nose, loaded with cigar wrapper, pound cake, spicy pepper, blackberry and this deep, dark, ango sort of note. Rich palate, thick and viscous, loaded with honey and toffee and berries with stewed fruits, red berries, even a touch of raspberry and a pop of amaro, paired with vanilla bean, waffle cone and cherries. Long finish, soft and rich and reminds me of old wood and paper and must in a dark, rich, desserty sort of way. 

Week 50 – Clear Creek Distillery x T8KE 15 Year Single Barrel Barrel Strength American Apple Brandy 

• Distilled: Oregon (Clear Creek Distillery)
• Aged In: Oregon (Clear Creek Distillery)
• Bottled In: Oregon (Clear Creek Distillery)
• Age:  15 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: Apples
• ABV: 114.3 Proof
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Baked apples strike on the nose with gorgeous cinnamon, toffee, brown sugar, brown butter, a return of decadent brioche sweetness and a pang of tart fruit and acidity that keeps the nose bright and opulent. The palate is rich, it’s fat and layered with caramel, cinnamon, vibrant apple and acidity, the tart/sweet moment the juice of a fresh apple hits your palate. Long finish, the oak sits second to the vibrancy of the apple, the sweetness of the brown sugar and the toffee, a hint of pipe tobacco funk, spicy pepper and a touch of mocha, pear and one final maple send off. Exquisite. 

Week 49 – T8KE x NULU 7 Year KY29 Double Oaked Barrel Strength Bourbon

• Distilled: Indiana
• Aged In: Indiana & Kentucky
• Bottled In: Kentucky (NULU)
• Age:  7 Year 3 Months (2 Years Double Oaking)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 134.4 Proof 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich and cola driven with dark fruits, cocoa, leather and root beer, cherries and caramels. Deep dark profile with well integrated oak, structured nicely with the decadent richness of cola, toffee, brown sugar and lovely root beer, luxardo cherry and a hint of vanilla bean. Long finish, heavy and dark, rich and dessert driven with a strong backbone of oak, cola and vanilla once more. 

 

Week 49 – T8KE x NULU 7 Year KY32 Double Oaked Barrel Strength Bourbon

• Distilled: Indiana
• Aged In: Indiana & Kentucky
• Bottled In: Kentucky (NULU)
• Age:  7 Year 3 Months (2 Years Double Oaking)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 135.4 Proof 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Fruitier than the first, this wraps in all of that soda fountain delight with more orange, cherry, blackberry, tobacco, espresso and blackberry fruits. Decadent, dark, rich and layered. Stupid good. 

Week 49 – T8KE x Hazelbaker 7 Year High Proof 65.7% Single Barrel Strength Bourbon

• Distilled: Kentucky
• Aged In: Kentucky
• Bottled In: Kentucky (NULU)
• Age:  7 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 65.7% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Full of honey, toffee, cola, cherry and bright fruits, it’s amazing how big and bright and reminiscent of our KOA from last year was. The proof is there and with it tons of bright fruit, honey sweetness, syrupy mouthfeel and tons of baking spice and waffle cone. Long finish, great oak at 7 years with the fruits, the sweet and the punch carrying it through and through. 

Week 49 – T8KE x Penelope Bourbon Estate Collection 10 Year Single Barrel 21% Rye #403 129.6 Proof

• Distilled: Indiana
• Aged In: Indiana
• Bottled In: Indiana (Penelope)
• Age:  11 Years (Filled 11/11/2014, Bottled November 2025)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 75/21/4
• ABV: 129.6 Proof
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Dark and driven, this release is a bruiser and the most dense Estate from our program so far. Loads of characteristic black tea, sweet tea, honey and butterscotch meets great fruits like apple and pear, apple bake and cinnamon, caramel and a hint of demerara and maple. Long finish, strong oak here and the proof makes each element pop, viscous and rich. 

Week 49 – Blue Note Juke Joint Uncut “ENDALZ” Custom “Purple Note” Single Barrel Barrel Proof Bourbon Single Barrel

Each contributes $5/bttl to the Alzheimer’s Association and as you can see, this Blue Note isn’t blue at all! In partnership with them, we’ve commissioned a custom Alzheimer’s Association purple label for this family of barrels, starting now and continuing with 4 more selections in 2026. This required an entirely unique print run of labels for a stand-out package that is proud to support one of our cornerstone philanthropies of 2025. 

• Distilled: Kentucky
• Aged In: Kentucky
• Bottled In: Tennessee (Blue Note)
• Age: 5 Years 6 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 59.75% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: I love how much this fizz to me – they are soda fountains in the glass with cola, root beer, vanilla ice cream, toffees and fruits: this reminds me of a lot of orange, grape, cherry and decadent cola notes that pops with bright baking spice, honeys, and less oak than our other selections this week. It’s vibrant, punchy, complex and fun with layer after layer of cola, root beer float, vanilla bean and fruits that make these familiar, delicious, value pours with a purpose. 

Week 47 – Corbin Cash 10 Year Single Barrel Barrel Strength Hazmat Rye

• Distilled: Corbin Cash (Atwater, CA)
• Aged In: Corbin Cash (Atwater, CA)
• Bottled In: Kentucky Corbin Cash (Atwater, CA)
• Age:  10 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 70% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich, fat, full of character and a powerful nose brings oaky rye, cola, punchy spice and sweet baking spices, ginger, toffee, tobacco and a crackle of herbal rye with cocoa and toffee. Viscosity is off the charts on the palate, loaded with heavy oak, tons of pepper, brown sugar, vanilla nougat and loads of rye character. It’s a bold bruiser with the structure and character to back it up. 

 

Week 47 – Corbin Cash 9 Year Single Barrel Barrel Strength Hazmat Bourbon

• Distilled: Corbin Cash (Atwater, CA)
• Aged In: Corbin Cash (Atwater, CA)
• Bottled In: Kentucky Corbin Cash (Atwater, CA)
• Age:  9 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 73% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Every bit as powerful as the rye, this bourbon release shows the deft distilling ability of Corbin Cash’s tiny craft team. Well aged and packed with tons of cola, rich brown sugar and sweet cinnamon, vanilla bean, french vanilla, baking spice and honey with tons more spice and sweetness: cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, chewy maple candies. Plentiful oak and gorgeous balance. 

Week 47 – Hughes Belle of Bedford 13 Year Single Barrel Barrel Strength Rye

• Distilled: Indiana
• Aged In: Indiana & Pennsylvania 
• Bottled In: Pennsylvania (Hughes Belle of Bedford)
• Age:  13 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 55.19% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich and zesty, loaded with herbal rye spice, hints of mint, rich brown sugar, cola, creme brulee and caramelized sugar along with big black pepper, strong oak and delicious rye spice. The finish is long, heavy handed in both rye spice and oak with a lovely maple and brown sugar drizzle all the way through. 

Week 47 – NULU 7 Year4mo KY186 Single Barrel Barrel Strength Hazmat Bourbon

• Distilled: Kentucky
• Aged In: Kentucky
• Bottled In: Kentucky (NULU)
• Age:  7 Year 4 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 70.2% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich nose loaded with baked apple, heavy cherry, syrupy cola, tons of sweet oak, well integrated spice and lovely vanilla bean. The palate is rich and viscous, drinks under proof, loaded with orange peel, luxardo cherry, a touch of blackberry and raspberry. Long finish, vanilla bean and butterscotch with more cola, tobacco, oak. 

Week 47 – NULU 7 Year4mo KY45 Single Barrel Barrel Strength Hazmat Bourbon

• Distilled: Kentucky
• Aged In: Kentucky
• Bottled In: Kentucky (NULU)
• Age:  7 Year 3 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 70.3% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Pure dessert, this is a hazmat sundae loaded with vanillas, butterscotch and caramels, a hint of praline, lovely tobacco, toasted marshmallow and more and more toffee. Dark and rich dessert notes with a bright note of vanilla here and there, structured nicely against heavy oak, sweet desserts and an eternal finish. 

Week 46 – Driftless Glen Limited Release Single Barrel Barrel Strength Tokaji Finished Bourbon

• Distilled: Wisconsin (Driftless Glen)
• Aged In: Wisconsin (Driftless Glen)
• Bottled In: Wisconsin (Driftless Glen)
• Age:  6 Years + 2 Years Tokaji Finish
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 59.5% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Huge nose – loaded with rich cream, a hint of espresso, big, dark fruits like cherry, blackberry, along with apples, buttercream, cinnamon and barrel char, cola and heavy oak. The tokaji pops in with beautiful honey pastry, waffle cone, rich white grapes, a pop of balancing acidity, rich brioche and gorgeous apple butter and caramel brittles. Long finish, heavy oak once again to take on the sweet character of the wine to bring balance, oak, pepper and some ginger, cinnamon and barrel char once more. It’s the pour for Thanksgiving if there was one. 

Week 46 – Driftless Glen Limited Release Single Barrel Barrel Strength Pear Brandy Finished Bourbon

• Distilled: Wisconsin (Driftless Glen)
• Aged In: Wisconsin (Driftless Glen)
• Bottled In: Wisconsin (Driftless Glen)
• Age:  6 Years + 2 Years Pear Brandy Finish
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 61% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Rich nose full of sweet vanilla cream, brown butter, toffee and butterscotch with a brilliant, crisp, brightness from the pear brandy. Apples, pears (duh), apricot and honey dance with a touch of barrel char, rich oak and sweet toffees. It develops this “high-low” sort of character where one moment there’s a bright, vibrant fruit quality that’s offset and balanced nicely by the developed oak, toffee and darker sweet desserts in Driftless bourbon character. Long finish, bold oak and bright pear balance beautifully. 

Week 46 – Elijah Craig Single Barrel Barrel Proof 9 Year 60.7% ABV r/Bourbon Single Barrel

• Distilled: Kentucky (Heaven Hill)
• Aged In: Kentucky (Heaven Hill)
• Bottled In: Kentucky (Heaven Hill)
• Age:  9 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 60.7% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Vibrant cola and tobacco, this release is the deeper, darker, more savory of the pair. Colas, tobacco, cinnamon and sugar toast, figs and honey fill the palate. There is proper oak here, more dry and tannic than the second, and it struck me when I was sampling as this beat out two 10 year barrels that just couldn’t stand up. Long finish, less cola and more fig, cigar wrapper, sweet and spice; cinnamon and baking spice with oak to see it through. 

Week 46 – Elijah Craig Single Barrel Barrel Proof 9 Year 61.5% ABV r/Bourbon Single Barrel

• Distilled: Kentucky (Heaven Hill)
• Aged In: Kentucky (Heaven Hill)
• Bottled In: Kentucky (Heaven Hill)
• Age:  9 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 61.5% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Big vanilla ice cream on the nose meets luxardo cherry, toffee, buttercream, and a drizzle of caramels. Less pepper, less heat, less tannin but bigger sweetness with that well placed, rich, Luxardo note. Pleasant oak, a bit less than the first, letting those gorgeous fruit and dessert notes shine. Long finish, a pop of pep here from the proof, sweet cream and caramel candies, maple, vanilla once more with a final bow of Luxardo. 

Week 45 – Augusta Buckner’s 13 Year Single Barrel Barrel Proof T8KE Hazmat Release 141 Proof r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky 
• Aged In: Kentucky
• Bottled In: Kentucky (Augusta Distillery)
• Age: 13 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 70.5% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: It’s cherries on fire baby! Cherry cola, vanilla ice cream, sundaes and black pepper roll through with bold, rich, syrupy palate texture and no shortage of char, jammy fruits and lovely spice. The finish is long and composed, fatty and syrupy with tons more crackle of cream soda and luxardo cherries. 

Week 45 – Augusta Buckner’s 13 Year Single Barrel Barrel Proof T8KE Hazmat Release 141.4 Proof r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky 
• Aged In: Kentucky
• Bottled In: Kentucky (Augusta Distillery)
• Age: 13 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 70.5% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: The shortie, it’s a heartbreaker that dials up the cola notes even further. Tons of blackberry, blackpepper, cola, cherry coke and vanilla bean pair wildly together in a cherries taffy delight. Long finish, heavy oak and spice, toffee and buttercream. 

Week 45 – Larceny Barrel Proof Single Barrel Barrel Proof r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky (Heaven Hill)
• Aged In: Kentucky (Heaven Hill)
• Bottled In: Kentucky (Heaven Hill)
• Age: 7 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 61.6% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A quintessentially lovely wheated bourbon, this cask kicks with tons of cinnamon, red fruits, tobacco and sweet toffee and caramels.The palate is rich and lovely, full of toffee and maple syrup, sweet cinnamon spice and a prickle of oak, it’s balanced and dessert driven. Long finish, heavy on the dessert character with a crackle of oak and some cinnamon candies, black pepper and lovely apple butter finish. 

Week 45 – Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Kentucky (Wild Turkey)
• Aged In: Kentucky (Wild Turkey)
• Bottled In: Kentucky (Wild Turkey)
• Age: 8 Years 6 Months (Distilled 1/25/2027, Dumped 9/8/2025, Bottled 9/11/2025)
• Warehouse: CNA
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives
• ABV: 55% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Russells it’s so good to have you back. CNA is such a lovely, balanced, Turkey that reminds me why Wild Turkey captured my whiskey attention 10 years ago. Rich oak and sweet maple meet candied orange slices, a hint of strawberry and apples, big pepper and lovely candied ginger. Palate is gorgeous and bright, oaky but full of life and fruits. Long finish, heavy on caramels and ginger, candied orange slices and a hint of pepper. Gobble gobble! 

Week 45 – Penelope Special Barrel “Project X” Maple Brulee Single Barrel Barrel Strength r/Bourbon Private Selection

• Distilled: Indiana
• Aged In: Indiana
• Bottled In: Indiana (Penelope)
• Age: NAS
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 54% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A bright and rich release, warm pancakes, sweet tobacco and toffee meets a hint of pepper, lovely cake batter, waffe cone and rich oak. The oak here is really nicely developed, blends against the sweetness of the maple really nicely, with more spice and structure. The palate is medium, less oaky but also less ethanol, with a pleasant texture, nice structure, maple and waffle cone weighs against the oak. Long finish, the star of the show with maple. sweet oak, big spice and some generous cinnamon entering the picture. Perfect for a Fall old fashioned. 

Week 45 – Penelope x T8KE: NOBLE Sauternes Collaboration

This project has been in development for the better part of a year, capping an idea that Daniel Polise (Penelope Master Blender) and I have been talking about for several years prior. He and I have become great friends in our years of working together, and we took a narrow window of opportunity to make something happen and ask questions second. 

This is the first collaboration label that Penelope has done and our conversations and musings over the years were the genesis. I’ve been purchasing and blending with the Penelope team since back in 2020 during the pandemic and through those years Danny and I have always come back to our shared love of Sauternes wine and how it can integrate beautifully with the right bourbons. I’ve done other projects with Sauternes myself and they’ve cemented my love of the wine and they’ve cemented Danny’s desire to create a Penelope release integrating it as well. 

The catch: Sauternes is an expensive wine. It’s hard to make and it relies on natural processes to even begin. Grapes have to be grown in warm and humid environments and subjected to a complex and beneficial form of rot to develop the sugars and the opulent taste profile of Sauternes. It’s rot, and it is responsible for some of the most revered wines in the world. Noble Rot, some would say and many would call it. And thus, project NOBLE was off to the races. He and I spent hours and hours blending through lots of MGP cellar stores before we ever touched the wine casks. 

Another catch: Sauternes wine casks are expensive and also hard to get. Many have to be rejected, few make it to the US and their construction is gorgeous but the cost is eye watering. We didn’t let it stop us but we noted somewhere along the way an accountant may kabosh it. We powered on, quietly and irreverent. We developed a blend of 74% Corn, 15% Wheat, 8% Rye and 3% Malted Barley that sung and sung and sung. We composed this blend and entered it into Sauternes casks last winter, to come back later and hand select the barrels from that lot to become this blend. 

We ran into another opportunity: there was no label in the system for this sort of thing. So, teams came together and I presented a portfolio ideas and the Penelope art team presented a portfolio of ideas and we honed in on something I am so unbelievably impressed by.

An irreverent but elegant new label that features the nobility of our Sauternes Noble Rot and the partnership that Penelope and I have built through thoughtful collaboration and a chase in reckless abandon of amazing whiskeys no matter how we have to make them come to market. I’ve spent so many years working with Sauternes finishes and this is no doubt the best yet by far. 

We also wanted folks to have access to a Limited Edition that’s loaded with value. So, despite all of the work, the custom labels and the fine touches, I’m ultra proud of the price point this is hitting, mirroring it’s peers like Rio, Havana and Valencia in the finish series at these prices. 

• Distilled: Indiana
• Aged In: Indiana
• Bottled In: Indiana (Penelope)
• Age: NAS (5-7 Year Blend + Sauternes Wine Cask Aging)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 54% ABV
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Gorgeous, opulent, bold, rich. The goal of this blend was to show off bourbon AND sauternes, weaving a complex base bourbon that could integrate further with the tricky and concentrated flavors of Sauternes. The nose is bright, it’s full, it’s exploding: sweet oak, rich pepper, gorgeous butter cream and caramel pops with undertones of apple and brioche, lemon butter and candied pears, decadent sweetness and honeycomb. The palate dials up the oak and spice, full of body and a rich, pillowy, viscous blend of great oak structure, honey comb, apple butter, white grape, a hint of tropical fruit, butterscotch, and building spice. Pepper, ginger, a hint of clove, the oak brings this to balance. Long finish, a wild exit that’s expressive and in-line: brioche meets sweet candied pears, apples, cinnamon, lovely white grape reduction and baking spice, honey comb, butterscotch and an exit full of oak and maple.

Week 44 – Jack Daniels’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey “T8KE x ENDALZ”
 

• Distilled: Tennessee (Jack Daniels) 
• Aged In: Tennessee (Jack Daniels) 
• Bottled In: Tennessee (Jack Daniels) 
• Age: 6 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Warehouse 2-06, Barrel 25-25132
• ABV: 65.80% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A fat, rich, caramel bomb, this barrel oozes brown sugar and butterscotch, rich graham cracker, a touch of espresso and blackberry with a raisin bread spine and a pleasant amount of oak. At 65% alcohol it’s syrupy and dense. Long finish, oak, espresso, cocoa, butterscotch and graham cracker powers on. 

Week 44 – Jack Daniels’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey “T8KE x ENDALZ”

• Distilled: Tennessee (Jack Daniels) 
• Aged In: Tennessee (Jack Daniels) 
• Bottled In: Tennessee (Jack Daniels) 
• Age:  9 Years 6 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Warehouse Coy Hill 1-13, Barrel 25-25607
• ABV: 67.90% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A Coy Hill rye and a shortie at that, this barrel is a beat down of rich barrel character, light fruits and gorgeous rye spices. Black pepper, allspice and a hint of ginger pop with fat, fudgy richness on the palate. Molasses, baked apples, a crackle of rye spice and gobs of oak hang on as a hint of banana, black pepper and oak hang for the finish. 

Week 44 – Jack Daniels’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey “T8KE” Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Tennessee (Jack Daniels) 
• Aged In: Tennessee (Jack Daniels) 
• Bottled In: Tennessee (Jack Daniels) 
• Age:  6 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Warehouse: 2-30, Barrel 25-25133
• ABV: 63.90% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: This barrel was an off profile beauty and sparked the idea that we couldn’t just leave with two. Usually I get these “nuclear nanner” notes from Jack Daniels – hot, fiery, banana and this barrel instead reminded me of a big, oaky, painkiller cocktail instead. Tropical fruits, orange peel, mango, pineapple, a touch of pineapple, rich oak, a hint of baking spice like cinnamon and allspice, and gorgeous, bright, caramels over and over and over. At 63.9% it’s the lowest proof of the batch, a hilarious concept at all for being called low proof. Vibrant, lovely, full of vanillas and more graham cracker and cinnamon spice on the finish makes this one of the best JD I’ve ever had. 

Week 44 – Jack Daniels’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey “T8KE” Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Tennessee (Jack Daniels) 
• Aged In: Tennessee (Jack Daniels) 
• Bottled In: Tennessee (Jack Daniels) 
• Age:  8 Years 7 Months
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Warehouse: 2-02, Barrel 25-25608
• ABV: 66.3% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: A more balanced rye compared to the might of the Coy Hill from this week as well, this rye is loaded with cracked pepper, candied ginger, and then it turns wildly into big caramels, nougat, cream, rye spice and hints of date fruit, raisin bread, a touch of banana, spiced apples and no herbal, grassiness whatsoever. It’s a fat, rich, rye but shows balance from the oak, the rye spice, the high proof and the layers and layers and layers of desserty rye character. 

Week 44 – Brook Hill 11 Year Single Barrel Barrel Strength Bourbon “ENDALZ”

• Distilled: Kentucky
• Aged In: Kentucky
• Bottled In: Kentucky
• Age:  11 Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 66.22% ABV | 132.44 Proof
• Designation: “ENDALZ”
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: The nose is full of chocolate covered cherries, barrel char, cola, toffee and brulee. Cinnamon spice, brown sugar, maple, it’s opulent, rich, bold. It’s punchy – each of these notes is loud, no whisper quiet muted character here. Palate is bold, rich. Full of black cherries, luxardo cherries, all of these dark manhattan notes, black walnut, baking spice and tons of cola, graham cracker and a hint of cocoa. The finish is long and sticky, hanging with toffee, brown butter, cherry cola and heavy, fat, opulent, oak, caramel and cinnamon spice. 

Week 44 – Lost Lantern Leiper’s Fork T8KE Single Barrel Selection

• Distilled: Tennessee (Leiper’s Fork)
• Aged In: Tennessee (Leiper’s Fork)
• Bottled In: Vermont USA (Lost Lantern)
• Age: 7  Years
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• Mashbill: 75% Corn, 15% Rye, 15% Barley
• ABV: 56.3% ABV 
• T8ke’s Tasting Notes: Lovely nose: sweet cream, butterscotch, vanilla bean ice cream and a drizzle of caramels meets pralines, toffee, baking spice and a touch of pepper. The palate is viscous, it’s lovely and layered. It’s well balanced, nicely composed here at 112.6 proof with just enough oak, just enough spice, just enough body from the ethanol and this gorgeous vanilla ice cream sundae character: vanilla, caramels, a hint of waffle cone and a little pop of strawberry, crushed peanuts and some root beer.