Mark Megahan
If you’re on the lookout for some bourbon that isn’t the stuff you buy at the supermarket, here are half a dozen unicorns which haven’t been broken to the saddle yet. These go straight from the barrel to the bottle without any blending to dilute them down. That means they pack quite a kick.
Bulleit Barrel Strength bourbon
Whiskey runs the strength gamut from 80 proof to 140 plus with a wide range of subtle flavors which go with them, Whiskey Raiders report. When a bottle of Bourbon is labeled “barrel strength,” that means it “sees no dilution between the barrel and the bottle – essentially an opportunity to taste whiskey in its most natural form.”
Bulleit Barrel Strength is back after “a brief hiatus from shelves.” Batch 07 will be here in time for the seasonal festivities and expected to sell out quick. Bulleit’s Barrel Strength expression “is typically found in the 58%-60% ABV range that leans on the spicier side of the spectrum. Cracked pepper, honey, bold barrel char and a touch of vanilla and caramel round out this pour.”
Wild Turkey Rare Breed
This one is a “cult favorite among fans of the brand and beyond.” That’s because it delivers “a bold flavor profile at a pretty consistent bargain.” Word around the campfire says it contains “up to 12-year-old bourbon” but they don’t brag on the label with an age statement.
The experts say let this one breathe for a few moments before you sip to be “rewarded with a sweet, silky, dessert-forward pour.” It’s described as having “notes of maple, brown sugar, light tobacco, bold sweet oak and toffee” At just under 120 proof this one is on the lighter side of the barrel-proof offerings.
Barrell Bourbon Batch 033
Experts at the Whiskey Raiders call Batch 33 “our favorite of many recent batches.” Officially claiming 5 years of aging, “it contains components aged up to 9 years old, distilled in Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana.”
Barrell Bourbon Batch 033 leaves consumers with the impression of being on the sweeter side, with “a bold corn sweetness, like caramel popcorn, buttery biscuits and rich viscosity. It’s lighter on the oak than some others in this lineup” which makes it well balanced.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
If you want to get the most unicorn bang for your buck, consider Maker’s Mark Cask Strength as “probably the best deal going in whiskey right now, providing one of the best wheated bourbons at high proof for under $60 just about anywhere you look.” Weller bourbon can be an elusive brand to track down but “there’s really no reason to overlook this barrel-proof expression from one of Kentucky’s most storied heritage distillers.”
Featuring wheat as the secondary grain produces “a beautiful combination of butterscotch, sweet toffee, silky mouthfeel with plenty of texture and flavor. A hint of maple and apple butter come along for the ride with rich tobacco on the finish.” This one, they note, is “decadent.”
Booker’s bourbon
The experts recognize that this unicorn is getting harder to track down every year, and keeps getting more expensive too. It’s “still hard not to appreciate just how much flavor can be packed into a single bottle of whiskey.” It may not be the oldest but it has style.
“Made just how Booker Noe liked things, uncut and unfiltered, Booker’s is barrel-proof whiskey at Beam’s finest.” They called the first batch bottled in 2022, “Ronnie’s Batch,” and note it is a “symphony of rich buttercream, roasted peanuts and graham cracker pie crust. Sweet oak and pralines hang on the palate for ages.”
Heaven Hill’s Larceny
Just as popular as the Maker’s Mark Cask Strength, and even harder to find is “Larceny.” It “packs in a bit more oak and spice, leading to a more balanced profile. If you prefer a wheated bourbon but miss the baking spice and oak in Maker’s Mark, this is a perfect snag.”
They release 3 batches of barrel proof each year and each is aged for 6-8 years. “Larceny’s first batches had a tricky launch, but the 2021 and 2022 batches have all been winners, packed with flavor.“
