Rolling Fork Bourbon de Luxe Single Barrel

This barrel proof bourbon shines best enjoyed neat or with a splash of water to open up its caramel and spice notes, though it's robust enough to anchor spirit-forward cocktails like Old Fashioneds; sip it during cooler evenings paired with grilled steaks, smoked brisket, or sharp aged cheddar to complement its oak and toffee character.

Nose: The aroma leads with rich vanilla and buttery toffee, backed by well-aged oak that smells like the inside of a furniture shop—in a good way. There's a sweetness that reminds you of caramel candies, with hints of orange zest adding brightness. Light baking spices emerge as it opens up, along with a touch of black pepper that hints at the rye content.

Palate: Caramel sweetness hits first, coating your mouth with a thick, almost chewy texture thanks to the barrel-proof bottling and lack of chill filtration. Orange peel adds a citrus note that cuts through the richness, while the oak provides structure without overwhelming. Baking spices—cinnamon and nutmeg—build gradually, and there's a pleasant peppery bite from the 21% rye that keeps things interesting. The 110-120 proof range brings heat, but it's well-integrated and doesn't burn.

Finish: The finish stretches out nicely, with black pepper and light oak lingering longest. There's a drying quality from the tannins that makes you want another sip, along with fading notes of caramel and spice. The oak never turns bitter, staying on the lighter side even as everything else fades. Medium-to-long finish that leaves warmth in your chest.

Rolling Fork Spirits selects individual barrels from Bourbon de Luxe's warehouse, each containing six-year-old bourbon crafted from a medium rye mashbill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley, then bottles them at barrel proof without chill-filtration to preserve the full character and natural oils that would otherwise be stripped away—a hands-off approach that lets each barrel's unique personality shine through.

• Bourbon de Luxe survived Prohibition by being sold as "medicinal spirits" after getting acquired by the R.E. Wathen Co. in 1926—yes, your doctor could literally prescribe you this bourbon during the dry years, making it one of the lucky few brands that legally kept flowing when most distilleries went dark.
• The Wathen family motto that guides this bourbon dates back to 1788, making it older than the U.S. Constitution was ratified—talk about a long family tradition of whiskey-making that predates Kentucky even becoming a state.
• This marks the first time in over 113 years that Bourbon de Luxe has released a single barrel expression, meaning you're drinking a format of this historic brand that nobody alive has ever tasted before—not your grandfather, not your great-grandfather, nobody.