It’s been awhile since I covered private barrels so let’s look at the current state.

10 years ago a group, bar or resturant could have Pappy on down as a private barrel. Distilleries were happy to sell them in most cases. Five years ago most programs were fairly open and the lights were on. Today not so much, not so good.

Beam still has a nice program with quality barrels mostly Knob Creek.

Makers Mark the 46 custom stave selection program but a bit limited.

Old Forester a bit more selective to do a Old Forester Barrel or Woodford blend.

Heaven Hill selectively Elijah Craig maybe Bernheim.

Buffalo Trace is a Carnival of Clowns you’ll need to be a Witch Doctor, Fortune teller or just lick someone’s balls (especially Beau Beckman) to figure out what’s going on with the most confusing and limited program that’s out there. The BT situation varies from being done a favor for buying lots of junk from a distributor all the way to convincing somebody within Buffalo Trace to let you do one. It’s about the most unfair system of pecking order, clout, Ass kissing of any program not just in what you pick but the quality and quantity.

The “official” experience at Buffalo Trace might be signing up online then logging on on a very lucky day for a slot to pick. Someone on the inside can whisper the lucky day and minute into your ear as well. It might be knowing someone. It might be having someone from a distributor wave a sample bottle ( or no sample at all) under your nose making it look like they’re doing you the biggest favor in the world letting you have a private barrel regardless if it’s going to suck or not. What’s a person to do, let the salesman go to your competition and give them the same offer if you don’t take it? Do you take forced sales to be offered as a private barrel (often with the stipulation of sales and arm twisting). It’s the dirtiest way to get a private barrel and one should be prepared to beg, borrow, blow and bendover cause that’s the way they run it. I wonder in Sazerac’s case if owners the Goldrings or president Mark Brown have any clue of just how sleazy and disgusting the/these methods have gotten?

Oh, did I mention quality and age statements are crashing too! If you can’t tell the difference you should stick to vodka.

Castle and Key (formally Old Taylor) is the kids Lemonaide stand of barrel programs and they are using the proverbial powdered lemonade to get the drive by business of bread crumbs. I had high hopes for these folks and Maryann but it’s broken somehow. They are selective who can come in such as purchasers doing “tastings” of near new make barrels. If you know what the taste of a new make barrel is like then you’ll get this. Just in case I’ll tell you it tastes like turpentine paint thinner bad medicine and shit 98% of the time. The other 2% it just tastes real bad because there’s nothing to taste or pick unless your name is Jim Rutledge or a Denny Potter type–an incredible expert at what it tastes like off a still spotting flaws and the future. That takes thousands of batches not a couple dozen over a few months or a few during a tasting pick! The property is an Old rundown treasure where most of the money has been put into making it look pretty again with new equipment but needs more. It’s sad that the money has to come from storage of other peoples barrels and selling barrel futures hiding and being disguised as barrel picks. Even if I was broke, I wouldn’t be calling my distiller MASTER nor giving people a false impression they’re actually picking anything but couple month old white dog.

There is a breaking-in as you learn as a distiller. Insisting your ‘beginner distiller’ goes by “Kentucky’s first and only Master Distiller” isn’t true and was marketer anointed. I believe that Chatham (new Michters) Pamela Heilmann has been distilling there and Beam a hell of a long time before in any case so credibility is also a factor. They have none of the old barrels that the bugs are not nearly shaken from to have fancy tastings to suckers prebuying the erector set of whisky hoping it won’t suck in a few years. This one scares me and if this is what they need to do to keep the lights on and fill the warehouse for rented barrel space good luck. Your doing it chinczy and look like children handing out participation Medals to the gullible lemonade lover that doesn’t care. I’ve got no issue with someone buying a barrel of new make or even doing a taste of it for curiosity’s sake but not buying it as if you’re actually picking the best of a batch which is what they promote.

Barrell Bourbon is doing it right, no BS, WildTurkey does it right. The Russell’s pick with customers and are proud to. They and Beam currently have the best quality barrels to be picked. Good people and they’ll even pull barrels you’ll want or ask for by type. Classy operation and great Aged value.

Four Roses now blocks whomever is new. Existing people to pick are seeing less options, choices and age. Very likely you’ll be tasting many already rejected barrels. I fear for them. They use to be the best but younger less special picks are not complementary and it’s being noticed.

Angels Envy stopped a good program for the time being.

Willett has stopped for a while to build stocks but I’d say 2018 we might see the private barrels return selectively.

A few others exist that are on and off. I’ve heard good things at Wilderness Trail. Smooth Ambler has stopped for awhile. As has New Riff and others.

Until supply is rebuilt I would expect the good to continue to shrink before they bounce back when a good Supply returns.