Single barrel whiskeys are an expression of distinction and power. Every cask is different. Many make good ingredients, but only some possess the particular character and balance to make a worthy single barrel bottling.
While marrying barrels for Stellum Bourbon and Stellum Rye, we occasionally identify specific barrels that we feel speak strongly alone. We set these barrels aside and bottle them at their true cask strength. Each is very much an individual experience, an unfiltered expression of one specific aging rather than a blend.
We offer Stellum single barrels as unique and exclusive picks for stores, clubs, and private gatherings. We also offer bottle-by-bottle Stellum single barrels in select markets.
Serpens – Selections made in the Spring and Summer of 2021 95% Rye/5% Barley Malt
What Gary Says
Nose: Rye spice, mint, bit of dill, cedar, caramel, toffee, subtle toasted oak, citrus tilting from orange to grapefruit. Palate: Dark sweetness (molasses?) with blood orange, cloves, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper. Finish: Moderately long, drying with mint, brown sugar and orange spice. Comments: A really robust rye, where the nose presents squarely in the 95% rye mash bill quadrant, but the palate took a left turn with a surprisingly dark sweetness note. I found this worked really well in a Vieux Carré, although it was delicious neat as well. Bit of water thickens it up nicely, and brings the orange notes more into focus.
“Honey Badger!” sounds cute, but don’t mess with it. This 14-year-old Canadian Rye clocks in at 148.3 proof. It has a charming nose of honey and white flowers, but like it’s namesake, it devours its prey. There are only 72 bottles of “Honey Badger!”, so act fast!
What Gary Says
Nose: Charred oak, honey, caramel, savory herbal notes, orange with a mineral note. Palate: Warm, sweet with mint, caramel, savory notes with orange, cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg. Finish: Moderately long, drying with oak and caramel. Comments: A really robust and intense rye, with some sweetness but a lot of savory spice going on. Love that balance! The sample bottle I received didn’t note the details (I thought the nose was ‘a tad hot’ but given the ABV, it really isn’t!). This is a lovely rye whiskey, and takes water really well, thickening up, amping the orange and caramel notes, while toning the edges (but not taming it too much). Only 72 bottles, so probably won’t find this again, but if you run across it in the wild – don’t be afraid of the honey badger!
45% ABV $28 Website We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.
What the Distillery Says
FORGOTTEN NAMES, UNFORGETTABLE FLAVORS.
IN EARLY AMERICA, WHEN THE LAWS STOPPED WOMEN FROM RUNNING THEIR OWN DISTILLERIES, WOMEN DID THE ONLY THING THEY COULD – THEY USED AN ALIAS TO PASS AS A MAN AND DID IT ANYWAYS. EVERY GLASS OF ALIAS WHISKEY IS A CELEBRATION OF THEIR CRAFT AND CRAFTINESS.
TRUTH IS IN THE WHISKEY AROMA: A BALANCE OF SWEET FRUIT AND RYE SPICE COMPLEMENTED WITH SLIGHT HINTS OF MINT. PALATE: FORWARD NOTES OF CARAMEL, VANILLA AND FRUIT, WITH A BOLD RYE SPICE FINISH. FLAVORS: FRUIT, RYE SPICE, SLIGHT MINT, CARAMEL & VANILLA MASH BILL: 51% RYE | 45% CORN | 4% BARLEY MALT
What Gary Says
Nose: Fresh and bright, caramel, dill, lemongrass, mint, bit of cedar and a note of corn flakes. Palate: Round mouthfeel, toffee, mint, subtle citrus, cinnamon and a hint of pear. Finish: Short to moderate in length with mint, caramel and pepper. Comments: A very pleasant, although gentle rye. I’ve long been a fan of MGP’s 95% rye mash bill, and this ‘barely legal’ rye is quite a bit different. I’m glad that Luxco/Ross & Squibb are releasing different mash bills, as I know some folks who find rye “too spicy/too biting”, but likely would find this delightful. This is a nice sipper. I am not a fan of the dark glass bottle though (seriously, shining an LED flashlight behind the bottle to see how full it is – nothing). I think that is probably part of the branding, but from a practical perspective – I like to know how much whiskey I’ve got left in the bottle when sitting on the shelf.
Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof Master Crafted Straight Rye Whiskey, Aged 7 Years
58.6% ABV $70 Website We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.
What the Distillery Says
Ross & Squibb Distillery releases Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof Annual, limited-release straight rye whiskey, now featuring a 7-year age statement
ST. LOUIS (April 12, 2022) – Lawrenceburg, Indiana-based Ross & Squibb Distillery announced the launch of Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof, its annual, limited-release straight-rye whiskey. Set to reach retail shelves across the country starting this month, this limited allocation of 3,000 six-pack cases was bottled at 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) and has a suggested retail price of $69.99.
Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof features a medley of straight-rye mash bills, distilled by one of the largest producers of rye whiskey in America – Ross & Squibb Distillery. The flavor profile includes an aroma of rye spice, vanilla, caramel, oak, and slight chocolate; forward flavors of sweet caramel and vanilla, moving to baking spices and chocolate; and a lingering finish of rye and a hint of sweet mint.
There were 82 barrels selected for this year’s release, which is displayed on each bottle of Rossville Union Barrel Proof. And for the first time, every bottle prominently features a 7-year age statement.
“Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof is another example of the great rye-whiskey tradition we’ve carried on at Ross & Squibb Distillery and yet another reason Indiana is the rye capital of the world,” said Ian Stirsman, master distiller at Ross & Squibb distillery. “As the popularity of rye whiskey continues to grow, we’ve selected another exceptional medley of rye mash bills to satisfy even the most discriminating tastes among the ever-growing numbers of rye-whiskey drinkers.”
What Gary Says
Nose: Rye spice with mint, cinnamon, orange zest, dill, apricot, vanilla, caramel, oak with a hint of cedar. Palate: Warm and viscous mouthfeel, chocolate orange, vanilla, spicy with pepper, anise, cinnamon, caramel and a hint of lemon. Finish: Moderately long, drying with citrus spice. Comments: A really nice high-rye rye (which might sound redundant, but it isn’t – more on this shortly!) Thick mouthfeel, and cracking rye spice which I really enjoy. I’ve long been a fan of the rye coming out of this distillery, whether it was named LDI, MGP or now Ross & Squibb. This takes a bit of water really well, bringing out some grapefruit notes on the nose, and amping up the citrus and cinnamon on the palate. There aren’t a lot of barrel proof, high-rye rye whiskies out there with a 7 year age statement, and if you are a fan of rye, this is one I think you need to try. I really enjoyed this one neat, and look forward to it in some cocktails this summer.
Now – back to high-rye rye 🙂 In bourbon, we think about a ‘wheated’ bourbon versus a ‘high-rye’ bourbon, and I think in the category of rye whiskey, it’s good to think of ‘barely-legal rye’ versus ‘high rye rye’. They are as different as a wheater vs rye bourbon, and maybe more so. With less corn in the mix, you get less of the vanilla and caramel sweet notes, and a lot more of that spicy kick. I did a blind side-by-side with this against Pikesville (which is a barely-legal rye with 51% rye in the mashbill), and they were completely different (and both delicious).
49.3% ABV $110 Website We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.
What the Blender Says
Lux Row master distiller John Rempe continues his annual pact with bourbon drinkers with the release of Blood Oath Pact 8 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Calvados casks. A limited supply of 17,000 (3-pack) cases will arrive at retail this April at a suggested price of $119.99 per 750 ml bottle.
Blood Oath Pact 8 features a combination of the finest bourbons Rempe could find, including a 14-year ryed bourbon and an 11-year ryed bourbon, as well as an 8-year ryed bourbon finished in Calvados casks. Calvados is an apple or pear brandy from the Normandy region in northwestern France that is distilled from cider and aged for a minimum of two years in oak casks. These casks impart their unique aroma and flavor to make Blood Oath Pact 8 a one-of-a-kind pour.
Like with previous pacts, Rempe promises to make the best bourbon for the bourbon connoisseur, and as usual, he promises to never disclose the origin of the bourbons used to create Blood Oath Pact 8.
“I’ve once again sourced three great bourbons for Blood Oath Pact 8, and I’m particularly excited to include a bourbon finished in Calvados casks,” said Rempe. “The Calvados cask will bring additional tasting notes characterized by slight apple on the nose, with hints of vanilla and cinnamon, as well as flavor notes of ripe apples, juicy pears, butterscotch and even subtle hints of chocolate. Blood Oath Pact 8 is a bourbon I’m proud to share with bourbon lovers, but the recipe is a secret I’ll be keeping to myself.”
Blood Oath Pact 8 features a label similar to its series predecessors, but in a rich green hue to signify apples and pears, which are used to make Calvados brandy. The official launch of Blood Oath Pact 8 will include a total allocation of 51,00 bottles, 1,400 of which will be held for a future Trilogy Pack release. The first Trilogy Pack, featuring Pacts 1, 2 and 3, was released in 2018, and the second Trilogy Pack, featuring Pacts 4, 5 and 6, was released last September in conjunction with National Bourbon Heritage Month.
TASTING NOTES AROMA: Slight apple on the nose with hints of vanilla and cinnamon. PALATE: Ripe apples and juicy pears combined with butterscotch and hints of chocolate. FINISH: Apples, pears, butterscotch, and chocolate.
What Gary Says
Nose: Salted caramel, musty rickhouse, toasted orange zest, cinnamon, hints of baked apples and pears. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, honey, rye zip with cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, hard apple cider and bit of mint. Finish: Moderately long, slightly drying with apple cider, caramel and mint. Comments: Another really well made whiskey. I appreciate that Rempe and team have consistently used a deft hand with finishing in the Blood Oath pacts, so that it truly is a ‘finish’ that adds some subtle complexity to the bourbon without overpowering it. The Calvados influence is detectable, subtle, and delicious. Lovely addition to the Blood Oath family!
