Los Angeles, CA (January 25,2022) – Broken Barrel Whiskey Co., whose portfolio of premium whiskeys showcase the impact a non-traditional barrel finishing practice has on flavor, has officially reintroduced its core line up of now exclusively Kentucky Straight Bourbon & Rye Whiskeys, which are distilled by eighth-generation Master Distiller Jacob Call at the historic Owensboro Distilling Co., in Kentucky.

While most whiskey is aged in barrels and then bottled, Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. Founder and CEO Seth Benhaim believed that there was a missed opportunity in traditional barrel finishing – namely the reliance on one type of barrel used to finish one type of whiskey. He created Broken Barrel to expand the barrel finishing concept, involving not only broken barrel staves (vs. intact barrels), but also the combination of multiple barrel types all finishing aged bourbon in tandem.

“We always say that the truth is in the barrel,” said Benhaim. “Contact with the oak gives whiskey its character and charisma and defines the final whiskey. It’s responsible for 80% of the flavor tasted in every sip, which is why we further age and finish our whiskeys using various combinations of barrel types.”

Once Broken Barrel whiskey ages for a minimum of two years, barrels are carefully selected, dumped and batched in a large tank. The broken barrel staves from multiple different kinds of casks are then added to further age and finish the whiskey. While most whiskey enthusiasts are familiar with a mash bill, or combination of grains used, Benhaim coined the term Oak Bill™, to denote the combination of barrel staves from different types of barrels used in each expression, as listed on every bottle. Individually, these types of oak barrels are not typically used on 95% of all bourbon or rye whiskey produced, and rarely if ever are three types of oak used at the same time to finish any whiskey.

The core portfolio of products, which feature a premium new look, include:

Small Batch ($35) – A bold, oak-forward 95-proof KY straight bourbon with a spicy finish. Notes of vanilla-laced cake batter and a candy corn sweetness

o   Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye,9% Barley

o   Oak Bill™:40% Ex-Bourbon, 40% New French Oak, 20% Sherry Cask

California Oak ($35) – An88-proof KY Straight Bourbon meets California’s Central Coast, using Cabernet Sauvignon barrels as the prominent oak finish. Balanced caramel sweetness, with dates and dark fruit, and a tannic finish

o   Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye,9% Barley

o   Oak Bill™:80% California Cabernet Casks, 20% New French Oak

o   Awards: Gold Medal, 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Tasting Panel 2022 (91 points)

Heresy Rye ($35) – A sherry influenced, double oaked, 105-proof workhorse straight rye whiskey featuring sweet cooked vanilla, freshly prepared dough, with traces of charred oak, marzipan sweetness and classic spicy rye finish

o   Mash Bill: 95% Rye, 5% Barley

o   Oak Bill™:40% Ex-Bourbon, 40% New French Oak, 20% Sherry Cask

o   Awards: Gold Medal, 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Tasting Panel 2022 (93 points)

Cask Strength ($45) – An unapologetically big bourbon at 115 Proof with hints of fresh blackberry, caramel, notes of orange, corn and cinnamon spice on the finish.

o   Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye,9% Barley

o   Oak Bill™:40% Ex-Bourbon, 40% New French Oak, 20% Sherry Cask

o   Awards: Tasting Panel 2022 (94 points)

Limited-Edition Special Releases

In the spirit of experimentation, Broken Barrel regularly issues special releases which allows the team to further flex its creative muscles and incorporate barrel staves from various combinations of unique casks sourced from all over the world. They’re currently ramping up their Los Angeles whiskey warehouse by regularly collecting and breaking barrels, experimenting with aging and blending, and tasting and bottling new limited-release and single barrel projects.  

Availability

Broken Barrel products are sold online via Caskers, Flaviar, Reserve Bar and Wine.com and in select retail locations within 33 US states. The Broken Barrel Stave House & Bottle Shop, located at 2332 East 8thStreet in downtown Los Angeles, is open from Monday through Friday from 12-5pm.Limit three bottles per person, per day.

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About Broken Barrel Whiskey Co.
Founded in 2017, Broken Barrel Whiskey is a portfolio of premium whiskeys sourced from the historic Owensboro Distilling Co. in Kentucky. The core expressions feature exclusively Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye Whiskey, which are further aged and finished using various types and combinations of barrel staves. For more information, please visit www.brokenbarrelwhiskey.com