Breaking Bourbon Award Winning Single Barrel Club picks are selected by Breaking Bourbon, and whenever possible with the help of Patreon supporters. The bottles are made available to Patreon supporters first by pledge tier. If any bottles remain after all supporters have had an opportunity to purchase, they are made available to the public on a first come, first served basis. Each barrel is sponsored by a retailer partner, who sells the bottles directly to end purchasers.

SBC #95 “Velvety Underground”

Retailer Partner: Seelbach’s

Classification: Straight Tennessee Whiskey

Company: George A. Dickel & Co.

Distillery: Cascade Hollow Distilling Co.

Age: 15 Year Age Statement (Barreled May 5, 2006, bottled June 1, 2022 - Exact age is 16 years, 28 days)

Proof: 93.4

Mashbill: 84% Corn, 8% Rye, 8% Malted Barley

Yield: 108 Bottles

Release Date: February 2025

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SBC #96 “The Savory Collection”

Retailer Partner: Seelbach’s

Classification: Straight Tennessee Whiskey

Company: George A. Dickel & Co.

Distillery: Cascade Hollow Distilling Co.

Age: 15 Year Age Statement (Barreled March 31, 2006, bottled May 20, 2022 - Exact age is 16 years, 1 month, and 21 days)

Proof: 101.2

Mashbill: 84% Corn, 8% Rye, 8% Malted Barley

Yield: 84 Bottles

Release Date: February 2025

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Rollout Schedule

Tier 1 - Thursday 2/13/2025 @ 10AM ET
Tier 2 - Thursday 2/13/2025 @ 2PM ET
Tier 3 - Friday 2/14/2025 @ 10AM ET
Tier 4 - Friday 2/14/2025 @ 2PM ET

About the Tiers

Do exceptional values still exist in bourbon? George Dickel Bourbon makes a convincing case that they certainly do. During our visit to Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. late last year, we saw the enormity of their rickhouses, aging whiskey stock, and the intimate factory where all of their whiskey is made. Nestled in a valley in a gorgeous part of rural Tennessee, Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. acts as an outpost to stop in, take a load off, and witness a part of Tennessee’s distilling history.

During our visit, it was amazing to see how much whiskey this distillery makes in such a small footprint. Because of their output, they can offer excellent, high-aged bourbon at an exceptional price. George Dickel bourbon can get a bad rap for tasting distinctly “Dickel,” but doesn’t every memorable bourbon taste distinctly its own? You often hear that it features a mineral note, though that isn’t always the case among their whiskeys; it is the result of using the pure Tennessee water that runs parallel to its distilling operations. You can’t get more pure Tennessee than that.

In 2021, we reviewed the company’s new 15 year old release, and the particular single barrel we purchased received a 4 barrel rating. Bourbon with a 15 year old age statement was exceedingly rare 4 years ago, and while the frequency of high-aged bourbon releases seems to have increased as we enter 2025, their prices have only gone up. WAY UP, as we recently reviewed one that asked $400. Though some feature a higher proof, these two George Dickel 16 year old whiskeys we hand-selected are also cask strength, but because of the lower entry proof, they lose proof over time and come out of the barrel at a lower proof. Until a bourbon glut actually begins, George Dickel remains the king of value, and these two Dickel picks are both over 16 years old and can be had at under a Benjamin a piece. Wow!

Tasting Notes:

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“Velvety Underground”

Barrel #06E05 - 15201

93.4 proof

16 years, 28 days (barreled May 5, 2006, bottled June 1, 2022)

Scents of caramel, vanilla custard, and dark cherry combine against a heavy backbone of dank, musty oak. The sip is smooth and velvety, combining layers of rich, dark sugar with delicate musty oak. Hints of vanilla custard and maple syrup ride through the midpoint, followed by splashes of cinnamon and allspice pulling out a wave of flavor. The finish is long and mellow, capping the whiskey off with a delightful ending. It’s an incredibly balanced 16+ year old whiskey that combines velvety sweet intense sugars with rich, musty oak to create a highly enjoyable sip.

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“The Savory Collection”

Barrel #06C31 - 14005

101.2 proof

16 years, 1 month, 21 days (barreled March 31, 2006, bottled May 20, 2022)

Vibrant scents of caramel and vanilla combine with leather and dry aged oak on the nose. A slight hint of allspice in the background adds depth. The whiskey’s age reveals itself on the palate, with a wave of savory aged oak up front. Sweeter flavors of kettle corn, caramel, vanilla custard, and dried apricot layer in, complementing the aged oak component. Baking spices emerge on the finish, accenting the savory aged oak note. The savory side is balanced with layers of sweets in the form of caramel, vanilla, and graham cracker. It’s a wonderfully vibrant 16+ year old whiskey that balances savory aged oak against familiar sweet bourbon flavors to satisfying results.

About Seelbach’s

For this pick, we partnered with spirits retailer Seelbach’s, which was founded by Blake Riber, also the creator of Bourbonr and the Bourbonr Facebook group. An online-only retailer with a twist, we interviewed Riber to discuss how he’s running his shop differently than everyone else. “Unlocking Craft Spirits” he calls it - seeking out up-and-coming craft distilleries and learning about their process and tasting through their products to find hidden gems.

Distillers, Producers, and Retailers: If you would like to be a part of this program and get your name in front of millions of bourbon enthusiasts, contact us.

‍Please note these bottles will not be sold by Breaking Bourbon, but will be sold by retailers we partner with in order to fulfill the orders and ship the bottles directly to Patreon supporters. Breaking Bourbon will receive no compensation from our partner retailers under these agreements (with the exception of a bottle from each barrel for editorial purposes). If you represent a retailer and ship to consumers and you’re interested in partnering just let us know!