Barrell Craft Spirits

Barrell Craft Spirits is an independent blender and bottler based in Louisville, Kentucky. Founded by Joe Beatrice in 2013, there is no house distillery, instead, Barrell Craft Spirits sources casks from established producers, then blends and, where appropriate, further matures them to build each release.

That approach gives Barrell plenty of room to experiment. Bourbon, rye and other American whiskeys can be combined across ages and origins, while finishing casks borrowed from rum and fortified wine bring another layer of flavour. Many releases are bottled at cask strength, keeping the character of the original barrels front and centre. Foundation Bourbon is the gentler exception, bottled at 50% ABV.

The result is a range that moves from straightforward, cocktail-friendly bourbon to more elaborate blends such as Barrell Seagrass, Dovetail and Vantage. Barrell Craft Spirits is less concerned with making every bottle taste identical than with finding the best possible use for the casks in front of it, whether that means blending, finishing or leaving a particularly good barrel alone.