WHAT IS A
SINGLE BARREL
PICK?

Every bottle of whiskey starts the same way — grain, water, yeast, heat, wood. But from the moment that liquid goes into a barrel and rolls into a warehouse, it starts becoming something unique to that specific container. The wood grain, the position on the rack, the temperature swings through each season — all of it shapes what comes out the other end. Two barrels filled on the same day from the same batch can taste completely different by the time they're ready.

A single barrel pick is the process of tasting through multiple individual barrels side by side — and choosing one to bottle exclusively for you. When you pick a barrel, you're getting a whiskey that nobody else in the world has in exactly that form. Once that barrel is gone, that specific pour is gone forever.

HOW A SINGLE BARREL DIFFERS FROM A BLENDED WHISKEY

Most whiskey on the shelf is a blend. That's not a criticism — master blenders are skilled at combining barrels to hit a consistent flavor profile year after year. When you buy a major bourbon label, you're getting something engineered to taste the same regardless of when or where you buy it.

A single barrel is different. One barrel, bottled on its own, unblended. Every bottle from that barrel is essentially the same pour. And once it's bottled out, it's done. There's no reorder, no restock, no second batch that tastes the same.

HOW A BARREL PICK WORKS AT NASHVILLE BARREL COMPANY

At Nashville Barrel Company HQ — 222 Fesslers Lane, Nashville TN — the Single Barrel Experience is a private, guide-led session. Here's exactly how it runs:

• You taste through four to six single barrel samples. Each one is pulled directly from its barrel — not pre-poured, not measured in advance. Your guide draws the whiskey right in front of you using a barrel thief.
• Your guide walks you through each barrel. Mashbill (the grain recipe), age, entry proof, warehouse position, what to expect on the nose, palate, and finish. You're not just drinking — you're understanding why each barrel developed differently.
• You compare, discuss, and vote. Groups deliberate. Individuals go back for second tastes. The guide answers questions without pushing you toward any barrel — the pick is yours to make.
• The winning barrel is confirmed and set aside. Your bottle is filled on-site, sealed, and labeled with whatever you want — your name, the date, an occasion, a company logo. It's ready before you leave.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN PICKING A BARREL

Most first-timers assume they need deep whiskey knowledge to make a good pick. They don't. What they need is a framework — a consistent way to evaluate each barrel so the comparison is apples to apples, not gut feelings.

WHAT MAKES ONE BARREL BETTER THAN ANOTHER?

There's no single answer — which is what makes barrel picks genuinely interesting. A barrel one person considers the best pour they've had might be too oaky or too intense for someone else. That said, a few things tend to signal a barrel worth picking:

• Complexity — Does it change as you hold it? Does the finish reveal something different than what you tasted first? A barrel that evolves is generally more interesting than one that's one-dimensional.
• Balance — The sweetness, the oak, the proof, and the grain should work together. When one element dominates and crowds out everything else, that's usually not the pick.
• Drinkability — The best barrel pick isn't the most impressive one on paper. It's the one you actually want to open on a Friday night, not save indefinitely and never touch.

WHO DOES BARREL PICKS AT NBC?

• Private individuals — A barrel-pick bottle with your name on the label is the most personal whiskey you can own.
• Retail stores — Retailers pick barrels to carry as store exclusives. Customers follow good store picks specifically to get the next one.
• Corporate groups — The group tastes together, debates, votes, and leaves with a barrel that belongs to the company. Custom-branded labels available.
• Special occasions — Weddings, anniversaries, retirements. A custom barrel-pick bottle with the date and names on the label is one of the most personal gifts in the whiskey world.

WHY NBC FOR YOUR BARREL PICK?

Nashville Barrel Company has been named Tennessee Blender of the Year. The barrels they source and select have earned national recognition — #2 and #4 on Fred Minnick's Top 100 American Whiskeys of 2024, above George T. Stagg, in a fully blind tasting. These aren't random warehouse finds. They are deliberately sourced, aged, and selected by a team that has been doing this for years.

NBC's barrel pick lineup is a curated selection that the team has already evaluated for quality. The experience carries a 4.9-star rating from 500+ verified reviews. The barrels you taste are exceptional — which is why the picks that come out of NBC sessions tend to be bottles people open on special occasions and order again.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I buy a full barrel, not just a single bottle?

Yes. Full barrel purchases are available for retailers and larger private buyers. You pick your barrel and the entire yield is bottled and labeled for you. Contact support@nashvillebarrelco.com for pricing and availability.

Do I need whiskey knowledge to do a barrel pick?

No. NBC's guides walk first-timers through the process step by step. The four-point framework above is exactly what they take you through. Most people are surprised how quickly they can articulate what they prefer once they have a consistent way to evaluate each barrel.

How far in advance do I need to book?

For individual and small group sessions, 1–2 weeks ahead is recommended — especially on weekends. For corporate groups or full barrel purchases, 4+ weeks is preferred. Book online at nashvillebarrelco.com/barrel-pick or email support@nashvillebarrelco.com.

Where does the barrel pick experience take place?

The Single Barrel Experience is held at Nashville Barrel Company HQ — 222 Fesslers Lane, Nashville TN 37210. The full production distillery, 8 minutes from Broadway with free on-site parking. Not available at the Downtown Tasting Room.