NBC
FAQ

Nashville Barrel Company (NBC) is a craft whiskey blender and bottler based in Nashville, Tennessee. We select exceptional single barrels from partner distilleries across America, bottle them at cask strength without chill filtration, and sell them direct to consumers at our tasting room and online. We don't distill — we find the best barrels that exist and put our name on them. NBC has won Tennessee Blender of the Year and placed #16 on Fred Minnick's Top 100 American Whiskeys of 2025 for The Compromise.

No — and that's intentional. NBC is a non-distilling producer (NDP), which means we source barrels from established distilleries and bottle them independently. This model lets us work with MGP Indiana, Wild Turkey (DSP-KY-67), Tennessee distilleries, Kelvin cooperage, and Foursquare rum rather than being limited to one production facility. The result: a portfolio that spans 8-year Kelvin bourbon to 21-year Tennessee whiskey to a 50/50 bourbon-rye blend that Fred Minnick ranked #16 in America.

NBC has two Nashville locations. Our tasting room is at 425 Church Street in downtown Nashville — one block from Broadway, in the heart of the city. Walk-in whiskey flights start at $35. Our headquarters and production facility is at 800 Fessler's Lane in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood. Both are open to the public.

NBC was founded approximately 7 years ago. The company's first purchase was the 14 barrels that became the Founders Fourteen series — 8-year MGP Indiana bourbon in Kelvin cooperage, acquired before NBC had a tasting room, before it had a logo, before it had a name. Those barrels are still being released today.

NBC's portfolio spans several series and styles: Founders Fourteen (the 14 original 8yr MGP Kelvin barrels); Grateful Kelvin Series (high-rye 60/36/4 MGP in Kelvin cooperage, 8–10yr); C-Series (single barrel picks from Wild Turkey, DSP-KY-67); Vault Series (20yr and 21yr Tennessee bourbon); The Compromise (#16 Fred Minnick 2025, 50/50 bourbon-rye blend); and various Nashtucky and Wooshine expressions. All releases are cask strength and non-chill filtered.

NBC releases are cask strength — typically ranging from 115° to 145° proof depending on the barrel. The Compromise is 122.60°. Founders Fourteen barrels run 126–130°. Vault Series barrels include several hazmat releases above 140°. No proofing water is added before bottling.

Cask strength (also called barrel proof) means the whiskey is bottled directly from the barrel without diluting it with water. Most commercial whiskeys are proofed down to 80°–100° before bottling. Cask strength releases preserve the natural oils, texture, and full flavor the barrel produced. You can always add a few drops of water to open up the nose, but you can't add proof back once it's been diluted.

NBC sources from several partner distilleries: MGP Indiana (Lawrenceburg, IN) for the Founders Fourteen and Grateful Kelvin series; Wild Turkey / DSP-KY-67 (Lawrenceburg, KY) for the C-Series; Tennessee distilleries for the Vault Series 20yr and 21yr releases; Foursquare Distillery (Barbados) for the 15-year rum; and Kentucky producers for the rye component of The Compromise.

Kelvin Cooperage is a barrel-making company based in Glasgow, Scotland with a facility in Louisville, KY. Kelvin barrels are known for their heavier char level and a distinct wood selection that produces more toasted vanilla, dark caramel, and a slightly smoky finish compared to standard American ISC cooperage. NBC uses Kelvin barrels for the Founders Fourteen and Grateful Kelvin series — it's a defining characteristic of those releases.

MGP Indiana produces two primary bourbon mashbills. The standard 75/21/4 (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley) is used for the Founders Fourteen. The 60/36/4 high-rye recipe (60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley) is used for the Grateful Kelvin series. The extra rye produces significantly more baking spice, pepper, and dried fruit character — it's the reason Grateful Kelvin releases taste more assertive and complex than standard MGP bourbon.

DSP-KY-67 is the federal Distilled Spirits Plant registration number for the Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, operated by the Russell family since 1954. NBC's C-Series represents independent barrel picks from DSP-KY-67 — bottled by NBC, not Wild Turkey. These are not Wild Turkey-branded products; they are NBC's own selections from one of Kentucky's most respected distilleries.

Yes. NBC's major recognitions include: #16 — Fred Minnick Top 100 American Whiskeys of 2025 (The Compromise); Tennessee Blender of the Year; Best in Class (multiple competitions); and Fred Minnick Club Marzipan barrel pick — a second Minnick collaboration. The Compromise was also selected by Skurnik Wines & Spirits for national distribution, which is reserved for consistently high-quality producers.

Fred Minnick is one of the most respected critics in American whiskey — the author of Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey and a longtime judge at major international spirits competitions. His annual Top 100 American Whiskeys list is among the most followed in the whiskey industry. NBC's Compromise appearing at #16 on that list in 2025, and Minnick selecting a separate NBC barrel for his Club Marzipan program, represents two independent endorsements from the same critic.

NBC whiskey is available: online at buyspiritsdirect.com (ships to most states); in person at 425 Church Street, Nashville; and at select retail partners in Tennessee and other distribution states. Many single-barrel releases are extremely limited and sell out within days. The Founders Fourteen #13 had only 2 bottles remaining as of May 2026.

NBC ships to most US states through their fulfillment partner Buy Spirits Direct. A small number of states restrict direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping. Check the availability page or the checkout at buyspiritsdirect.com for your state's eligibility.

NBC pricing by series: Grateful Kelvin $129.99–$149.99; Founders Fourteen $149.99; C-Series $99.99–$119.99; The Compromise $109.99; Vault Series 20yr/21yr $279.99–$349.99 (hazmat releases at the higher end); 34yr Canadian $599.99; 15yr Foursquare Rum available in-store.

Yes. The NBC tasting room at 425 Church Street offers walk-in whiskey flights starting at $35, private events, corporate experiences, and guided tastings. Experiences include the Blending Experience (blend your own whiskey), the Master Tasting flight, and private events for groups of 10–150. No reservation required for walk-in flights. See all experiences.

The NBC tasting room at 425 Church Street is literally one block from Broadway — less than a 2-minute walk from the heart of the honky tonk strip. It's the closest serious whiskey experience to Broadway in Nashville.

Yes. NBC offers private barrel picks where your group selects a single barrel from the NBC portfolio, which is then bottled with a custom label. Barrel picks are popular for corporate events, weddings, and private groups. See the barrel pick page for details.