Release XIV - "The Prestige"

"The Prestige"

The June 2025 Release

Sample A

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State & Republic Wheated Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey - Ranger Creek Brewing and Distilling

$59.99 Member Price

$70.00 Regular Price

Distillery: Ranger Creek Brewing and Distilling - San Antonio, TX
Proof: 96 (48% ABV)
Age Statement: 3 years old
Mashbill: 69% Corn, 21% Wheat, 10% Malted Barley
Color/Appearance: Bright Copper

Fun Fact: Named in honor of a place that was a location for one of the last stands of the Texas Rangers, Ranger Creek is a veteran-staffed distillery that provides work for those transitioning back to civilian life from the military.

Aroma

A fresh and vibrant nose, with notes of dried mint, toasted grain, spicy caramel, graham cracker, and ripe grapefruit
Taste

Very balanced on the palate, a soft heat rounded out with notes of pecan pie, baklava, walnut skins, mild gingerbread, rosewater, and Sugar Smacks™
Finish

A solid finish lingers with notes of green apples, mesa corn tortillas, and a hint of vanilla - a real crowd pleaser

Distillery Story

Ranger Creek’s motto is “Spirits as distinctive as the 28th State in the Union”, and we concur! Our Texas trips have shown us the wonderful things that come from whiskey made in their unique aging climate of heat/humidity, but this distillery takes it to a whole new level with off-the-charts experimentation and creativity. They are always releasing new projects to their Bottle Club, many of whom are also Blind Barrels members! Monthly one-off whiskeys (plus other spirits - their absinthe is fire!) from their team of military vets demonstrate the excitement that only a craft producer can bring to life. This State & Republic Wheater, named as Texas is one of the only territories to have been both a Republic and a State (DUALITY), originally started off small, but was so good they had to make more. They are the only place in the state able to use their equipment to both brew AND distill (they’re grandfathered in from past legislation) which comes through in their whiskey (don’t sleep on the beer either). If you’re ever in San Antonio, swing by and mention Blind Barrels - they’ll show you that famous Texas hospitality!

Sample B

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Hugh Hamer Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Rum Barrels - West Fork Whiskey Co.

$64.99 Member Price

$75.00 Regular Price

Distillery: West Fork Whiskey Co. - Westfield, IN
Proof: 103 (51.5% ABV)
Age Statement: 7 years old (2 of those years in Cruzan Rum Barrels)
Mashbill: 99% Corn, 1% Malted Barley
Color/Appearance: Stormy Amber, with incredible viscosity on the glass

Fun Fact: Fun Fact: Take a super unique mash bill (99% Corn/1% Malted Barley) and our first ever rum cask finish (a long one at 2 years!) and you get this incredibly special bourbon perfect for summer sipping.

Aroma

A bright yet rich nose, daiquiri vibes, with notes of sweet molasses, tropical fruits, sea spray, and a touch of a light vegetal rum
Taste

Light and approachable for the proof, with corn sweetness up front, layered with sweet lime, cane sugar, ripe pear, baking spices, candied orange, subtle persimmon pudding, and blackstrap rum
Finish

A sweet and smooth finish that draws you back in for another sip, with good oak presence, rich caramel, and a tingle of candied pineapple

Distillery Story

"If God was to make the perfect place for making whiskey, it was going to be Indiana." These words from West Fork Whiskey Co. are hard to argue, given the evidence! We really relate to their story, as they are another whiskey company founded by 3 buddies with a dream and a few maxed-out credit cards. Indiana has a long history of whiskey production, with its fertile soil providing much of the corn for bourbon production in Kentucky. West Fork came to be to shine a light on that rich tradition, and this whiskey is named in honor of Hugh Hamer, a local distiller from the 1800s. They’ve found that this 99% corn mash bill is the best bourbon to finish, really integrating well with the rum cask for a lengthy 2 year finish. Head distiller Julian Jones says, “It spits in the face of the narrative that corn is not a flavor grain.” This is an incredibly layered spirit that is a beautiful marriage of flavors, and clearly shows that you can find great whiskey anywhere. “The educated consumer is a really good consumer,” says co-founder David McIntyre, and we know our educated Blind Barrels members will love this dram.

Sample C

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Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey - The Prideful Goat

$89.99 Member Price

$105.00 Regular Price

Producer: The Prideful Goat - Houston, TX
Proof: 117 (58.5% ABV)
Age Statement: 9 years old
Mashbill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Color/Appearance: Polished Mahogany

Fun Fact: This is the oldest ever straight rye whiskey we've presented in a release, spending 5 years in Indiana and 4 additional years aging in Texas!

Aroma

A classic rye nose turned all the way up, herbaceous with rich mint, thyme, black licorice, coffee beans, and spicy dark chocolate
Taste

Incredibly rich mouthfeel, herbs and peppermint continue, with vibrant plum notes, raw walnuts, meyer lemon, and pink peppercorn
Finish

Balanced spice on the finish, with a slight black pepper tingle on the front of the palate, hoppy with notes of plum skins, clove, and shredded coconut

Distillery Story

Sometimes when you first taste a whiskey, you just go “mmmmmm”. That was our experience in drinking the oldest straight rye whiskey we have ever presented to our members! This offering is a Blind Barrels exclusive, something special brought to us by our good friend Randy Sullivan, founder of The Prideful Goat and host of Bourbon Real Talk. Randy brings a consumer’s palate to the table, taking 5-year-old rye whiskey from the gentle environment of Indiana and introducing it to the intensity of Houston for an additional 4 years. The Texas aging climate is a huge differentiator from other sourced brands, taking those 95/5 rye notes and turning them ALL the way up. How did Randy make the rare jump from whiskey fan to starting a brand? “If you're gonna do something in the whiskey world, you have to care more about the people and almost not care at all about the money.” This is the Prideful Goat ethos, working to provide incredible spirits at affordable prices. We know that whiskey karma blesses you when you do good things, so we can’t wait for our members to flock to join the herd and enjoy this rye!

Sample D

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Harbinger Straight Bourbon Whiskey Cask Strength Barrel Select "The Smallest Batch™ #2: CaskLord" - Ironroot Republic

$79.99 Member Price

$100.00 Regular Price

Distillery: Ironroot Republic Distilling - Denison, TX
Proof: 130.2 (65.1% ABV)
Age Statement: 4 years old
Mashbill: 80% Yellow Dent Corn, 20% Malted Wheat (a composition of 5 different types of wheat, including the 3 ancient Farro varietals)
Color/Appearance: Rich Red Gold

Fun Fact: The second in our Smallest Batch™ series from a distillery which practices the art of élevage, a practice adapted from cognac production to help tame the intense Texas aging climate.

Aroma

A nose that pops, with notes of blackberry crumble, peanut shells, toasted oak, sweet teriyaki, and funky mint
Taste

Bold and spicy on the palate, with pecan pie, dried fruits, Corn Pops™, chestnuts, and spicy cinnamon apples
Finish

A long and rounded finish, with floral notes that stick around along with candied nuts, smoky vanilla, and juicy port

Distillery Story

When a distiller calls their whiskey “adult everlasting gobstoppers”, we’re all in. Ironroot Republic is as dynamic as whiskey gets, a function of old-world techniques, the wild Texas climate, and a family who thinks outside the box. The Likarishes are a fun group, with head distiller Jonathan having more degrees than he can use, brother Robert deciding not to practice law just before graduation, and mom Marcia (aka “The Mother of Texas Whiskey”) stepping in to get things done. This know-how, coupled with their town’s connection to Cognac (a local man saved the French wine industry with the “iron roots of Texas”), gave them the tools to tame the intense weather to turn each cask into its best self. Robert says, “It’s like raising kids, if you try to raise them all the same it works really well for some and not great for others. We found barrels are the same.” This is one of the first wheaters they’ve ever done, with a combo of ancient grains in the mashbill, drawing out those delicious fruit and savory notes, and will evolve over time in your glass. Give them a call if you’re around, they still answer the phone!

Country/region

"The Prestige"

Sample A

State & Republic Wheated Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey - Ranger Creek Brewing and Distilling

Distillery Story

Sample B

Hugh Hamer Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Rum Barrels - West Fork Whiskey Co.

Distillery Story

Sample C

Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey - The Prideful Goat

Distillery Story

Sample D

Harbinger Straight Bourbon Whiskey Cask Strength Barrel Select "The Smallest Batch™ #2: CaskLord" - Ironroot Republic

Distillery Story