x Sample A

SAMPLE A

Distillery: Cedar Ridge Distillery - Swisher, IA

Whiskey: The QuintEssential American Single Malt Whiskey

Fun Fact: This whiskey is a solera blend that draws from a range of almost 40 types of finishing casks, many of them from Cedar Ridge Winery that is right on site!

Proof: 92 (46% ABV)

Age Statement: NA (Blend of 5-8 year old whiskey)

Mashbill: 100% 2-Row Pale Malted Barley

Color/Appearance: Pale Gold

Aroma Notes: Delightfully malty and herbaceous, with notes of apricot, nectarines, and ripe plums, rounding into hints of caramel and vanilla.

Tasting Notes: Creamy on the palate, with raisins, toasted nuts, and a nice citrus profile (Orange Fanta™, anyone??).

Finish: Bright and deep, peppery, finishing off with a fruity sweetness that leaves you wanting more.

Our Take: This American Single Malt Whiskey is not just “QuintEssential” by name, it's also a spectacular example of the future we have to look forward to with Single Malt Whiskey in our country! Although you might initially associate Iowa with corn (and don't get us wrong, their bourbon is also FANTASTIC), Cedar Ridge makes some of the best Single Malt whiskey we've ever tried, one that is particularly representative of their region and company. Their fermentation is done “off the grain”, an intensive process involving specialized equipment, but one that pays off in producing a distillate clean and consistent in flavor that works well with one of the prime elements their team is focusing on: cask finishing. Cedar Ridge also has a winery on site, and uses the casks from the wine they produce (as well as others that their operations team has a ton of fun sourcing) to add an incredible depth of flavor to the whiskey they distill. Each cask that goes into their QuintEssential blend is aged for 4 years in their used Bourbon barrels, before being transferred into a variety of finishing casks (they use almost 40 different kinds, from sherry to tokaji to apricot brandy!). These are then blended together to marry in their 1100 gallon solera vat before being bottled. Murphy Quint, their Head Distiller, says their QuintEssential program is all about creating distinct flavor profiles that they are then able to take advantage of when they are blending. This is a staff favorite, and it's not hard to see why Murphy calls it his favorite thing they make, telling us that it's hard for him to be fully done putting together a batch of the QuintEssential: “There's just no end to the amount of input that a producer can put into an American Single Malt. And I think that is neat for both the producer and the consumer.”
In case you can't tell already, the Cedar Ridge team is fueled by a passion to try funky things and push the category of whiskey forward! They are really so incredibly innovative, and are the only craft distillery in the whole country to be the #1 selling bourbon overall in their state (way to show your support, Iowans!). They also have some incredibly creative partnerships, such as the Slipknot No. 9 Iowa Whiskey (Clown helps out with blending each and every batch!). At the end of the day, Cedar Ridge produces authentic products that are made with intention, artistry, and passion, and we are so thrilled to bring you this superb American Single Malt Whiskey. Cheers!

Distillery Story: The Quint family has farmed and distilled spirits for generations. In 2005, Jeff Quint founded Cedar Ridge because he believed it was time for Iowa-the number one corn-producing state in the U.S.-to share its homegrown Bourbon Whiskey with the world. Cedar Ridge was the first licensed distillery in Iowa since Prohibition.

After releasing its first batch of whiskey in 2010, Cedar Ridge Distillery quickly became a nationally recognized leader in craft spirits, winning multiple awards such as American Distilling Institute's “2017 Distiller of the Year”, “Best American Craft Whiskey” at the 2016 New York World Spirits Competition, and "American Single Malt of the Year" by Barleycorn Awards in 2022.

From our Iowa Bourbon to our award-winning American Single Malt, each bottle of Cedar Ridge whiskey offers the best of authentic Iowa craftsmanship.

Managing every step of production, from grain to glass, is how you craft authentic whiskey. Our process is unique, affected by our specific location and even weather. You won't find the Cedar Ridge taste anywhere else in the world.

x Sample B

SAMPLE B

Distillery: MB Roland Distillery - Pembroke, KY

Whiskey: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Batch 16

Fun Fact: MB Roland bottles their whiskey at “still and barrel strength”. This means that, unlike most distilleries, they don't add water to their distillate when they are putting it into the barrels to age, or even when they are bottling it!

Proof: 106.9 (53.45% ABV)

Age Statement: Aged a minimum of 2 years

Mashbill: 68% Rye 27% White Corn, 5% Malted Barley (all grown locally)

Color/Appearance: Bright Copper

Aroma Notes: Rich and keeps you coming back, it starts off floral, with brown sugar oatmeal, spiced cinnamon cake, and carbonated raisin syrup (is that a thing?).

Tasting Notes: Bright and minty, moving into good oak presence, mocha toffee, peppercorn spice, and light molasses.

Finish: It closes with nice cinnamon spice, pleasantly drying notes of leather and oak, mid to long finish.

Our Take: This is about as real as it gets! When we think about the rise of craft distilleries here in the United States, MB Roland is one of the most perfect examples of how to get it right. Almost 15 years ago (they'll celebrate that milestone in 2024!) Paul and Merry Beth Tomaszewski decided that their region in western Kentucky needed a distillery focused on the traditions of the past, and they made it happen! Drawing from pre-prohibition pot still distillation methods, they've never sourced any of their product, but distill every drop using grain harvested within their local counties, truly making a “grain to glass” bottle particular to their region (in fact, they only use locally grown white corn in their mash bills)! In an age of contrived marketing stories trying to manufacture a historical character to build the brand around, MB Roland is named after Merry Beth herself (Roland is her maiden name), who is still the Master Blender for all their batches!

MB Roland only fills a few hundred barrels a year, so we are so honored to be able to present to you this true Small (10 barrel) Batch Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey! Not only is this whiskey barrel proof, but it is also STILL proof, as they add no water whatsoever to their spirit at any stage, a traditional process long lost to history! Part of what helps them be able to do this is their low proof when they make their cuts off the still, filling their casks at 102/103 proof, allowing for more sugars from the wood to be dissolved into their whiskey. This perfectly shows their unique, authentic nature as a brand, melding their local traditions (try out their Dark Fired Bourbon, with their standard white corn smoked using a method that originated in the tobacco their region is famous for!) with a patience that is built to succeed both now (this Rye just landed in Fred Minnick's top 100 whiskeys of the year!) and for many years to come.

Distillery Story: MB Roland Distillery is a completely “grain to glass” craft distillery located in Pembroke, Christian Co. KY. We're actually outside of town and affectionately refer to our exact location as “downtown St. Elmo.” We use local white corn to hand make each of our products ranging from our very unique “distillation & barrel proof” Kentucky Bourbon to our naturally-flavored Kentucky Pink Lemonade. The distillery was founded by Paul & Merry Beth (“MB”) Tomaszewski in 2009 as Kentucky's first completely “grain to glass” craft distillery. Paul is a native of southeastern Louisiana and arrived to the area via nearby Ft Campbell, while MB is a local native. An Amish dairy farm came up for sale and proved to be a wonderful foundation for a Kentucky craft distillery. One of the major benefits of the location is our proximity to our local grain supplier, Christian County Grain, located in nearby Pembroke.

The operation started out with Paul as the one and only full-time distiller in 2009. Since then our team has grown to more than 14 total employees, including MB coming over full time from her previous career. The one constant with us with both our production process and our location is that we love what we do and strive to make that come through in our products, the distillery, and our onsite events.

x Sample C

SAMPLE C

Producer: Casey Jones Distillery - Hopkinsville, KY

Whiskey: Casey Jones Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill 1

Fun Fact: The distillery's namesake, Casey Jones, grandfather of Master Distiller Arlon “AJ” Casey Jones, manufactured the only ever legally commissioned still for the federal government, a square “coffin” still! To this day they continue to distill using this style of still, which they now dub “The Grandfather Still”.

Proof: 111.5 (55.75% ABV)

Age Statement: 3 years old

Mashbill: 96% Corn, 3% Rye, 1% Malted Barley

Color/Appearance: Brown Ruby

Aroma Notes: A punch of cherry to start, moving into earthy and vegetal notes, some tart green apple, yet with bright sweetness underneath it all.

Tasting Notes: The corn shines through, with notes of corn pops, pecan pie, toasted brown sugar, heather, soft and viscous mouthfeel.

Finish: Mild spice, with a pleasant minerality and a touch of licorice.

Our Take: Where to begin with how we love this bourbon? While we enjoy tasting whiskeys from all over the globe, there's just something special about a good old Kentucky Bourbon! But this isn't just any old bottle, this Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is distilled from Casey Jones' Mash Bill #1, which Master Distiller Arlon “AJ” Casey Jones says has “just the right amount of corn”. What's that number, you ask? A whopping 96%! We agree with AJ - after all, who are we to argue with the grandson of the distillery's namesake, a former moonshiner who manufactured the only ever legally commissioned still (known as a “coffin” still due to its square shape) for the US government! AJ found his grandpa's still and used it as a prototype for his own design, with both stills on display at their visitors center to this day! They continue to use a much larger version of what's now called “the Grandfather Still” in their production everyday. As AJ says, “You can write craft on anything, but that's about as craft as it gets.”
If you are ever so lucky as to make it out to Hopkinsville (and it is worth the drive from the main Kentucky drag), you'll find that the team at Casey Jones WILL treat you like family. And what better way to hang out with family than with a bunch of whiskey around! They have a wide variety of options, from bourbon, to rye, to their Barrel Cut lineup that pays homage to their moonshining roots, a spirit made from a mash of 50% corn and 50% cane that we could not get enough of. If you happen to be in the area in April of 2024, when the next total solar eclipse will happen, they are super close to the epicenter and throw a mean Eclipse party, with themed bottles and general festivities (last time this happened a couple got married up in a hot air balloon during the eclipse)! We are so thrilled to present this phenomenal Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and know that you all are going to fall in love with it, too.

Distillery Story: During Prohibition, Al Capone got moonshine from many different places. But the shine he liked the most came from Golden Pond, Kentucky. What made Golden Pond shine so special? Casey Jones. Casey was Golden Pond's master stillmaker. The stills he designed were unique and meticulously crafted. Revenuers could tell a still was Casey's just by looking at it. Fellow moonshiners and Chicago's most famous gangster knew Casey's stills by the superior product they produced.

In Golden Pond after World War I, jobs were scarce and moonshining became a necessity. There was plenty of great water, and abundance of corn, and sugar was easy to come by. But to be a great moonshiner, you needed a great still. And for that, you called Casey Jones. Casey's craftsmanship and innovative design made him a legend in The Land Between The Lakes. When asked where he learned to build stills, Casey would grin and say, “The first still I ever saw was the first still I built.”

For over 30 years, Casey Jones built stills all over Kentucky using only copper. He refused to use steel, even though it was cheaper, because it was coated with potentially lethal zinc. He was a near-magician at knowing exactly how much and what gauge copper a certain size still would require. With just a torch, a hammer, snips, crimping pliers, and a soldering iron, Casey built 3-piece stills that were easy to set up and easy to move. He charged around $20 (about $350 in today's dollars) and a gallon or two of the product, of course. Our Casey's Cut Moonshine is named in honor of Casey and his preferred method of payment.

Moonshiners often grumbled and complained that coil condensers couldn't produce enough whiskey to meet demand, but had no remedy. Casey was the man who created a cylindrical condenser that made a higher-proof, better-tasting product in half the time. During a time when the woods were crawling with ax-wielding revenuers, this invention proved very popular. And unlike still-makers in other parts of the country, Jones preferred rectangular mash cookers. His square pot still, also known as a coffin still, fit perfectly in the bed of a wagon or a pickup truck, a definite plus when a moonshiner needed to make a fast getaway and didn't want to leave the tools of his trade behind. Casey also put handles on his stills in all the right places so they would be easy to move. He recognized that the condenser was the most important piece of the still, so it had its very own handle so that in case of a raid, it could be the first piece out.

Casey built stills in just about every hollow in the Land Between The Rivers (now known as the Land Between the Lakes.) He even built one directly across the Cumberland River from the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville. He was finally sentenced to two years in prison for bootlegging. When he was released from Mill Point Federal Penitentiary in West Virginia, the king of the still-makers finally retired.

Casey's legendary ingenuity and passion inspired his grandson Arlon Casey Jones to follow in his footsteps. Casey built his last still in 1967. AJ used that still, which is on display in the Casey Jones Distillery Lounge, as a guide to build the still we use today. As our Master Distiller, AJ handcrafts every batch of Casey Jones spirits using a recipe that has been handed down through generations of the Jones family. A family recipe cooked in a family still – it doesn't get more authentic than that.

x Sample D

SAMPLE D

Producer: Nashville Barrel Company - Nashville, TN

Whiskey: Cask Strength Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Fun Fact: Nashville Barrel Company's founders have raised almost $4 million for cancer research through their bourbon philanthropy!

Proof: 115.2 (57.6% ABV)

Blend Specifications: Aged 6 Years

Mashbill: 78% corn, 12% rye, 10% malted barley

Color/Appearance: Pale Amber

Aroma Notes: Lovely rye spice, thyme, ancho chile, grapefruit, brown sugar, classic dusty bourbon profile.

Tasting Notes: Sweet brown sugar, like a funky molasses rum, herbaceousness on the palate, some spicy honey in the background.

Finish: Rounded, rich flavor with a crisp finish, alive and approachable.

Our Take: The Nashville Barrel Company story is the dream for any bourbon fan: get so good at picking barrels and blending batches of your favorite whiskey that you can start your own business doing what you love! And it can't be said enough: the NBC team have some of the best palates around, and their skill in picking single casks is equaled in their blending prowess. This 6 year blend of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (all from the same distillery) is Batch 001 of their series, an approachable cask strength bourbon that is already picking up accolades, landing in Fred Minnick's Top 100 Whiskeys of the Year! This whiskey is a perfect example of an Independent Bottler putting their own signature stamp on the spirit they are bottling, and still doing things on a craft scale, with this batch being just 4 casks (a true Small Batch). And guess what? If you're hooked by this one, there's a whole rabbit hole you can go down with their single barrels that fit any occasion!

Mike Hinds, James Davenport, and the whole team are as authentic as it gets, using their platform and connections to give back to their community, continually raising money for charity, including almost $4 million for cancer research! They are betting that the whiskey consumer of the future is more educated and wants to go on whiskey journeys with good human beings they can trust, and we know they've found a bunch of those consumers with our Blind Barrels community. There is no better way to start off any Nashville trip than a stop at NBC for a couple pours, some stories (you might be there all day!), and a sit-down with Stella, the miniature Goldendoodle who is their President, Head of HR, and a VERY good girl.

Distillery Story: In 2018, we were three guys who saw where the market was headed—not enough bourbon supply driving demand through the roof and creating impossible allocations for us and our friends to get the good whiskey that had brought us together. One of our favorite past-times has been traveling all over the country and picking single-barrels with our friends, but that memory was vanishing quickly.

So, we decided to do it our way, and invest in our own abilities to select single barrels. We bought our first batch of barrels in 2018, quite honestly, we did it so that we could continue the tradition of picking through good whiskey with our friends. Little did we know what would happen next.

Well, the word got out... fast. People started talking about our barrels. It became so popular that friends were asking if they could pick a barrel of our stuff. February of 2020, we released our first single barrel rye - and people on social media made sure the rest was history. Soon, groups from all over the country were calling to ask to come pick a barrel for themselves.

In March of 2021, it hadn't stopped... so much so that we had to open up our own distillery to house it all. And we're so glad we did, because now we get to share even more whiskey with enthusiasts and friends like you.

When you're in Nashville, come on by. Have a dram, a bottle, or a barrel… and find out why the people have been talking about us.