13th Century Whiskey Company - Toasted Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey

13th Century Whiskey Company, founded by Paul Dunning at the base of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, creates meticulously crafted whiskeys that founder Seabass aptly describes as "a study in wood." Each element of their process is intentionally designed to maximize flavor, from their choice of high corn mashbills to their strategic use of 30-gallon casks for aging (to extract more wood sugars) and 53-gallon heavily toasted casks for finishing. This first Toasted Barrel release showcases their experimental approach, incorporating barrels with various char levels (1, 2, 3, 4, and the rare 5), each contributing different flavor profiles to the final blend. Named after the century when fractional distillation revolutionized spirits production, the company combines high-quality sourced MGP distillate with Colorado's ideal aging environment—high elevation, dry air, and dramatic temperature swings that create intense wood extraction (sometimes leaving as little as 10 gallons in each cask). True to Dunning's philosophy, "I can't stand it when brands get confused on who they are," all 13th Century releases are barrel proof and non-chill filtered, with this hazmat-proof bourbon (70.25% ABV) exemplifying their commitment to flavor over efficiency.