Every bourbon drinker has a unique palate, and Rare Character believes there is no “one size fits all” whiskey – especially when it comes to picking a single barrel. At the heart of Rare Character’s lineup is their crown jewel – the Single Barrel Series. For those unacquainted, Rare Character is more than just a name. It’s an ethos. Born from a reverence for the art of whiskey-making, coupled with an audacious desire to experiment, Rare Character is a brand that embodies innovation. In today’s blog post, we will work to unpack all the daggum barrel codes that are floating around tied to this series, providing a greater view into the world of Rare Character and hopefully helping you find a pour you’ll love!
The Single Barrel Series certainly stands as a testament to Rare Character’s commitment to individuality. Each barrel is unique, a singular narrative shaped by time, environment, and curated craftsmanship. For those who are uninitiated in the unique pedigree that comes with a single barrel expression, unlike blends that aim for consistency, single barrel expressions embrace variability—each bottling unrepeatable, capturing the nuanced interplay of wood, spirit, and time.
For many Bourboneur’s out there, the allure of the Single Barrel Series lies in each bottles ability to surprise. With so many varying expressions, you might uncover a bourbon with a burst of orchard fruits and honeyed vanilla, or a rye with an unexpected peppery edge and whispers of dark chocolate. No two are the same and therein lies the intrigue. Rare Character dares you to sip with intention, to savor each glass as a unique moment in time.
For Bourboneur, Rare Character's Single Barrel Series represents what we love most about whiskey—it’s not just about the liquid in the bottle, but the stories it tells, the memories it creates, and the people it brings together.
There’s a pile of Rare Character single barrels out on the market – a quick search, and you’ll find yourself scrolling through countless single barrels catalogued in the Bourbon Blue Book® from retailers, private clubs, and other collaborators who hand pick barrels that align with their specific tastes and preferences. This process isn’t a quick transaction – as folks arrive at Rare Character, they are given an orientation to the brand, then provided a curated selection of barrels to try that represent a wide spectrum of flavor profiles, discussing the nuances of each barrel with a type of collaborative dialogue and back and forth finding the “right” barrel. Labels are then customized according to the specification of the buyer, and the process often concludes with a celebratory toast, marking the contribution to the Rare Character Single Barrel Series.
With over 20 different barrel types comprised within the Rare Character Single Barrel Series, not many can just look at the label and know what’s going on. We’ve taken up the laborer’s oar however to help you unpackage what it means when you read “VEN” or “RIO” with the list below, and accompanying quick-key following the list, which we suggest you print off or keep handy (you can always just search the blog posts in our app to quickly find it on the go moving forward).
The list below helps provide some focus around each barrel and some of the nuances you can expect to find. This list only covers the Single Barrel Series, and not the Native Wood & Finishing Series, which is labeled “Single Barrel Series” but is separate and the focus of a future post!
75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
8+ Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Similar to a wheated bourbon.
75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
8+ Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Silky mouthfeel with nice tannins and oak.
75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
8+ Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
High proof, most bottles average over 135 proof, very robust sipper.
70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley
6 Years 6 Months+ Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 70/21/9
A very richly spiced pour.
60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley
8+ Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey
High rye, easy drinking low proofer.
25% corn, 70% rye, 5% malted barley
8+ Year Straight Rye Whiskey
Drinks like a bourye, high proof.
60% corn, 22% wheat, 18% malted barley
8+ Year Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey
First wheated release, dessert-like profile.
60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley
6+ Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey
High proof high rye bourbon.
60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley
6+ Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brown sugar and oak notes, double gold winner at SF World Spirits Competition.
75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
8 Year+ Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Aged in Kelvin Char 4 barrels.
75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
6 Year 9 Month+ Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Not many on the market to-date.
45% corn, 51% rye, 4% malted barley
6 Year 3 Month+ Straight Rye Whiskey
Barely a rye, light fruit and earthy notes.
95% rye, 5% malted barley
5 Year 8 Month+ Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey
Pronounced honey note.
45% corn, 51% rye, 4% malted barley
4 Year 2 Month+ Straight Rye Whiskey 45/51/4
Sweet and spicy.
78% corn, 13% rye, 9% malted barley
6 Year 8 Month+ Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Same yeast as K21.
60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley
7 Year 6 Month+ Straight Bourbon Whiskey
High proof MGP bourbon.
60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley
5 Year+ Straight Bourbon Whiskey
High rye bourbon.
75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
6 Year 7 Month+ Straight Bourbon Whiskey 75/21/4
Spicy and complex.
95% rye, 5% malted barley
5+ Year Straight Rye Whiskey
Tropical notes with bold rye spice.
75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
4 Year 9 Month+ Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Charred fruity sweetness.
If you find yourself yearning for a whiskey that refuses to be ordinary, Rare Character Whiskey’s Single Barrel Series will have you uncorking an adventure…and with so many floating around, you’ve got a fair bit of adventuring ahead! Cheers!
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