The Single Barrel Phenomenon

Behind The Single Barrel Phenomenon

The average bourbon brand has much in common with a McDonald's cheeseburger: From California to North Carolina, the spirits taste identical no matter where you travel.

This is not a comment on quality. See, bourbons such as Jim Beam and Maker's Mark spend years slumbering in charred oak barrels, where the distilled contents develop snowflake-unique nuances. When bottling time comes, hundreds of barrels of bourbon are blended, ensuring consistency and smoothing out idiosyncrasies.

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