Hands down, these were my favorite private barrel selections ever. If you noticed the plural, extra points for you: we didn’t just select one barrel from Buffalo Trace; we selected three!

Was I in my glory? Hell yes! It was incredible to be nestled in the history of my favorite distillery and part of a team selecting individual barrels for massive, iconic brands. We tasted and selected barrels of Stagg, E.H. Taylor Single Barrel, and Blanton’s Gold, all three of which enjoy demand far beyond availability.

First, a few quick facts about the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Spirits have been made on these grounds since 1775. Situated on the banks of the Kentucky River in Frankfort, KY, it is one of America’s oldest continuously operating distilleries and was one of the few allowed to operate during Prohibition to produce “medicinal” whiskey. The campus features historic rickhouses and distillation facilities that earned it National Historic Landmark status in 2013.

My invite came from my friend Eric Rose, a Managing Partner at Bub City who handles their whiskey program. We’ve been friends for a few years, brought together by our shared passion for bourbon. Eric has worked on several country festivals that my acts have played over the years, including Windy City Smokeout in Chicago and Lone Star Smokeout in Fort Worth. So, when this opportunity presented itself, he reached out. Our group totaled four, including Bub City Rosemont General Manager Matt Padiak and team member Tom Kaniewski.

We were met by our guide, Michael, and began with a 60 minute behind the scenes tour. This included an up close look at the Blanton’s bottling facility and a walk through production to view the grain processing, fermentation, and barreling.

The most fascinating stop was Warehouse P, a climate controlled space that holds their most famous expressions, including the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and older Pappy Van Winkle barrels. This was the only part of the tour where photos were prohibited, and for good reason: we viewed some truly legendary spirits. What makes this warehouse unique is that it is kept around 40°F, just warm enough to keep the distillate interacting with the oak while drastically minimizing evaporation (the “angel’s share”). Think of it as a holding vault. Aside from the tasting itself, this was the highlight of the day.

Next, we moved on to the barrel picks in Warehouse H, another historic building best known for aging Blanton’s. Built in 1934, it is the distillery’s only metal clad warehouse. The thin metal walls expose the barrels directly to Kentucky’s extreme seasonal shifts, accelerating the wood’s interaction with the spirit. This very building is the birthplace of the world’s first commercial single barrel bourbon.

We were offered three barrel options for each of our three selections, sampling from nine barrels total. Picking for even one of these brands is exceptional, but selecting all three in the same day was nothing short of magical. My personal favorite? Our Stagg pick was among the finest whiskies I have ever tasted. Fortunately, our group had aligned palates and settled on the same choices with ease. Bub City is getting some spectacular bottles!

Our selections will be bottled in roughly two to three months and served and sold at Bub City’s Downtown Chicago (Clark St.) and Rosemont locations this November. Next time you’re in the area, add it to your “must visit” list. You’ll find house smoked BBQ, an extensive whiskey selection, and great live music, plus an incredible staff that takes true pride in traveling straight to the source to pick the best barrels for their guests.