Do you ever feel lost in the bourbon aisle, bombarded with unfamiliar terms on the bottle labels? While some terms in whiskey terminology might seem interchangeable at first glance, they actually have distinct meanings. Let’s break down some key terms to help you navigate the world of bourbon with confidence!

Single Barrel

This refers to a premium offering of a bourbon or whiskey that is bottled from the same barrel. Normally, you will see blends that mix several to several hundred barrels together.  This can assure consistency in color and taste as some great barrels are mixed with some mediocre ones. This blending practice evens things out. When you obtain a single barrel product, you could be scoring a tremendous bottle or, as I have experienced, just a so-so one,

Remember that all barrels are unique.  Even barrels that have aged directly next to each other, for the same amount of time, can have varying tastes due to placement and the wood used in the barrel.

Full Proof

This pertains to the whiskey’s proof as it enters the barrel. As whiskey ages, its proof increases. Even though barrels are liquid tight, they are not airtight, and evaporation occurs.  Since water evaporates at a higher pace than alcohol, there is less water in the barrel over time and that increases the proof, or alcohol content. Say you have a 100-proof whiskey that enters the barrel. By the time it matures, with the evaporation, the proof could easily rise 10-15 percent. By simply adding the appropriate amount of water, the distiller reduces that percentage of alcohol back down to 100-proof.  Therefore, returning the proof to the exact point that it entered the barrel, or Full Proof.

Barrel Proof

Perhaps you’ve come across this term, Barrel Proof. It is also marketed as Straight From The Barrel, Barrel Strength and Cask Strength.  These all have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably.  This is highly sought after product and has zero water added. It is literally bottled straight from the barrel. As Full Proof pertains to the entry proof, Barrel Proof is all about the exit proof. There is a trend over that past few years towards this distillate which could, at times, reach hazmat levels between 130-140 proof. It can be incredibly strong and have a strong bite.  Conversely, it offers a cannon blast of flavors offering up complex notes of deep caramel, oak, vanilla and toffee.

I hope this is helpful. It takes a while to master whiskey terminology, it’s a world of its own. If you have any questions or would like suggestions for anything in the whiskey world, please feel free to reach out!