Single Barrel Select Program
Roll Out the Barrels for a Private Selection
Selecting your own premium barrel of bourbon or whiskey is a one-of-a-kind encounter that few have the opportunity to experience. Our exclusively crafted partnership in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana allow everyone to participate in the process from beginning to end — thieving samples straight from the barrel to the hand labeling of your own bottle collection. Guests may choose from a Bourbon or Rye Whiskey barrel experience, discuss tasting techniques and conduct sensory evaluations of your premium selections. Swirl! Nose! Taste! Lightly dilute! Nose! Taste! Debate! Ponder!
Interested in learning more about this exclusive single barrel select program? Contact us directly and one of our Experience Coordinators will be in touch! Request more information through our Selection Request Form below.
What Is A Barrel Select Experience?
A Private Barrel Select Experience is an exclusive opportunity for enthusiasts to engage in the unique process of selecting their own personalized barrel of bourbon. Participants embark on a guided journey through a distillery, where they learn about the intricacies of the distilling process and aging. During the experience, guests sample various barrels, evaluating their unique flavor profiles through sensory techniques such as nosing and tasting. Once a preferred barrel is chosen, it will be bottled and most distilleries will have you return 4-6 weeks later to pick them up while others, you can leave with the bottles that day. Participants can personalize their bottles with custom labels. This immersive experience not only offers a deeper appreciation of distilling craftsmanship but also provides a memorable and bespoke addition to any bourbon collection.
Barrels Available
Full Barrel = approx. 180 - 160 bottlesHalf Barrel = approx. 100 - 80 bottlesQuarter Barrel = approx. 60 bottles
The Barrel Select Experience — What To Expect
Selecting Your Barrel
Mint Julep will qualify and coordinate your request to find the best barrel experience for your group then connect you with our partners for your barrel payment and bottle logistics.
The selection experience differs from distillery to distillery but is typically a 2-5 hour experience. For a timely and intimate experience, a group of 4-6 people is recommended; however, accommodations can be made for larger group sizes depending on the distillery.
The Full Package — Transportation & Tour
When traveling with Mint Julep Experiences, luxury is the standard — from VIP transportation, access to exclusive experiences and maximizing itineraries, our Experience Coordinators arrange it all. In order for guests to enjoy their barrel pick experience fully and responsibly, this program reserves mandatory transportation services.
For a timely and intimate experience, a group of 4-6 people is recommended. However, accommodations can be made for larger group sizes depending on the distillery.
After your barrel selection, the distillery will bottle your whiskey and you will return to the distillery to pick them up. Typically, turnaround for bottles is 4-6 weeks depending on the distillery.
What's Included
- Start to finish coordination for your private barrel selection experience
- VIP transportation
- Premium brand barrels to choose from
- Hand-picked and personalized to your group’s tastes
- Bourbon thieving
- Hand-labeled bottles from your barrel select
- Custom labels for your bottles can be accommodated
Add-ons
When requesting this experience, if you’re interested in maximizing your full day experience or adding-on a second day of adventure — let us know if you’re interested in any of the below add-ons!
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Additional distillery tour and tastings
- Hands-on mixology experiences
Working with Chasta and Mint Julep Tours for our private barrel selection experiences has been an absolute pleasure from start to finish. Their team demonstrates exceptional communication and coordination throughout, ensuring every detail is thought through and handled.
From organizing our visits to multiple distilleries for tours and barrel selections, to arranging comfortable ground transportation with knowledgeable guides, Mint Julep Tours truly offered a one-stop-shop experience. Their professionalism and connection to the bourbon industry have made our experiences informative and enjoyable.
I would highly recommend Mint Julep Tours to anyone looking for a top-notch experience on the bourbon trail and, in particular, for a private barrel selection. They exceeded our expectations in every way, and we look forward to working with them again in the future.
What distilleries do you offer barrel selects at?
Makers Mark, Jim Beam, Wilderness Trail, Starlight, MGP, Angel’s Envy, Lux Row, Limestone Branch, Pursuit Spirits, Log Still, Lawrenceburg Bourbon Co, Nashville Barrel Co, and Jack Daniel’s Distillery.
How long after they pick a barrel will the bottles be ready to pick?
Is shipping the bottles an option?
How large of a group is recommended?
Are these barrels for the general public/consumers only?
When is this available? How can I book?
How to Buy Bourbon by the Barrel
Private barrel select programs — or, shall we say, buying bourbon by the barrel — typically take place inside rickhouses, set among hundreds of barrels that all contain that beautiful brown high-proof nectar we call bourbon. Most distillery tours include a peek inside a rickhouse, but can you imagine spending a few hours here, sampling through barrels with a master distiller to guide you every step of the way?
What Does Single Barrel Select Mean?
Single barrel selects, also known as barrel picks, are private experiences where a person and/or small group get to go to a distillery and choose their very own single barrel by sampling from several barrels the master distiller has selected for the group.
What is a Barrel Pick?
Barrel picks at distilleries are private experiences where a person and/or small group get to meet with the master distiller (or sometimes brand ambassador) to help select an entire bourbon or whiskey barrel that will be bottled for the group and include a special sticker or label indicating it’s part of a barrel select program.