Premier Single Barrel American Whiskey

ABC - Not Available 

TW - Not Available

Class VI - Not Available

ABV - 51.1%

Age - 7 Years

Mashbill - The mashbill is listed as ‘Rye Mashbill’

A Whiskey Lover’s Tale: From Epcot to Jack Rose

Back in February, my wife and I enjoyed a trip to Epcot. While we were there, I spotted a man wearing a t-shirt that read:

“Malt Whiskey – The Happiest Drink on Earth”

It was printed in the classic Disney font, and for a moment, I genuinely thought it was official Disney merchandise. Excited, I walked into a store and asked where I could buy one. The college student behind the counter listened attentively… and then burst out laughing.

“Oh man, you can’t buy those here! You really think Disney would sell something like that?!”

He was nearly in tears laughing. I felt a little silly, sure—but I was still determined to get one. (For around twenty bucks, you can buy them online here and here.) It was the week before the Super Bowl, so I ended up wearing my Eagles t-shirt instead. That was a hit too - Go Birds!

Now, while Disney may be the happiest place on Earth - if you’re five years old.  For whiskey lovers, that title belongs to The Jack Rose Dining Saloon, located in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

I’ve mentioned Jack Rose before—it’s always an outstanding experience. The bartenders are friendly, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable. The food? Equally impressive. If you ever plan a visit, let me know - I’ll meet you there!

About six months ago, with nothing much going on, we hopped in the minivan and drove into town for some tastings. (Take an Uber - parking around there is tough.) During that visit, I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Thomas, the owner of Jack Rose. He was kind enough to chat for a few minutes, and that’s when I learned something new: Jack Rose has its own whiskey label called Premium.

Premium is what’s known as a “barrel pick.” This means Jack Rose doesn’t actually distill or bottle the whiskey themselves. Instead, they select a specific barrel from a distillery, and it’s bottled under their own label. You can purchase their selections through Seelbach's website (a bottle of Premier Single Barrel American Whiskey runs about $199, or you can try a pour at the bar for $15).

Our friends at UPROXX explain barrel picks this way:

“A ‘barrel pick’ is a single-barrel release that companies/brands allocate for their most devoted accounts and charities related to those accounts.”

In short, Jack Rose works with a distillery to craft a whiskey to Bill Thomas’s specifications, and then labels it under their “Premium” line. If you’re a whiskey enthusiast - or representing a company, club, or even a military unit—you can arrange your own barrel pick. UPROXX adds:

“Most brands also have a consumer-facing barrel pick program, where the average whiskey fan can buy a barrel pick for a hefty price tag (think $10k and up, folks).”

But it’s more than just choosing a barrel. It’s an experience. On a recent episode of the Bourbon Pursuit podcast, the hosts described the barrel-picking process: you cover your travel and hotel, but once you arrive, the distillery pulls out all the stops. Each one is different, but the visit often includes tours, tastings, and the chance to meet the master distiller. It sounds like an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Distiller.com also offers a great breakdown of how the whole barrel pick process works.

As for Jack Rose’s Premier Single Barrel American Whiskey - I can personally vouch for it. It’s exceptional. I paced myself with my bottle just to make it last. Mine was bottle #216 out of 248, so it’s a limited release. The details on its origin are vague. All that’s publicly shared is that the whiskey is distilled in Bardstown, KY, and then bottled at the Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort. That’s about all they’re willing to reveal.

If you can’t make it to Jack Rose in person, consider ordering a bottle of Premium online (just be sure to check your state’s alcohol shipping laws). But if you’re ever in the D.C. area, I highly recommend dropping in for the full Jack Rose experience. It’s a must for any serious whiskey enthusiast.  Түлөө!