High-Proof, High Flavor: Brother Justus Single Barrel Whiskey Selects
Malted barley is the world's most expressive whiskey grain. Honoring that means owning everything around it. Our water, barley, and white oak barrels are sourced from Minnesota and we handle every step of mashing, fermentation, and distillation ourselves. That commitment produces barrels of uncommon character. Our Master Blender selects the ones ready to stand alone to be part of our Single Barrel Whiskey Selects program. They’re unrepeatable, unblended, bottled at cask strength.
What is Single Barrel Whiskey?
Our Master Blender, James Jefferson, constantly pulls samples from our aging barrels with the goal of making our flagship American Whiskey. He spends time looking at the big picture, ensuring our whiskey is consistent over time, stable and delicious from batch to batch. Our American Whiskey is a unique blend of 50 barrels per blend, and our distilling team works tirelessly to find the perfect combination to get that flavor profile: cherry and peach, but not plum. Rose and honey, not lilac and spearmint. Resin, not char. Seashell, not oyster.
But once in a while, James finds a barrel that’s unique, exceptional, or interesting – or all of the above! They have their own voice and character, representing one part of the intricate craft of whiskey-making. Single Barrel Whiskey Selects pull back the curtain on a moment in time, because they can never be repeated.
“Single Barrel Select Whiskey is an opportunity to dive into one barrel, one flavor profile, one unique expression that will never exist again,” James said. “It’s a moment where we review a year’s worth of these moments, and curate an offering to our retail partners. These barrels are raw, minimally filtered, not proofed down – an entirely different approach than our core products, [but] still held to its highest standards and is packaged up in a concentrated, unaltered version that I find so exciting.”
Why One Barrel Tastes Different From the Next
Since we always strive for consistency, why might we see barrels that feature one flavor or another? The answer is part of what makes whiskey magical.
Every barrel is its own environment. Slight variations in the wood grain, density, or char level might affect how the flavor develops. Temperature fluctuations in the rickhouse make the wood expand and contract, so the whiskey expands in and out of the pores of the barrel, naturally extracting the sugars, tannins, and color. And, even the slightest variation in how long a barrel rests and ages changes the balance of flavor.
These micro differences between barrels tell their own story. Those that stand out from the rest are which get selected for our Single Barrel Whiskey Select program.
Flavors That Stand Out
James and his team keep a few qualities in mind when selecting the barrels for the program. He compares the data for which barrels they each liked or disliked to ensure no great barrel is overlooked.
“There’s something that makes me say, ‘I don’t really want to blend this one. I think it has something to say and someone will appreciate it,’” he said. “Each barrel doesn’t fit perfectly into these categories, but it’s the guiding idea.”
The Bold
Spice and oak take center stage. These might be a little older, bolder, and attention-grabbing.
The Classic
An exceptional version of what we try to make every time in our flagship. Maybe the fruit note is really juicy, or the finish is long and rewarding, or it boasts a bright acidity, like some wines, so it has a clear flavor note.
The Crowd-Pleasing
Zero flaws, period. Not too big, not overly bold, the perfectly balanced highlight of fruit, oak, and grain. Flavors are approachable and smooth, and could be universally appreciated by seasoned drinkers and new whiskey lovers alike.
The Curve Balls
And sometimes, there are those weird flavors that not everyone loves immediately, until you try it, like pineapple on pizza or olive oil on ice cream. When it comes to whiskey, think nori, anise, leather, and olives. These are ones with a strong opinion, and there’s always someone who’s going to love to showcase it.
This year, James is also particularly excited about how many barrels he had to pick from.
“We have a full and mature barrel warehouse, and it helps so much in making flavor-driven decisions,” he said. “I’m not worrying about holding a barrel back [for further aging] because I really needed every top tier barrel for blending our flagship. I get my pick of the litter now both in blending AND in Single Barrel Select Whiskeys.”
This year’s selects are largely from four-year aged batches, with some pushing almost five. In particular, South Lyndale Liquors’ pick is among the oldest, so it is the highest proof of the group – a whopping 139.8 – which means it has bolder flavors of spice and vanilla, with a hint more smoke than the others from its time in the barrel.
With older, more mature stock overall, James and his team can dial in the experience for the retailer based on their preferred taste.
Collaborating With Our Partners
Once James has selected that year’s candidates for Single Barrels, we invite our partners – retailers, restaurants, whiskey influencers, writers, and more – in to choose their favorite, the one they think the people in their whiskey worlds would appreciate the most. Sometimes, it’s the more traditional American Whiskey flavor: fruit, baking spice, oak. Others, it’s the more unique notes from those “curve ball” barrels.
“I am always so excited to see which barrels people gravitate towards and hear why they think their customers will love it,” James said. “It is a challenge to predict which ones will get people excited.”
As a parent himself, James used the analogy of the one kid the parents worry about, but then seeing them find success in life. Not because the child changed who they were, but because the parents and the world around them embraced what made them unique. Like people, the only thing a barrel ever needs is a little more time to grow and mature.
“All the barrels are my kids,” he joked. “Can’t help but worry about a couple of them. I find myself pleasantly surprised when someone sees the value in a really unique, weird one that I liked, too.”
This Year’s Single Barrel Selects
Each barrel tells a different story. Explore the distinct flavors, proofs, and personalities selected by our partners.
France 44
Barrel #1315 | 133.4 Proof | Notes of chocolate and vanilla, crowd-pleasing and subtle.
Morelli’s Market
Barrel #1315 | 130.8 Proof | Notes of chocolate and coffee that build over time.
South Lyndale Liquors
Barrel #781 | 139.8 Proof | Notes of cherry and honeycomb, with a finish that lasts for days.
Surdyk’s
Barrel #1536 | 134.4 Proof | Notes of graham cracker and toast in a grain dominant barrel.
Barrel #1454 | 132.4 Proof | Notes of allspice and cookie dough, pleasant and elegant.
Swank Bar
Barrel #1813 | 131.4 Proof | Notes of cigar and mint, starting earthy and finishing spicy and complex.
Westside Liquor
Barrel #1338 | 134.8 Proof | Notes of toffee and apple, neatly wrapped in a rounded flavor experience.
Barrel #1520 | 130.8 Proof | Notes of rose and clove, a unique combination of herb and spice.
Thinking Ahead
As the program grows and evolves over time, it will always be flavor that guides us along the journey. While the details can evolve – maybe incorporating used cooperage, or third-cask whiskey, or older barrels that didn’t get blended simply because they weren’t quite right for our core product – the truest expression of this program is the flavor of the barrel itself. And while it’s different every year, what we keep consistent helps it shine:
A single supplier of a single grain: our whiskey is made from 100% two-row pale ale malted barley, sourced from Rahr Malting in Shakopee, MN.
A single supplier of oak: our barrels are made from Minnesota White Oak, the world’s coldest oak, by The Barrel Mill, in Avon, MN.
Expert distilling and consistent nurturing by our world-class team: by adhering to our standards and prioritizing flavor over everything else, we can produce quality product time and time again.
“We designed our whiskey from the ground up to deliver certain benefits to the consumer,” James said. “Flawless flavor, reliability, consistency, and an ability to limit barrels needing years and years to taste good… It’s amazing how many great barrels I can pick from for this program.”
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