Small batch whiskey

A small batch Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey.

Small batch whiskey is a term usually referring to bourbon or rye whiskey, and denotes a whiskey produced by mixing the contents of a relatively small number of selected barrels. Small-batch whiskeys are positioned for the upper-premium market, and are typically aged from six to nine years in oak barrels,^[1] but more limited series aged at least up to 23 years are also available. The majority of small batch whiskeys are produced in Kentucky, the state most traditionally associated with whiskey (and especially with bourbon).

Definition

There are generally no clear criteria as to what defines a "small batch" – for example, there are no federal regulations that define the use of the term in the United States.^[2] Many producers of whiskeys labeled as such do not provide a clear indication of what they mean by the term.

Batch sizes

• Jefferson's Bourbon – Jefferson's Reserve ("Very Small Batch") gives its 750ml bottles a number "x" of 2400 bottles in the batch. This would equate to about 9 typical bourbon barrels, each 53 US gallons (200 L) in size.
• George Dickel uses "approximately 10 barrels" of whiskey to make each batch of its Barrel Select Tennessee Whiskey brand.^[3]
• Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, a producer of bourbon and rye whiskey, uses at most 12 barrels^[4] per batch for its small batch brands.
• Maker's Mark (Beam Suntory) says that the traditional definition is a whiskey produced using "approximately 1,000 gallons or less (20 barrels) from a mash bill of around 200 bushels of grain".^[5][6][7]
• Bernheim Original (Heaven Hill) says that a small batch would involve "typically no more than 100" barrels.^[8]

Brands that bottle from small batches

Brands that are advertised as being small batch brands include 1792 Ridgemont Reserve,^[9] Basil Hayden's,^[1] Dickel Barrel Select,^[3] Glen Garioch^[10][11][12] Hudson Baby Bourbon,^[13] Maker's Mark,^[6]<ref = name=Edencroft>Bourbon – Maker's Mark, Edencroft Fine Wines.</ref> Rowan's Creek,^[14] and Woodford Reserve.

Brands advertised as small batch rye whiskeys include Black Maple Hill and Classic Cask.

See also

• Bottled in bond
• Single barrel whiskey
• Single malt whisky

References

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