Blind Barrels is an American Craft Whiskey Club that invites you to enjoy a blind tasting adventure every 3 months depending upon your subscription. If you enjoy exploring whiskey, you will want to consider a Blind Barrels subscription. They pick top-shelf craft whiskeys for their members at a discounted price.
I received a sample box with their 13th release (March 2025 – “Heat”) and I could see immediately this is a great concept. Blind Barrels ships you four 50ml samples of whiskey in a fashionable looking black box with a golden chimp wearing a steampunk-style top hat and sunglasses. The box included a note from Bobby DeMars, and a “The Tasting Table” of flavors and aromas. Each bottle sports the Blind Barrels chimp logo, the whiskey’s ABV %, and a QR code.
It is fun, inexpensive, and good value for those of us who enjoy exploring whiskey expressions before investing in a full craft whiskey bottle.
I broke the samples out with a couple of friends. We regularly meet and challenge each other with blind pours so this was just what the doctor ordered. First off, no one had heard of Bind Barrels, so the room was filled with anticipation when I broke it out.
The overall experience was nothing short of a fantastic. Truth be told we were all over the map with our best guesses and it was quite entertaining.
Our samples included:
Sample A: J. T. Meleck Distillers from Branch, Louisiana bottled at 59% ABV, a 4+ year old age statement, Mashbill 100% Louisiana rice.
Sample B: Soft red wheat Missouri straight bourbon whiskey from Holladay Distillery in Weston, Missouri, bottled at 61.1% ABV, age statement six years and four months, mash bill 73% Missouri corn, 15% red winter wheat, 12% malted barley.
Sample C: Columns Section cask strength straight bourbon whiskey from Rock Town Distillery located in Little Rock Arkansas, bottled at 58.4% ABV, each stated 45 months in a 25 gallon #4 char Kelvin cooperage cask in the mash bill is 79% Arkansas corn, 8% Arkansas wheat and 13% malted barley.
Sample D: From Colorado Springs, 13th Century Whiskey Company toasted barrel straight bourbon whiskey, bottled at 70.25 ABV and age stated six years old ( 5 years in a 30 gallon char #2, 3, 4, and five casts: in one year finished in a 53 gallon heavily toasted char 1 cask), the mash bill is 88% corn, 7% rye and 5% malted barley.
I can also tell you all the whiskies were good and when we did the individual reveals everyone was surprised.
Bobby DeMars, CEO/founder of blind barrels sent me a short letter detailing the following:
“Blind tastings are all about discovery, education and removing brand bias. Our model gives our subscribers, unique access to these hard to try or find American craft distilleries were making innovative and delicious products. In the end, we’re a small American business supporting other small American businesses so showcasing and uplifting the best in small American distilleries.
There’s a fun component when sharing it with someone in guessing your age proof Nashville: bourbon, rye, etc.), aroma, tasting notes, etc. great Whiskey is meant to be shared so please enjoy the communal aspect this tasting kit provides.
While the blind tasting is a ton of fun, one of the best values is subscribers have access to purchase these bottles in each kit as if you were actually at the distillery.
There’s a mindful, communal and healthy aspect of tasting Whiskey, grounding you to the present moment and the company you share it with. Focus on the color, aroma, taste, mouth feel. Use all your senses to be present. And all new members get a free custom tasting glass with their first kit.”
Subscription options include onetime purchase for $89.99, or $79.99 a quarter which includes a Tasting glass (so pay as you go), or an annual commitment for $299.99 which includes 4 tasting glasses and you’ll receive the four samples each quarter. Blind Barrel also makes it easy to send any of these subscription options as a gift.
So if you want to explore a fun craft whiskey, Blind Barrels has some great options for you.
