Cream Of Kentucky Liquor Barn Single Barrel 750ML

Cream Of Kentucky Liquor Barn Single Barrel 750ML is a cask strength Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey bottled at 59.6% ABV (119.2 proof) from a single selected cask. Drawn from Barrel 458 and bottled uncut and unfiltered, this private barrel selection delivers the full, undiluted character of the distillate without any blending across barrels.

Quick Facts: ABV: 59.6% (119.2 Proof)  |  Origin: Crestwood, Kentucky, USA  |  Cask Strength Single Barrel  |  Distillery: Kentucky Artisan Distillery

Production & Heritage

Kentucky Artisan Distillery, located in Crestwood, Kentucky, produces Cream of Kentucky under its revived "Double Rich" philosophy — a focus on full flavor, bold proof, and craft authenticity that defined the brand's modern relaunch. This single barrel expression uses a corn-forward mashbill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley, yielding a rich, sweet foundation balanced by noticeable rye spice. Barrel 458 was selected for its standout profile and bottled at cask strength without chill filtration or water reduction, preserving every nuance the aging process imparted.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with rich caramel and toffee, building into layers of toasted oak and dried fruit. Deeper investigation reveals dark baking spice and a subtle leather accent that hints at the barrel's influence.

Taste: The entry is immediately marked by milk chocolate and butterscotch, which transitions at mid-palate into graham cracker and vanilla. Sweet fruit flavors emerge and are held in check by a hearty oak and nut backbone, creating a balanced interplay between sweetness and tannic structure. At full cask strength, the mouthfeel is dense and coating without becoming aggressive.

Finish: The finish is long and warming, recalling chocolate cream pie more than simple candy-bar sweetness. Toasty coconut lingers alongside residual caramel and a fade of dark spice that rewards patience.

How to Drink Cream of Kentucky Single Barrel

At 119.2 proof, this bourbon benefits from a few drops of water to unlock its full aromatic complexity; tasting neat first is recommended to gauge the barrel's intensity before diluting. A large ice cube also works well, gradually opening the sweeter chocolate and coconut notes as it melts.

• Old Fashioned — The rich caramel and butterscotch core stands up to bitters and sugar without losing definition at high proof.
• Boulevardier — Its chocolate and dried-fruit notes complement sweet vermouth and Campari, adding barrel depth to the classic template.
• Kentucky Mule — The coconut and spice finish pairs naturally with ginger beer and fresh lime, making a robust variation on the mule format.

Best For

• Barrel-proof bourbon enthusiasts exploring private selections
• Adding a high-proof anchor to a home bourbon collection
• Gifting a whiskey collector who values single-barrel provenance
• Side-by-side tastings comparing cask strength expressions from Kentucky craft distilleries

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cream of Kentucky Single Barrel taste like? It leads with milk chocolate, butterscotch, and graham cracker, balanced by toasted oak and nut flavors. The finish is long and warming, with toasty coconut and a chocolate cream pie quality that distinguishes it from more one-dimensional sweet bourbons.

How does Cream of Kentucky Single Barrel compare to 1792 Aged 12 Years? Both share a similar aged Kentucky bourbon profile, but the Cream of Kentucky Single Barrel is bottled at a significantly higher proof (119.2 vs. approximately 96.6 proof for 1792 Aged 12 Years). The 1792 Aged 12 Years is generally available at a lower price point, while this single barrel selection emphasizes uncut, unfiltered cask character.

Is Cream of Kentucky Single Barrel good for sipping neat? Yes, though its 119.2 proof means a few drops of water can help open up the chocolate, fruit, and coconut layers without diminishing intensity. Experienced cask-strength drinkers will find it approachable despite the high ABV.

Where is Cream of Kentucky Single Barrel made? It is produced at Kentucky Artisan Distillery in Crestwood, Kentucky, a small-production facility in Oldham County that focuses on craft bourbon and whiskey expressions.

What foods pair well with Cream of Kentucky Single Barrel? Dark chocolate truffles echo the bourbon's cocoa notes. Pecan pie mirrors its caramel and nut backbone. Smoked pork belly complements the oak and spice. Aged cheddar contrasts the sweetness with savory depth. Bread pudding with vanilla sauce highlights the butterscotch and graham cracker character.

What sizes does Cream of Kentucky Single Barrel come in? This private barrel selection is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Cream of Kentucky Single Barrel worth the price? It positions as a premium single-barrel, cask-strength bourbon. The uncut, unfiltered bottling from a specifically chosen barrel offers a level of individuality and intensity that justifies its placement above standard-proof offerings in the category.

Why Cream of Kentucky Single Barrel?

What sets this release apart is its identity as a true single-barrel, cask-strength bourbon — Barrel 458 was selected for its specific flavor profile and bottled without dilution or filtration. The 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% barley mashbill produces a rich sweetness that the high rye percentage keeps from becoming cloying, and the full 119.2 proof delivers every ounce of barrel influence to the glass. Within the Cream of Kentucky lineup, this private selection represents the most direct and uncompromised expression of what the distillery can produce. For drinkers who want to taste a barrel exactly as it matured — no blending, no water, no filtration — this bottling delivers that transparency.