Calumet Farms 15 Year Single Rack Black Bourbon 750ML

Calumet Farm 15 Year Single Rack Black Bourbon 750ML is a 15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 105 proof (52.5% ABV) in a 750ml bottle. What distinguishes this expression is its single-rack aging method — every barrel in a given batch sits on one center-cut rack inside the warehouse, producing a remarkably uniform flavor profile across all 19 barrels in each small batch.

Quick Facts: ABV: 52.5% (105 Proof)  |  Origin: Bardstown, Kentucky  |  15 Year Age Statement  |  Source Distillery: Barton Distillery  |  Non-Chill Filtered

Production & Heritage

Calumet Farm bourbon is produced by Western Spirits Beverage Company, which sources its whiskey from the historic Barton Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky — one of the oldest continuously operating distilleries in the state. The liquid is then bottled by Three Springs Bottling Company in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The mashbill runs 74% corn, 18% rye, and 8% malted barley, a rye-forward recipe that lends noticeable spice alongside the deep sweetness expected from 15 years in new charred oak. The "Single Rack Black" designation means each 19-barrel batch is pulled exclusively from barrels that aged together on a single, center-cut warehouse rack, eliminating the temperature and humidity variation that comes from blending barrels across different floors and positions. The bourbon is non-chill filtered, preserving the full body and mouthfeel that extended aging develops.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with rich caramel and brown sugar, giving way to baking spices — nutmeg and cinnamon sit at the forefront. Behind them, dark fruit notes of cherry and apricot emerge alongside seasoned oak.

Taste: The palate enters sweet and dense, with toffee and scorched caramel leading into candied cherries and ripe stone fruit at mid-palate. As the bourbon opens up, peppery rye spice asserts itself, balanced by warm brownie-like richness and a hint of cool mint. Oak tannins are substantial but well-integrated after 15 years, providing structure without bitterness.

Finish: The finish is long and warming, with leather, black pepper, and toasted oak lingering well after each sip. A residual sweetness — somewhere between prunes and vanilla — anchors the dry, tannic close.

How to Drink Single Rack Black

At 105 proof, this bourbon rewards patience — pour it neat and let it sit for five to ten minutes, then add a few drops of water to unlock the fruit-forward middle notes. On a single large ice cube, the sweetness intensifies and the oak softens into a more approachable pour. For cocktails, the high proof and bold oak character hold their own in spirit-forward builds: an Old Fashioned, where the caramel and cherry notes harmonize with bitters and a sugar cube; a Boulevardier, where the tannic backbone stands up to sweet vermouth and Campari; or a classic Manhattan, where the rye spice and dark fruit play naturally against the cocktail's aromatic profile.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon collector who values extended-age Kentucky whiskey
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert or a cigar
• Side-by-side tastings comparing single-rack versus multi-rack batching methods
• Celebrating a milestone occasion with a high-proof, small-batch bourbon

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Single Rack Black taste like? Calumet Farm 15 Year Single Rack Black delivers rich caramel, candied cherry, and toffee up front, followed by peppery rye spice, seasoned oak, and a long, warming finish. It is a full-bodied, fruit-and-oak-driven bourbon with notable depth from its 15 years of aging.

How does Single Rack Black compare to Sam Houston 15 Year? Both are 15-year-old bourbons sharing the same 74/18/8 mashbill, non-chill filtered processing, and bottled by Three Springs Bottling Company, making them close relatives in terms of source and production. The key difference is Calumet Farm's single-rack barrel selection method, which aims for greater batch consistency compared to Sam Houston's approach to barrel selection.

Is Single Rack Black good for sipping neat? Yes — the non-chill filtered process preserves a full, oily mouthfeel that makes this bourbon particularly rewarding when sipped neat, though a few drops of water can help open up the fruit notes behind the 105-proof heat.

Where is Single Rack Black made? The bourbon is distilled at the Barton Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, one of the most prolific distilling operations in the heart of bourbon country. It is then bottled by Three Springs Bottling Company in Bowling Green, Kentucky, under the direction of Western Spirits Beverage Company.

What foods pair well with Single Rack Black? Dark chocolate truffles complement the bourbon's caramel and cherry notes. Smoked brisket or pulled pork echoes the charred oak character. Pecan pie mirrors the brown sugar and toffee sweetness. Aged cheddar or Gruyère contrasts the tannic structure with savory richness. Crème brûlée pairs naturally with the scorched caramel and vanilla undertones.

What sizes does Single Rack Black come in? Calumet Farm 15 Year Single Rack Black is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Single Rack Black worth the price? This expression positions in the premium-to-upper-premium tier for Kentucky bourbon, where 15-year age statements at barrel-proof-adjacent strength are uncommon. The small-batch, single-rack process and non-chill filtration add genuine production distinction that supports its placement above entry-level and mid-shelf offerings.

Why Single Rack Black?

The single-rack aging concept is the real differentiator here — by pulling all 19 barrels from one center-cut warehouse position, Calumet Farm eliminates the variable that most producers manage through blending: the dramatic temperature swings between a warehouse's upper and lower floors. The result is a 15-year bourbon with unusual batch-to-batch cohesion. At 105 proof and non-chill filtered, the liquid retains a viscosity and intensity that many age-stated bourbons sacrifice for approachability. For drinkers who value transparency in sourcing and specificity in production method over brand mythology, this is a Kentucky bourbon that delivers substance and a clear point of view at 15 years old.