New Holland Beer Barrel Aged Bourbon 750ML

New Holland Beer Barrel Aged Bourbon 750ML is a Michigan-made bourbon finished in former Dragon's Milk stout barrels, bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof). This distinctive expression earned a Double Gold Medal at the ADI International Spirits Competition and a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, validating the brewery-distillery's unconventional barrel-finishing approach.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 proof)  |  Origin: Holland, Michigan, USA  |  Beer Barrel Finished Bourbon  |  Distillery: New Holland Artisan Spirits

Production & Heritage

New Holland Brewing was founded in 1997 in Holland, Michigan, and expanded into distilling under the guidance of master distiller Brett VanderKamp. The Beer Barrel Bourbon begins with a mashbill of corn, barley, and rye, fermented in-house and twice distilled before maturing in new 53-gallon American oak barrels. The fully mature bourbon is then married with sourced whiskey and finished for 90 days in barrels previously used to age New Holland's acclaimed Dragon's Milk stout — a beer that was itself aged in former bourbon barrels. This circular barrel exchange, inspired by the double-barreling traditions of Scottish distilleries, creates a layered interplay between robust whiskey character and rich stout influence that few American bourbons attempt.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Red apple leads on the nose, giving way to a more dominant cotton candy sweetness. Behind that initial fruit and sugar come yeasty, bread-like notes alongside soft caramel, banana, and gentle oak.

Taste: The entry is smooth and malt-forward, with biscuity grain character arriving from the beer-barrel finish. Mid-palate, butterscotch takes the lead, joined by burnt toast and a spark of allspice. The mouthfeel is light in heat and notably smooth, with toffee and caramel tones holding steady throughout.

Finish: Medium in length, the finish carries lingering malt sweetness and a toasted oak dryness. Faint echoes of butterscotch and biscuit remain as the warmth gently fades.

How to Drink Beer Barrel Bourbon

Neat or over a single large ice cube is the best way to appreciate the stout-barrel influence — the malt and biscuit character opens up nicely with a slight chill. For cocktails, try it in an Old Fashioned, where the toffee and butterscotch notes amplify the classic sugar-and-bitters template; a Bourbon Milk Punch, where the malty sweetness pairs naturally with cream and nutmeg; or a Brown Sugar Manhattan, where the beer-barrel finish adds a toasted, bready depth to sweet vermouth.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast curious about whiskey
• Conversation-starter bottle at a tasting party focused on unusual finishes
• Adding a malt-forward bourbon to a home bar alongside traditional expressions
• Introducing cocktail enthusiasts to beer-barrel-finished spirits

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Beer Barrel Bourbon taste like? It leads with butterscotch, toffee, and caramel, layered with biscuity malt character and a touch of allspice from the 90-day Dragon's Milk stout barrel finish. The mouthfeel is smooth with light heat and a toasted, slightly yeasty undertone.

How does Beer Barrel Bourbon compare to a traditional bourbon like Elijah Craig Small Batch? Elijah Craig Small Batch is a conventionally aged bourbon with a bolder proof (94 proof vs. 80 proof) and a more classic oak-and-vanilla profile. Beer Barrel Bourbon trades some of that intensity for a unique malt-forward, biscuity dimension imparted by its stout barrel finish — making it a different experience rather than a direct substitute.

Is Beer Barrel Bourbon good for sipping neat? Yes, the lower 80-proof bottling strength and smooth mouthfeel make it approachable for neat sipping, and the stout-barrel character is most distinct without dilution.

Where is Beer Barrel Bourbon made? It is produced by New Holland Artisan Spirits in Holland, Michigan, a craft distillery that operates alongside New Holland Brewing Company, sharing barrel resources between their beer and whiskey programs.

What foods pair well with Beer Barrel Bourbon? Smoked brisket complements the toasted malt notes; dark chocolate brownies echo the stout-barrel sweetness; sharp aged cheddar contrasts the butterscotch and caramel; pecan pie mirrors the toffee tones; and grilled stone fruit like peaches bridges the apple and caramel aromatics.

What sizes does Beer Barrel Bourbon come in? The standard size is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Beer Barrel Bourbon worth the price? It positions as an accessible, mid-range bourbon whose value lies in its distinctive production method — the Dragon's Milk barrel finish is genuinely unusual in the category and delivers flavor complexity that straightforward bourbons at a similar tier typically do not offer.

Why Beer Barrel Bourbon?

The defining differentiator here is the circular barrel exchange: bourbon ages in new oak, those barrels go to Dragon's Milk stout, and the stout barrels return to finish the bourbon for 90 days. This process creates a malt-and-biscuit dimension that conventional bourbon aging simply cannot replicate. Double Gold at the ADI International Spirits Competition and Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition confirm that the concept delivers on execution, not just novelty. For drinkers who appreciate craft production with a genuine point of difference, this is one of the few American bourbons that authentically bridges the worlds of beer and whiskey.