Whiskeys; the Difference between Batch, Single, and Private Barrel

Hattiesburg, MS

Mark Twain once said, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”  Twain died in 1910, but in the last 109 years, people still feel that strongly about whiskey. In fact, many modern whiskey drinkers are so specific in knowledge and flavor that they pursue private barrel selections. Lincoln Road Package Store wants to teach you about the world of private whiskey selections.

What is a private whiskey selection?

While the experience varies a little bit from brand to brand, you’re essentially buying the contents of a specific barrel that was overseen meticulously by the distillery. A private barrel purchase is a little more expensive, but it significantly personalizes the experience—especially for a devoted whiskey drinker. You can purchase a private whiskey barrel from a larger brand such as Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam, and Maker’s Mark. However, many people are more interested in finding craft distillery options for a truly unique alternative. Indeed, distilleries such as Willett, Four Roses, and Elijah Craig have found a way to highlight single-barrel whiskeys that ordinarily wouldn’t reach consumers through private barrel selections made by bars and bartenders across the country. Private barrel selections happen within almost every spirits category, but for these programs, they provide the opportunity to carry a special whiskey that’s exclusive to them and to differentiate the spirits they offer from any others that are available.

A private barrel differs from a batch or small-batch, which can be used to classify most whiskeys available in your local store. There’s no set definition for what constitutes a small batch; it could be as few as two barrels or as many as 200 barrels. The more barrels used in a batch, the more consistent the taste will be in the various bottles from that batch. Single barrel whiskeys also get a lot of attention, but the quality can vary because every barrel is unique.

What We Do

Lincoln Road Package Store carries a variety of private barrels. In order to begin this whole process, we visit distillery rickhouses to sample a range of earmarked single-barrels. We select our favorite, and from there, it’s poured into approximately 20 cases, each of which is marked with a custom sticker declaring that whiskey unique to our store.

This doesn’t come cheap; private barrel selections start around $3,000 and can run as high as $15,000, depending on a variety of factors, including cask strength and operation size. Due to this expense, many individuals find it more affordable to purchase private barrel whiskey from a retailer. That is what Lincoln Road Package Store is here for, to make these unique spirits accessible to you.

Private Barrel Whiskeys in Hattiesburg

At Lincoln Road Package Store, we know that our customers appreciate a wide selection of spirits, including private barrel whiskeys, which is why we often offer these special picks. Our store views private selections as a way to introduce our various customers to smaller distilleries. Not to mention, it allows us to achieve something uniquely suited for you. We often feature our private selections online. Follow our Facebook page to be notified of these releases.

To find out about our current private selections, contact Lincoln Road Package Store today by calling (601) 268-3677 or send an email to jamiefarris@gmail.com. You can also visit our location at 2800 Lincoln Road, Suite A, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.