The Whiskey Hotline: Scouring the World for the Most Interesting & Unique Barrels of Spirits

The Whiskey Hotline team is on a never ending mission. Scotland, Taiwan, Washington, Tennessee, Kentucky..., wherever there's good spirits to be found, we'll find the best of it and bring it to you at the best price we can.

CONTACT THE WHISKEY HOTLINE: spirits@binnys.com or (888) 817-5898

The historic Espy House in Bedford, PA has been occupied by several famous Americans throughout its long history dating back to 1771, but none more so than President George Washington, who used the home as his base of operations during the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. Western Pennsylvania residents were incensed by a new tax on distilled spirits and started the first rebellion against the nascent US government. Washington managed to end the rebellion with little conflict and no loss of life, establishing the new government’s power to create and enforce laws. Espy House is now a National Historic Landmark as well as a delicious bourbon paying tribute to the stately stone home’s central place in Revolutionary era history.

Espy House Barrel Strength Bourbon Washington's Reserve Number One

If you haven’t been following the progress of the Dingle distillery from southwest Ireland, you have been missing out. After a series of small batch releases, they have finally launched their exceptional flagship single malt in the US. The Dingle Distillery sits on the outskirts of the seaside town of the same name, on a rugged peninsula in the far southwest corner of the island. This triple distilled malt is as good as we hoped, especially considering the high bar set by their fantastic gin. If you’re interested in learning more about this gem of a distillery, and their efforts to create spirits with a sense of place, check out a recent episode of our Barrel to Bottle podcast where we did a deep dive with the distillery’s managing director, Elliot Hughes

Dingle Distillery Single Malt Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey

This is a rich and creamy malt, full of layers of fruit and spice thanks to 60% aging in PX sherry casks and 40% bourbon barrels. A delightfully fruity nose full of raisins, plums, apricot tart, and white peach backed by sweet spices and gentle oak. Rich and coating on the palate with waves of dried fruits, honey-drizzled pears, nectarine slices, caramel, chocolate oranges and pepper. The finish is soft and lingering with toffee, vanilla and sherried fruits.

Don't miss your chance to taste this liquid treasure that's been aged at sea. Jefferson’s Ocean bourbon barrels are loaded on specialty containers on the open deck of a ship that travels the world, subjecting the whiskies from the coldest of the cold to the hottest of the hot, all while the constant motion of the sea keeps the bourbon churning within the barrels. This combination of temperature extremes, salty sea air, and motion matures the whiskey at speeds and to depths unattainable in a standard rickhouse. Jefferson’s only ocean ages a small amount of their special wheated mashbill each year, and this is your golden opportunity to experience the extraordinary influence of ocean maturation. Embark on a sensory voyage to encounter waves of rich fruit, velvety vanilla and caramel notes, and a gentle sea breeze of briny goodness.

Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon Wheated Mashbill Single Barrel #61
Binny's Handpicked

Ripe peaches sprinkled in cinnamon powder on the nose with butterscotch candy, toffee bar, and a dusting of oak spice. On the palate sweet fruit flavors and spice intensify, with more butterscotch buttressed by vanilla and warm toasted oak. The finish is long and layered with peach and spicy cinnamon flavors fading slowly into the distance with lingering sweet oak and red rope licorice.

Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon Wheated Mashbill Single Barrel #62
Binny's Handpicked

An oak forward delight. Decadent caramel sauce on apricot tart, buttery brioche, vanilla bean, and baking spices are all layered on the nose. On the palate cloves and caramel candies sit in front of stone fruits, vanilla bean and sweet red berries. The finish is pleasant and warm with a small burst of fruit and sweet flavors giving way to long-lasting oak spice, while not being overly tannic and aggressive.

Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon Wheated Mashbill Single Barrel #63
Binny's Handpicked

A rich and full crowd pleaser of a bourbon. On the nose peach honey and dried apricots, caramel-toffee candy, cardamom, nutmeg, and dark cherries. Honey-drizzled peaches and dried apricots lead on the palate with sweet oak and butter toffee percolating. The finish is balanced and layered with a soft wave of spice giving way to sweet orchard fruits alongside spicy cinnamon and fresh clove.

Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon Wheated Mashbill Single Barrel #64
Binny's Handpicked

Sweet apricot blossoms, raisins, vanilla poached pears, chocolate-caramel bar, vanilla cream, and cinnamon candies are layered throughout the nose. On the palate cinnamon butter on peach tart leads the way with a rich wave of chocolate and caramel underneath as oak spice simmers. The finish is warm and pleasant with sweet and spice fading into the distance together with a highlight of sweet cinnamon sugar and vanilla.

Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon Wheated Mashbill Single Barrel #65
Binny's Handpicked

Sweet, toasted oak on the nose with toasted coconut, caramel soaked pear, apricot butter, cinnamon toffee, and anise. Rich waves of caramel on the palate with pears and apricots before intensifying cinnamon with vanilla and oak in support. The finish is balanced and easy with sweet and spice fading together as cinnamon and clove persist with sweet apple.

Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon Wheated Mashbill Single Barrel #66
Binny's Handpicked

Dangerously drinkable, showing great depth and balance throughout. Ripe brambleberries, cinnamon sprinkled pear halves, dried peach, caramel crisps, vanilla wafer, and oak spice on the nose. On the palate clove and red fruit lead the way with an underbelly of caramel and vanilla, as cinnamon and sweet oak round out the flavor. The finish is long and chewy with rich spice and toasted oak lingering.

O.K.I. Reserve Blended Bourbon Whiskey

This resurrection of a cult classic weaves together 5 of Lawrenceburg, Indiana’s most notable bourbon, rye and corn whiskies into a lush and flavorful pour. Over 99% of the whiskies in the blend are older than 8 years and it is immediately notable on the nose with pipe tobacco, toasted oak, mocha, dark dried fruits, cherries, and a hint of herbal mint. The palate is supple and mouth-coating with waves of sweet spices, toasted oak, mocha, caramel, and herbal rye. The finish continues this theme of darker, brooding flavors with charred oak, pepper, and plums before a soft balance of sweet vanilla and cinnamon emerges.

E.J. Curley & Company Small Batch Bourbon

E.J. Curley is another resurrected brand, but this one with some seriously deep roots. Dating back to 1867 Curley’s Kentucky River Distillery, along the river’s palisades in Jessamine County, produced historic brands such as Bluegrass Bourbon, Boone’s Knoll Bourbon, and Curley Rye. This new whiskey, brought to life by Master Blender Ashley Barnes, is expertly crafted to showcase a balanced and rich profile. The nose is greeted by wildflower honey and floral peach blossom, chocolate-caramel candy, almond-toffee, and sweet baking spices. More honeyed peach on the palate with vanilla and caramel providing support and chocolate, dried dark cherries, and sweet cream in the background. The finish is long and chewy with honey throughout as fruit and spice dance back and forth into the distance. A robust bourbon with layers to unpack.

Teeling’s second release in their “Wonders of Wood” series brings the spice from Portuguese oak and marries it with their exceptional single pot still whiskey. That single pot still, a 50/50 mix of malted and unmalted barley, is a big and boisterous whiskey with loads of rich spice notes and ripe fruit. Considering this whisky is already on the bold and spicy side of the spectrum, the aging in virgin Portuguese oak barrels, known for high tannin content, produces results that are equal parts explosive and delicious.

Teeling Single Pot Still Portuguese Oak Wonders of Wood

There’s a lot to unpack on the dense nose of this whiskey. Red berry jam, stewed plums and raisins, vanilla blossoms, jasmine, dried citrus peel, and warm oak spice. On the palate fruit finds balance with surging oak spice as floral elements provide depth and balance. Waves of gentle vanilla and lightly sweet toffee envelope the darker fruits before wood and sweet spices emerge. The finish is round and layered with dark chocolate and clove fading slowly with red berry, raisin-honey, and vanilla. A chewy and rich dram with layers to explore.

Our latest handpicked single barrels from Plantation have arrived and offer something for everyone, from the rum curious to the cane connoisseur. Plantation’s barrel program has always been known for its massive selection and diversity with rums sourced from around the globe finished in a dizzying variety of casks. This year we have some real standouts with a classic Barbados finished in Maury, a sweet red from the Roussillon, a lively and fresh Trinidad rum in a Hungarian tokaji cask and a Jamaican rum in a vino de naranja cask from Spain, a sherry-adjacent fortified wine aged with oranges.

Plantation Rum Single Cask Barbados 11 year Maury Cask Finished Binny's Handpicked

Sweet honey, grilled pineapple, caramel, rum raisin, molasses and bananas are layered throughout the nose. Plush and coating mouthfeel with pronounced honey, golden raisin and citrus before a gentle wave of tropical fruit, vanilla oak and sweet spices. The finish is long, rich and dense with waves of butterscotch, dark dried fruits and sweet vanilla candies. An absolute stunner.

Plantation Rum Single Cask Trinidad 13 year Tokaj Cask Finished Binny's Handpicked

On the nose browned butter, molasses syrup, dried tropical fruit, honeyed peaches, and rich oak spice. On the palate spice becomes more assertive as sweeter molasses and tropical pineapple notes widen on the taste with plush caramel and toffee notes adding depth and balance. The finish displays a high floral note fading into waves of dried tropical fruits, buttery caramel, oak spice, and lingering sweet molasses. An elegant sipping rum.

Plantation Rum Single Cask Jamaica 13 year VRW Cask Finished Binny's Handpicked

Jamaican provenance on the nose with herbal grassy notes, fermented berries, caramel drenched sponge cake, spiced orange, cinnamon powder, and freshly ground clove. Broad and full on the palate with loads of berries, caramel candies, juicy orange slices, lemongrass and a tinge of peppery spice. The finish is layered and dense with sweet and spice fading into the distance together with highlights of banana peel, herbal grass, and caramelized fruits. Complex and dangerously drinkable.

Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series Foursquare Rum Cask Finish

The latest entry in Bardstown Bourbon Company’s exciting Collaborative Series is now in stock at a Binny’s near you. BBC’s commitment to modern distilling innovation paired with transparency of their process is mirrored by legendary Barbados rum distillery Foursquare, one of the most highly regarded rum producers around. Foursquare’s rums are always aged entirely on Barbados and bottled without added sugar or coloring making them a natural partner for Bardstown’s Collaborative Series. Bardstown took a blend of 7 year Indiana rye whiskey and 17 year Tennessee bourbon and finished it in Foursquare casks for 23 months, adding layers of ripe tropical fruit and citrus. The vibrant and zesty rye spice in the blend is perfectly balanced by caramelized banana, allspice, coconut, and citrus oil building to a sweet finish loaded with caramelized fruit. This collab shows the mastery of both distilleries.

We’ve got a special project arriving this week, our very own small batches of Starlight bourbon finished in Amburana casks. Amburana is a rare Brazilian hardwood that has captivated whiskey and craft beer lovers thanks to its intense aromatic and flavor profiles. Traditionally used in the aging of cachaca, Amburana is often described as intense cinnamon coupled with vanilla. A combination that often reminds us of one of our favorite breakfast cereals. For this special project the team at Starlight created a blend of 3 and 4 grain bourbons aged from 4.5 to nearly 7 years to accent those Amburana characteristics. This blend was then filled into 2 barrels to finish for 6 weeks. Once that blend was bottled, the same barrels were refilled for a 10 week finish, and then refilled a third time for a 16 week finish. These 3 finishes side-by-side are a ready-made tasting adventure.

Huber's Starlight Distillery Bourbon Finished 6 Weeks in Amburana Barrel BSB001 Binny's Handpicked

First fill Amburana, and this whiskey has all the intensity you’d expect. The nose leaps out of the glass with huge cinnamon, floral spice and vanilla notes. It’s soft and creamy on the palate with more vanilla and confectionary notes initially before a slow burn of spicy cinnamon red-hots, peppery wood, and toasted nuts. The finish dances back and forth between the cinnamon, floral wood notes, and a gentle sweetness. A wild ride of a whiskey.

Huber's Starlight Distillery Bourbon Finished 10 Weeks in Amburana Barrel BSB002 Binny's Handpicked

Even with a 2nd fill cask this whiskey is more aromatically intense than most on the shelves. Soft notes of molasses and honey have emerged to add balance to the cinnamon with background layers of green banana and toasted oak. The palate is full and chewy with sweet vanilla cream, cinnamon-sugar and hints of stone fruit. The finish amplifies the sweet vanilla and caramel balanced by baking spices and sweet oak. An intense whiskey with layers to unravel.

Huber's Starlight Distillery Bourbon Finished 16 Weeks in Amburana Barrel BSB003 Binny's Handpicked

Third time is indeed the charm with this elegant sipper. Sweet vanilla and cinnamon candies on the nose, with background layers of citrus oil, sweet corn, white flowers, and pepper. The palate is soft and creamy with sweet corn, vanilla cream, and a slow burn of spicy cinnamon. The vanilla and cinnamon are in perfect, dessert-like harmony here. That sweet and spice combo dominates the finish that just doesn’t stop. A richly structured and thoughtful bourbon bringing together the influences of American oak and Amburana seamlessly.

Brother's Bond American Blended Rye

This unique 4 grain rye whiskey tones the normally high Indiana rye content down to 77%. It’s unmistakably still a rye but heaps of fruit and floral notes have emerged to create quite a balanced sipper. Sweet rye bread, milk chocolate covered cherries, allspice, toasted oak, and vanilla on the nose. Full and coating on the palate, more peppery spice slowly creeps in with notes of cinnamon stick, sweet brambleberries, and more chocolate before a steady wave of herbal mint arrives. The finish shows more rye with lingering wintergreen and white pepper balanced by toffee and vanilla.

Brother's Bond Cask Strength Bourbon

The undiluted release of their flagship four grain bourbon is back in stock while supplies last. This four-grain delight takes all the balanced fruit, caramel, and vanilla goodness we love in the standard release and amps it up over a luxurious mouthfeel and spicy finish. On the nose caramel-toffee candies with dried peach, vanilla blossom, dark chocolate covered almonds, and sweet toasted oak. Dried peaches emerge on the palate with more chocolate, caramel crisps, vanilla soaked pears, and sweet oak with a kiss of clove. The finish is pleasant and nicely layered with sweet vanilla cream and rich baking spices dancing into the distance. An easy sipper at 115.1 proof.

Handpicked for Cinco

This week we welcome in 2 new barrels of tequila, and we couldn’t be more excited. El Tesoro has long been one of our favorites for its clean, unadulterated agave notes and rich, complex flavor. These are anejo tequila in its purest form, a perfect balance of agave and oak. At El Tesoro, the mature agaves are cooked and then crushed with the traditional tahona (a small replica of which is on the closures of these bottles) before resting in barrels. Unlike the usual bourbon barrels, these gems were aged in ex-Laphroaig 10 year single malt barrels adding nuances of earthy smoke and salty sea air. The tequila genius of master distiller Carlos Camarena is on full display in these two new selections.

El Tesoro Anejo Single ex Laphroaig Barrel #21 Binny's Handpicked

On the nose, orange and lemon candies, caramel sauce on cooked agave hearts, ground black peppercorn, damp earth and Ceylon tea leaves. Initially sweet and almost tropical on the palate with rich agave honey before a slow simmer of spice emerges rounded out by sweet agave nectar. The finish is long and pleasant with a slight hint of salinity over the tropical and citrus fruits. A rich and elegant sipper.

El Tesoro Anejo Single ex Laphroaig Barrel #10 Binny's Handpicked

Honey drizzled on cooked agave, white pepper, lime pith, lemongrass, toffee and caramel candies, and a whiff of earthy peat are layered on the dense nose. On the palate, rich waves of citrus and cooked agave with sweet caramel and toffee percolating with white pepper and clove followed by oak spice and subtle hints of smoke. The finish is layered and warm with sweeter fruit notes, outlasting citrus oil, baking spice and black pepper. A layered and dynamic tequila.

Clark & Sheffield Bottled in Bond Bourbon

“A rich, chewy and balanced bourbon that shows maturity and depth without letting oak overpower the softer, ever-present fruit. Vanilla, almond blossom, and caramel notes intermingle with cherry, plum, golden apple and ripe Bartlett pear. A complex melange of spices informs the long fruit and mineral accented finish, pumping out white pepper, cinnamon, clove and a subtle impression of mint. Everything you could want in a great Bottled in Bond Bourbon!” - The Whiskey Hotline