Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 24

UNIQUE TASTES:

Ohio's Barrel
Program
Takes Off
Bringing one-of-a-kind spirits to consumers.
BY ANNIE TOBEY

S

ingle-barrel, custom-made bourbons are not
exactly new. What is new is Ohio's program,
making limited-release products available
only to consumers in the state.
For several years now, distillers have been
setting aside a few carefully curated barrels
of distinctive product for individuals, groups
or businesses to call their own. Jim Canepa,
Superintendent of the Division of Liquor Control,
explains what's unique about these barrels.
When distillers make their bourbons, he says,
typically they blend the spirit from many barrels
to get a consistent flavor profile, thus building
customer loyalty.
"When you go buy your favorite bourbon, you
like that flavor profile and you want it to be consistent," says Canepa.
But the individual barrels themselves are not
alike.
"All those barrels in the rickhouses each have
a unique flavor profile," says Canepa. "It's a mystery of what that's going to be until you taste it."
The differences among the barrels, he notes,
are a function of many factors, including time in

24

OHIO SPIRITS

the barrel, storage temperature and even distinctions among the oak staves making up the barrels.
Different oak trees used to source the wood-some
younger, some older, grown in various soils-contribute to different acidity levels and sugar profiles.
"All this gives a unique fingerprint to that barrel over time," he adds.
Picture taking a sip of whiskey from some of
the barrels waiting to be made into your favorite
bourbon. As you swirl, sniff and sip, you'll detect
subtle but significant differences. And you may
indeed find one of those barrels has created the
perfect whiskey for your palate. You wouldn't
want the barrel blended with a bunch of other
barrels-you would want it for your own privatelabel bourbon.
However, unless you're willing to purchase 200
bottles of whiskey upfront, you would have to kiss
that barrel of perfection goodbye. That's where
Ohio's barrel program comes to the rescue.
"The barrel program presents bourbon drinkers the opportunity to get a limited-run bourbon
profile that will never, ever again exist," says
Canepa.



Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2

Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - Cover1
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - Cover2
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 3
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 4
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 5
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 6
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 7
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 8
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 9
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 10
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 11
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 12
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 13
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 14
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 15
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 16
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 17
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 18
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 19
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 20
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 21
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 22
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 23
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 24
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 25
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 26
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 27
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 28
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 29
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 30
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 31
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 32
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Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 34
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 35
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 36
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 37
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 38
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 39
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 40
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 41
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - 42
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - Cover3
Ohio Spirits 2018 Q2 - Cover4
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