Private Barrels
Joshua Thinnes has tasted thousands of casks throughout his 15 years in the spirits industry. When he began getting into whisk(e)y, not every barrel was to be bottled as a 'single barrel', that designation was reserved only for the most unique and exceptional of casks. There weren't limits on how many barrels a distillery would let you taste through until you found one truly special. There wasn't a line of people ready to take them sight unseen. But those days began to change as more and more stores and groups began selecting single barrels for their shelves and home bars. Now, you're lucky to get allocated a barrel from your favorite brand at all, and in some cases, you have to be a part of a 501(c)(3) to even be considered for one.
Many brands have successfully built extremely dedicated followings off this model. But while the volume of output by producers and the demand for private barrels has skyrocketed, one thing hasn't changed: Not all barrels are really worthy of the distinction 'single barrel'. In fact, in most cases, it's less than 10% of them. Just as less than 2% of the wine produced in the world is really meant to age, the vast majority of whiskey barrels are best suited for batches or blends.
All of the barrels that go into our private barrel program are chosen by Subtle Spirits Founder Joshua Thinnes for their quality and subtlety. Whether it be an amplified version of archetypal expression from a well-known distillery or a rare anomaly from an up-and-coming producer, only the finest casks will make it into the program.
Born from the spirit of creation and collaboration, these bottles feature artwork on the label just like our Original line of products. Each volume has its own piece of art and will be limited on an annual basis.
About Volume 1
Inspired by the Bay Area's vast array of graffiti and murals, Volume 1 features the artwork of third-generation Oakland native DeVante Brooks, a.k.a. Aeos One. The piece features the word 'Bourbon' in a funky beveled letter style and was done on a three-foot wide wood panel, cut out with a jigsaw, and then spray painted. DeVante's work, both in calligraphy and graffiti form can be seen all over the Bay Area.
About Volume 2
Private Barrel Volume 2 is comprised of all straight rye casks; ranging in age, mash bill, and sometimes finish.
The original artwork features Louisville artist, Jason Lois. It is composed on 3’ x 4’ canvas and contains a variety of mediums; acrylic paint, drip pen, and oil pastel. Before the final text was layered on the work, it was photographed to create the base image for the label. Jason created the text digitally first before painting it on the canvas so that we would have the digital layer to create the high-build varnish embellishment on the final label that you can touch and feel.
