Ben Holladay One Barrel Bourbon
Overall Score: 7.25/10
Overall Value: 4/5
Distillery: Holladay Distillery
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: McCormick Distilling Company
Release Date: April 2024
Proof: 121.2
Age: 6 years, 7 months
Mashbill: Undisclosed
Color: Dark Gold
MSRP: $65 (2025)
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose of this barrel proof single barrel bourbon opens with banana and Coca-Cola layered with tart strawberry, kiwi, and watermelon sour candy. There’s also a nostalgic hint of berries and cream, balanced by vanilla wafer and even a crisp Kit Kat-like snap. It’s a dessert-y, fruity combo.
On the tongue, it settles in rich and full. Classic bourbon notes like honey and oak provide a nice base, while that earlier sweetness carries through—green Air Heads, watermelon sour patch, and a touch of frosted shredded wheat. There’s a warm spice from the proof, but it’s never overwhelming. It walks a nice line between craft distillery uniqueness and traditional bourbon.
The finish is long and layered. It starts woody and oaky but quickly flips back to a sweet, vanilla-forward close, echoing the cola and marshmallow vibes from earlier. It also has a slightly numbing, oily quality.
Compared to their BIB offering, this Ben Holladay One Barrel Bourbon is a standout single barrel release that punches well above its price point. For a craft distillery putting out six-year bourbon at barrel proof, it’s exciting to see such a well-executed product. Whether you pay MSRP or catch it on sale, this bottle is worth the price. A strong, enjoyable pour that suggests even better things to come as the brand matures.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 7.5/10
Value: 4.5/5
THE NOSE:
Berries and cream with a vanilla wafer.
Watermelon sour patch candy.
THE TASTE:
The sweetness from the watermelon sour patch continues, it also reminds me of a green Air Heads.
There is also some graininess present that reminded me of frosted shredded wheat.
THE FINISH:
The finish really draws out the sweetness for me, which is so unusual. I really appreciated that.
The start of the finish gets very woody, but it quickly shifts back to sweet and vanilla.
The last half of the finish starts to bring back more traditional bourbon flavors like oak and toasted marshmallow.
BUY OR PASS?
This is a very good pour for the price! I got some very unusual flavors, but all of them were enjoyable.
It’s what you want from a smaller craft distillery; a unique experience.
The Hunter Says
Score: 7/10
Value: 3.5/5
THE NOSE:
I get banana and Coca-Cola, which is a fun and different combo.
There’s also a tart strawberry and maybe even kiwi? That’s a note I’ve never picked up before in a bourbon.
It also has a light, crispy scent that reminds me of the wafer inside a Kit Kat bar.
THE TASTE:
This one sits rich on the palate. The flavors are straightforward—classic bourbon notes, honey, and oak.
The proof brings a nice spice without being harsh.
It’s got a solid flavor, though not particularly complex. It’s just... good.
THE FINISH:
Cola and oak come through, but the oak isn’t overpowering, which I appreciate.
It does numb the tongue a little but leaves behind a nice, oily feel that lingers pleasantly.
BUY OR PASS?
This is just an all-around good pour. Nothing flashy, nothing too complex—just solid bourbon.
The fact that it’s already this good at six years old makes me excited to see what Ben Holladay can do when they start releasing 10+ year stuff. That could be something special.
