Frank August Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey Cask Strength

Frank August Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey Cask Strength. Frank August, Lexington, Kentucky — the brand's first ever single barrel release, bottled at cask strength between 123 and 125 proof from barrels hand-selected by a panel representing a combined 116 years of master distilling and master blending experience, delivering a deep mahogany expression with baking spice, cinnamon, vanilla, and caramel that evolves through a long finish of black cherry, oak, and vanilla at full uncut intensity.

Frank August's decision to release a single barrel cask strength expression was a deliberate statement about their approach to bourbon: each barrel is its own document. Where the Small Batch blends multiple barrels for consistency and the Case Study series explores specific finishing techniques, the Single Barrel Cask Strength showcases what a single, exceptional Frank August barrel produces at the proof it actually reached in the warehouse — no water reduction, no blending to average the edges.

The barrel selection process for this release was notably rigorous: Frank August enlisted some of the bourbon industry's most respected master distillers and master blenders — collectively representing 116 years of combined experience — to hand-select each cask. The resulting 5.1-year-old barrels sit between 123 and 125 proof, delivering a cask strength intensity that rewards both neat sipping with patience and careful dilution to proof with a splash of water.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Baking spices and mild oak open first, followed by sweet vanilla and caramel aromatics. The deep mahogany color reflects the concentration of wood-derived compounds at cask strength.
• Palate: Baking spices are pronounced — cinnamon comes forward immediately before rye spice gradually introduces itself, coating the palate warmly. The cask strength intensity (123–125 proof) is exceptionally well-balanced by the vanilla and caramel that carries through from the nose. Complex and layered.
• Finish: Long and evolving. As the cask strength settles, baking spice and hints of black cherry emerge, layered between subtle oak and vanilla. A finish that continues to develop between sips.

Specs

• Producer: Frank August, Lexington, Kentucky
• Age: 5.1 years
• Barrel Selection: Hand-selected by panel with combined 116 years master distilling/blending experience
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Single Barrel, Cask Strength
• ABV: 61.5–62.5% (123–125 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Frank August Single Barrel Cask Strength taste like? Baking spice and mild oak opening to vanilla and caramel on the nose. Cinnamon and rye spice on the palate with excellent cask strength balance. Long evolving finish with black cherry, oak, and vanilla developing between sips.
• What makes the barrel selection process notable? Frank August enlisted master distillers and master blenders with a combined 116 years of experience to hand-select each cask — an unusually rigorous selection process that reflects the brand's philosophy that a single barrel release must justify its existence through what's actually in the barrel, not just the single barrel designation itself.
• How should I drink cask strength bourbon? Neat first — allow a few minutes in the glass for the proof to settle and the aromatics to open. Then try adding a few drops of water at a time to find your preferred dilution. Many drinkers find that 5–10% water addition opens fruit and floral notes that the full proof suppresses. There is no wrong answer — both approaches are valid.
• How does the Single Barrel Cask Strength relate to other Frank August releases? The Small Batch (100 proof) is the accessible everyday expression. The Case Study series explores specific finishing techniques. The Single Barrel Cask Strength sits apart from both — it is Frank August's statement about what a single exceptional barrel produces at its natural unmodified strength.