Rare Character Limited Release Bourbon 2025 / Batch 01
The Stats
- Distillery: Rare Character Whiskey Company
- Location: Kentucky
- Type: Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Age: NAS
- Proof: 119.26 (59.63% ALC/VOL)
- Mash Bill: Bourbon Blend
- Release: Limited Release, Spring 2025 Batch No. 01
- Price: $100
There’s “limited release,” and then there’s Rare Character.
Batch 01 of Rare Character’s Limited Release Series (2025) isn’t just rare in name. It’s the kind of bottle that makes you stop mid-shelf-scroll and wonder: Is this all flash? Or is there real fire behind the label? Spoiler: there’s fire—and enough finesse to keep it interesting.
Built from a blend of high-proof Kentucky straight bourbons and bottled at a bold 123.6 proof, Batch 01 is uncut, unfiltered, and unrelenting in flavor. While Rare Character is best known for its single-barrel program, this new small-batch release marks a blend-forward direction, highlighting curation and balance over one-off novelty.
A New Chapter in Blended Bourbon
The origins here are sourced, but the construction is intentional. Batch 01 is a marriage of multiple Kentucky straight bourbons, blended with precision to highlight deep sweetness, layered spice, and structure from oak—all while delivering the punch Rare Character fans expect.
It doesn’t hide behind finishing or trendy tricks. What you taste is what you get: straight bourbon at full strength, selected and blended to impress.
Tasting Notes
Aroma:
Sweet and bold. Think toffee, dark cherry, vanilla bean, caramel, followed by waves of cinnamon cereal, leather, and seasoned oak. A hint of air brings out earthiness, dark chocolate, and tobacco, rounding out a nose that leans classic yet rich.
Taste:
The palate lands hard and fast—brown sugar, orange peel, baking spice, and a big rush of sweet fruit. There’s a burst of clove and cinnamon, followed by darker notes of molasses, cereal, and cocoa. The proof is felt but not chaotic; the body is viscous, almost chewy.
Finish:
Long and dry. Balanced and expressive. Expect a wave of pepper, charred oak, and lingering citrus peel, with a late pop of mint and cocoa. The tannin shows up here, pulling it slightly tight, but it keeps you coming back.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
8 / 10 - VERY GOOD
Rare Character Limited Release Batch 01 is a confident, high-proof pour that delivers on its promise: big flavor, strong structure, and real depth. It won’t knock out the best single barrels from Rare Character, but as a blended release, it shows vision and restraint.
This is for fans of bold Kentucky bourbon who crave something with a hint of mystery and a lot of character. A strong start to the 2025 series—and one we’ll be watching closely.
