Rare Character Limited Release Bourbon 750ML

Rare Character Limited Release Batch Bourbon is a barrel-proof blended bourbon bottled at 57.18% ABV (114.36 proof) in a 750ml bottle. This small-batch release marries Kentucky and Indiana bourbons ranging from 6.5 to 15 years old, resulting in a layered, high-proof expression that rewards careful attention. Previous Rare Character batches have earned Double Gold and Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, establishing the brand as a serious player in the sourced bourbon space.

Quick Facts: ABV: 57.18% (114.36 Proof)  |  Origin: Kentucky & Indiana, USA  |  Aged 6.5–15 Years (Blended)  |  Producer: Rare Character Whiskey

Production & Heritage

Rare Character operates as an independent blender, selecting barrels from rickhouses across the United States and assembling them into limited-edition batches. Batch #3 draws its base from a 6.5-year-old Kentucky rye bourbon, a 7-year-old high-rye Indiana bourbon, and an 8-year-old low-rye Indiana bourbon, all married together for a two-month resting period to allow the flavors to integrate. The result is a cask-strength release that prioritizes complexity over single-origin identity—each component bourbon contributes a different grain bill and maturation character to the final blend.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with dried raspberries, strawberries, and dark cherries before giving way to a wave of baking spice—nutmeg, cinnamon, and tobacco. Underneath the fruit and spice sits a foundation of dark brown sugar and mature oak.

Taste: The entry is bright and citrus-forward, with subtle pepper and toffee setting the stage. At mid-palate, brown butter and caramel meld with cherry cola, toasted honey graham, and orange oil. A rich baking spice medley of nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, and brown sugar takes center stage, supported by undertones of tobacco and cookie dough.

Finish: The finish is long and dessert-driven, beginning with graham cracker pie crust and cream puff sweetness laced with caramel drizzle. It gradually resolves into bourbon banana bread pudding, heavy oak tannins, and a warming hot chocolate fade that lingers well after the last sip.

How to Drink Batch #3

At 114.36 proof, this bourbon rewards a few drops of water to open up its layered spice and fruit notes; neat sipping in a Glencairn allows the full dessert-and-oak arc to unfold. For those who prefer cocktails, the barrel-proof strength carries beautifully through dilution. An Old Fashioned amplifies the brown sugar and baking spice with just a touch of bitters and orange peel. A Boulevardier lets the cherry cola and dark fruit notes interact with sweet vermouth and Campari in a compelling way. A Gold Rush uses honey syrup and lemon to highlight the toffee sweetness and citrus brightness hiding inside the blend.

Best For

• Barrel-proof bourbon enthusiasts seeking a multi-state blend with genuine age
• Gifting a serious whiskey collector who values limited-edition releases
• Side-by-side tasting flights comparing sourced blends against single-distillery bourbons
• After-dinner sipping alongside rich desserts like bread pudding or pecan pie

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Batch #3 taste like? Batch #3 leads with bright citrus and dried berry fruit, transitions through layers of brown butter, baking spice, and caramel, and finishes with a long, dessert-like combination of graham cracker, banana bread pudding, and hot chocolate.

How does Batch #3 compare to William Larue Weller? Both are barrel-proof bourbons prized by collectors, but Batch #3 is a multi-distillery blend of rye bourbons aged 6.5 to 15 years, while William Larue Weller is a single-distillery wheated bourbon from Buffalo Trace. Rare Character's founder has noted blind tastings where their sourced barrels competed directly with Weller, suggesting the two occupy a similar quality tier despite very different grain profiles.

Is Batch #3 good for sipping neat? Yes—despite its high proof, the two-month marrying period and age range produce a surprisingly integrated pour that does not require significant dilution, though a few drops of water will open additional fruit and pastry notes.

Where is Batch #3 made? Batch #3 is a blend of bourbons distilled in Kentucky and Indiana, selected and married by Rare Character, an independent American whiskey blender that sources barrels from multiple distilleries across the country.

What foods pair well with Batch #3? Dark chocolate truffles complement the hot chocolate finish. Smoked brisket echoes the oak and spice. Pecan pie mirrors the brown sugar and caramel sweetness. Aged cheddar provides a savory counterpoint to the toffee richness. Crème brûlée picks up on the custard and graham cracker notes in the finish.

What sizes does Batch #3 come in? Rare Character Limited Release Batch #3 is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Batch #3 worth the price? Batch #3 positions as a premium limited-release bourbon, competing with other allocated and small-batch barrel-proof expressions in its price tier. The combination of multi-year aged stocks, cask-strength bottling, and finite availability places it firmly in the collector and enthusiast segment where value is measured by complexity and scarcity rather than volume.

Why Batch #3?

What separates Rare Character Batch #3 from the crowded field of sourced bourbons is the deliberate architecture of the blend: three distinct bourbon profiles—a Kentucky rye bourbon, a high-rye Indiana bourbon, and a low-rye Indiana bourbon—each contributing a different spice and sweetness character across a 6.5-to-15-year age spectrum. The two-month marrying period is not merely a marketing detail; it allows barrel-proof components to harmonize into something genuinely more complex than any single barrel could deliver. The brand's track record of Double Gold and Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for prior releases confirms that the blending approach produces repeatable quality. For drinkers who appreciate bourbon as a finished composition rather than a single-origin statement, Batch #3 makes a compelling case.