OJ Tells Food & Wine Magazine How To Buy A Barrel Of Whiskey

Ever wondered how to buy your very own barrel of whiskey? If so, you’re in luck. Taste Select Repeat’s OJ Lima just shared a wealth of knowledge on the subject in his debut feature for Food & Wine magazine. Titled “Here's Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Barrel of Whiskey,” the article offers “An insider's take on the dos and don'ts of barrel picking.”

How To Buy A Barrel Of Whiskey

“There are tons of laws, both state and federal, that prevent individuals from purchasing large quantities of liquor. And a barrel, even a small one, holds a lot of whiskey,” writes Lima. “If you thought you could buy a full barrel of whiskey and store it in your private drinking den, that’s not going to happen.”

The article explores the history of single barrel bourbons and different barrel programs around the country. While social media whiskey influencers make buying a single barrel a walk in the park, or rather, rick house, it’s not cheap and requires a fair amount of knowledge and legwork. Among other interesting tidbits, learn why it’s easier buying American whiskey than Scotch, how local distilleries can simplify the process, and why women help pick the best single barrels.

Selecting Barrel Picks With OJ Lima 

Having selected well over 50 single barrel whiskeys and tequilas to date, OJ knows whereof he speaks. Most recently, he launched the Kinfolk Trust whiskey brand and selected the new John J. Bowman Sazerac Barrel Select Bourbon for Taste Select Repeat. A camera crew followed Lima and TSR co-founder Pierre Auguste to the A. Smith Bowman Distillery to document the selection process. Read about it here and watch the video below.