With so many ways to bottle bourbon, it’s easy to forget what’s what. If you’ve found yourself standing in the aisle, wondering if that higher-priced bourbon is really worth it, we’re here to explain the differences between small batch, single barrel and standard bourbons. 

Standard Barrel Bourbon

A brand’s typical variant may be called standard, but that doesn’t mean it’s not delicious. And it doesn’t mean it’s not the one for you. So, what does it mean? A standard bottling is a blend of many different bourbon barrels.

Since barrels stored in different parts of the rickhouse take on different flavors, blending them together creates the consistent flavor you know and love. The more barrels you batch together, the easier blending becomes—ensuring your favorite brand is as kind to your palate as your pocketbook.  

When to Buy It: The perfect partner for mixers, standard barrel bourbons are great in almost any setting, especially your evening Old Fashioned.  

Try It: Lux Row has mastered smooth and flavorful standard bourbons, like our OG Rebel Kentucky Straight Bourbon or the higher-proof kick of Rebel 100 or Ezra 99. 

Small Batch Bourbon

Made from 20 barrels or 200? There’s no legal definition for the term small batch, and some brands take the description more seriously than others. In simple terms, small batch bourbons are made by hand-selecting a few choice barrels and mixing them together—creating a rich, one-of-a-kind blend with a distinct and consistent flavor profile.  

The art of small batch bourbons comes from the selection process—picking barrels that complement and blend well with each other. Given the small size of these batches, there’s little room for blending errors. This costly process makes these distinct bourbons rarer, and more expensive. 

When to Buy It: Celebrating a big promotion or a birthday? These unique bourbons have a way of making special occasions that much more special. 

Try It: Hand-picked by Master Distiller John Rempe, Rebel Small Batch Reserve is bottled at 110 proof, a touch higher than Rebel 100. If you enjoy Rebel’s original recipe, you’ll love the standout honey, vanilla and caramel notes in Small Batch Reserve. 

Single Barrel Bourbon

Creating single barrel bourbon is a high-risk, high-reward process. That’s because this premium bourbon is bottled from an individual barrel—no blending allowed. Since no two barrels or rickhouse locations are alike, each individual barrel ages into its own flavor profile. Only the best become single barrel bourbons.

Once aging is complete, selected barrels are bottled and labeled with their barrel number and age. Given the unique characteristics of each barrel, the resulting bottles are unlike anything you’ve ever tasted before—or will again. Since unique flavors tend to be blended away in larger batches, single barrel bourbon celebrates the fact that some barrels are so good, they deserve to be set apart and enjoyed on their own. 

When to Buy It: The one-of-a-kind, lightening-in-barrel nature of single barrel bourbon makes it the perfect gift for that special someone known for their great taste. The only time they’ll experience that whiskey is when they’re drinking that very bottle. What a gift. 

Try It: If you’re fighting single barrel FOMO, get your hands on Rebel Bourbon 10-Year Single Barrel, or check out our Signature Selection program. You can purchase your own barrel from Lux Row brands like Ezra Brooks and Rebel. We’ll bottle and label it for you. And you’ll even get to keep the barrel head!