Hand selected by/barrel name: Blake's Juice Single barrel number: 8036 Barreled date: 27JUL2018 Proof: 102 I skipped ahead to the Hand Picked bottles I got just to stack them up next to my other ones on the shelf. While I was at the distillery recently, I tried a huge flight of some past Hand Picked bottles, and while this was on said flight, my palate was shot to hell after something like a dozen plus samples while I was there. So, I picked up both the available Hand Picked bottles at the gift shop so I could try them again here. Having just had a single barrel of the Select 93, I had wondered what the difference was between that and the Hand Picked Collection. Having bought a few of the Hand Picked bottles already, I would guess that it's the same mash bill of the Select 93, just presented at cask strength. With a lower 102 proof and just shy of 5 years aged, I'm guessing this will both showcase fresh grain from the mash while not being too light or raw to be distracting or overpowering. The color is a little light, yet still a tad darker than the Select 93. Cinnamon, fresh rye, toffee, and caramel sauce on the nose paint a fairly classic bourbon picture, but the sweetness really dominates. The small amount of rye in the mash balances the nose well, though, while the ethanol reinforces the spiciness but remains approachable. The initial flavor has a medium heat, with notes of a sour earthiness and burnt toffee. The rye begins to penetrate and fuel the burn through the gums, with the earthiness still present but with notes of unwashed, unshucked corn still on the ear. The finish is incredibly hot, with a combination of cracked black pepper, grass, and cinnamon from the rye, while the body turns slightly dry. After repeated sips, a hint of spearmint appears around the finish. A simple iteration of a classic bourbon mash turns into an end product that simply isn't that good, to my own palate. The earthiness seems out of place here, and is even more off-putting with the strong burn throughout. Even with this upset, it almost increases my love for the single barrel concept, because you can't win them all, and barrels like this mean that there will be good ones on the horizon. Here's to the pick anyway though, Blake, despite your abhorrent use of the world "juice."