Burlock and Barrel
Short Overview of the Distillery
Burlock and Barrel is a small craft distillery in Jacksonville, Florida, that produces three own spirits from grain-to-glass. The range includes an aged Bourbon (B&B Reserve), a rice whiskey in both aged and unaged forms (Whisper), and a white corn whiskey (Whim). The distillery emphasizes small batch sizes and full in-house distillation and maturation, making it appealing to those seeking handcrafted American whiskey with local roots.
History
The history traces back to the McCoy brothers' days at the Jacksonville Shipyards in the 1910s, where Ben and Bill McCoy built yachts for prominent families. The business changed in the 1920s during Prohibition, and the brothers began activities smuggling whiskey from Bimini to the American East Coast with Jacksonville as a hub. The Burlock and Barrel name draws on Bill McCoy's construction of a 'burlock' — a special way of packaging bottles in straw and flax — which has become part of the identity. In modern times, the company presents itself as a craft distillery that produces small-batch spirits and handles distillation and maturation in-house.
Raw Materials and Production
Production is described as completely handmade from 'grain to glass' with a focus on small batch sizes. The range consists of three main products: an aged Bourbon (B&B Reserve), Whisper (a rice whiskey, available both as aged and unaged) and Whim (a white corn whiskey). The distillery emphasizes that it does not use bulk spirits, but produces its spirits from scratch and handles both distillation and maturation in-house. The source material lists rice and corn as the grains used, and aging takes place in small oak barrels. Technical parameters such as fermentation length, still types, and number of distillations are not specified in the cited pages.
Maturation and Barrel Types
Aging takes place primarily in small oak barrels, and the portfolio includes both aged and unaged products, for example Whisper which exists in aged and unaged variants. There are few details about barrel characteristics such as the origin of the oak or previous contents; it is emphasized that maturation takes place in small batch sizes as part of the quality efforts.
Whiskies
The range focuses on three handmade spirits: B&B Reserve (aged Bourbon), Whisper (rice whiskey, available in both aged and unaged forms) and Whim (white corn whiskey). Whisper is highlighted as an award-winning part of the portfolio with two gold medals in 2019. In general, Burlock and Barrel positions itself as a small, quality-focused distillery where each bottle is the result of in-house distillation and aging in small barrels.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B&B Reserve | Bourbon | Small oak barrels | B&B Reserve is described as the distillery's aged Bourbon and is one of three handcrafted spirits in the portfolio. | Core range |
| Whisper | Rice Whiskey | Small oak barrels | Whisper exists both as aged and un-aged rice whiskey and is a central, award-winning element in the range. | Core range |
| Whim | White Corn Whiskey | Small oak barrels | Whim is listed as a white corn whiskey and is part of the three handcrafted spirits from the distillery. | Core range |
Visit the Distillery
The distillery announces guided tours as 'COMING SOON' and encourages visitors to subscribe to the newsletter for information about opening bookings. Contact details and an address are provided, but there are no active booking links, fixed opening hours, or details on tour duration or price on the pages shown. The public cannot book fixed, public tours at this time.
Philosophy and Craft
The company operates under a 'grain to glass' philosophy and emphasizes that all spirits are 100% handmade and produced from scratch. They prioritize small batch sizes and avoid purchasing bulk spirits to maintain control over quality and deliver unique flavor profiles through craftsmanship and their own maturation.
Awards and Recognitions
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Gold — Rice Whiskey Taste and Flavor (2019, Gold, Whisper)
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Gold — Packaging and Design (2019, Gold, Whisper)