Rare? Check. Perfect? Double check. The folks at Preservation Distillery, the smallest distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, make their whiskey in the craftiest way possible: pot distilling in micro-batches of only one to three barrels at a time. With no predetermined plan for how the liquid will eventually be used, they let the barrels rest and rely on taste alone to determine where each one belongs. Some make their way into the Preservation line, some into Cock of the Walk, some into Wattie Boone, while the rarest and most exceptional barrels become single barrels. Even fewer of those are offered as private picks. And that is exactly what we were able to select for you. We were presented with several options, all of them fantastic, but one barrel stood out. Looking back at my notes, my first impression came with an expletive: “Holy $%*# cinnamon bomb!” And it is that, but tasting it now reveals so much more. The nose greets you with chocolate cinnamon toast crunch, marble rye, raisins, root beer, thyme, pepper, cloves, and anise. The palate confirms all of that and adds even more earthiness with tobacco, cardamom, charred peaches, and a generous dose of cinnamon strudel. The flavor defies the high heat, though a touch of water helps settle the 128.1 proof this nine-year-old carries. The herbaceous character pops, the spice and roots envelop, and the finish stretches on with a richness that seems endless. This is a slow sipper for sure. Some great bourbons have a finish that trails off and makes you reach for the next sip right away. This one lets you savor each sip for minutes. It is rare, it is perfect, and it is yours if you are lucky enough to grab it before it is gone.