Blue Note "Beast of the East" | Maria's Whiskey Club Single Barrel Pick
A look back at Maria's Whiskey Club's Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon pick, released with a custom Detroit-themed "Beast of the East" sticker.
Archive spotlight: this barrel is sold out. Featured here as a look back at a past Maria's Whiskey Club pick.
Blue Note built its name on Memphis' blues roots, and this hand-selected single barrel of Juke Joint Bourbon carried a Detroit basketball tie-in of its own: a custom "Beast of the East" sticker made specifically for the club's release.
What it tasted like
Bottled uncut and unfiltered at 119.80 proof, this straight bourbon whiskey opened with brown sugar, caramel corn, and vanilla cream, layered with toasted oak, orange zest, and cinnamon spice. On the palate, it turned rich and oily, with praline, maple syrup, toasted pecans, baking spice, and waves of vanilla and citrus. The finish ran long and warming, closing on oak, caramelized sugar, leather, white pepper, and a subtle cherry sweetness.
Why members loved it
Blue Note has built its reputation fast among bourbon drinkers for delivering serious depth at an approachable price point, and this barrel backed that up. Full proof, minimal filtration, and a flavor profile with real range from praline to leather made it a standout, before the Detroit-themed label even factored in.
About Maria's Whiskey Club
Maria's Whiskey Club is Maria's Marketplace's members-only barrel program in Canton, Michigan. Members get first access to single-barrel picks like this one, along with points toward future purchases and a say in what gets picked next. Real barrels, chosen in-house, with a Michigan accent when the timing is right.
Want in on the next pick? Join Maria's Whiskey Club to get notified when the next barrel comes in.
