Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon | Maria's Whiskey Club Winter Collab Pick
A look back at Maria's Whiskey Club's split-barrel Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon pick with Benstein Liquor, a 120.8-proof winter sipper limited to 90 bottles.
Archive spotlight: this barrel is sold out. Featured here as a look back at a past Maria's Whiskey Club pick.
New to Michigan when it landed, this Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon came out of B.R. Distilling just outside downtown Memphis, sourced from the familiar Green River Distillery. Maria's Whiskey Club didn't take this one alone: it was a split-barrel collaboration with Benstein Liquor up in Commerce, Michigan, leaving just 90 bottles for Maria's members.
What it tasted like
Bottled uncut and unfiltered at 120.8 proof with a 4-year age statement, the nose brought burnt toffee and caramel, the kind of scent that felt like a holiday vacation in a glass. The palate opened sweet up front with a long Kentucky hug that lingered. The finish was complex and slow to fade, a high-proof winter sipper built to get better with time after opening.
Why members loved it
Splitting a barrel with another Michigan retailer meant a smaller pour for Maria's members, just 90 bottles, which made this one feel like a genuinely limited find rather than a standard release. Paired with a proof and season built for slow winter nights, it earned its spot as a cold-weather favorite.
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. Sometimes the best picks come from teaming up with the right people.
Want in on the next pick? Join Maria's Whiskey Club to get notified when the next barrel comes in.
