Review: Coal Pick Single Barrel Bourbon and Toasted Single Barrel Bourbon

In 1971, folk singer and songwriter John Prine released the song Paradise, a clear-eyed account of the damage caused by surface coal mining in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, the place his parents called home. The song describes how entire hillsides were stripped away with dynamite and heavy machinery to expose the coal beneath them. Prine name-checks Peabody Energy and the small town of Paradise, where the Tennessee Valley Authority operated the Paradise Fossil Plant. By late 1967, the town itself had been emptied and torn down to make room for the plant’s expansion.

Half a century later, that same ground took on a very different purpose. In 2017, Kevin and Carrie Lawrence founded Coal Pick Distillery on a 2,700-acre farm that touches the former town of Paradise. The distillery’s whiskey program is led by master distiller Whitney Spence, a key figure in shaping Coal Pick’s identity in western Kentucky.

Coal Pick focuses on wheated bourbon. While the distillery offers its own house releases, a significant share of its production is currently made under contract for investment clients. The core wheated mashbill is built from 64% corn, 24% wheat, and 12% malted barley. Fermentation runs for 72 hours using a sweet mash process and yeast supplied by Ferm Solutions in Danville, Kentucky. Yeast is introduced at 88 degrees Fahrenheit, with cooling coils keeping the fermenters between 85 and 92 degrees. The result is a distiller’s beer that averages about 11% alcohol by volume.

The distillery runs three pot stills, producing spirit that comes off the stills at roughly 140 to 145 proof. Barreling happens at a comparatively low 111 proof.

Coal Pick uses Coopers Select barrels from Independent Stave Company, built with staves that were seasoned outdoors for 18 months. Fresh oak contains high levels of ellagitannins, which present as bitter and astringent. Extended exposure to wind, rain, and temperature shifts gradually draws these compounds out of the wood. Kiln-drying, by contrast, takes only days and traps much of that tannic content inside the stave.

In younger bourbons, there is limited time for these tannins to resolve during maturation, so barrels made from kiln-dried wood often yield sharper, uneven results. Open-air seasoning also allows fungi and bacteria to establish themselves within the staves. The enzymes they produce begin breaking lignin down into flavor-active compounds such as vanillin and eugenol, effectively starting the transformation before the barrel is ever filled. For younger whiskey, this early development provides a meaningful advantage. Without it, the spirit must shoulder the entire burden of extraction, which can lead to a flat, overly woody profile.

As bourbon reaches longer aging windows, the importance of air seasoning diminishes. Over time, tannins retained in kiln-dried wood undergo polymerization, forming larger structures that no longer register as bitter. Continued oxygen exchange through the barrel staves further reduces harsh aldehydes and immature notes, gradually achieving effects similar to long-term open-air seasoning.

Coal Pick sent Drinkhacker two barrel proof wheated bourbons: a Single Barrel Bourbon and a Toasted Single Barrel Bourbon.

Mr. Peabody’s coal train hauled Paradise away, piece by piece. Is Coal Pick Distillery’s bourbon something worth hauling home from the local liquor store?

Coal Pick Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon Review

Barrel #167 carries a #4 char and was entered at 111 proof, filled on June 19, 2020, then emptied for bottling on October 20, 2025, yielding an exact age of five years, four months, and one day. Poured into a Glencairn, the whiskey shows an unexpectedly dark hue for its time in oak. Bourbons at this age rarely display such saturation, making the first visual impression immediately arresting.

Aromatically, it begins with red apple peel and rum-raisin ice cream. That dessert-leaning impression continues through French vanilla coffee creamer before shifting toward Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, with the emphasis squarely on toasted grain rather than the familiar sugar-forward spice. The result is confident and focused, setting a high bar from the outset.

On the palate, panettone and peach preserves lead, followed by a mid-palate combination of black pepper and milk chocolate. The chocolate character pairs naturally with the whiskey’s medium-thick viscosity, giving the sip a sense of cohesion without excess weight. The closing sequence introduces Earl Grey tea and spice cake, transitioning into dried cranberries and Whoppers malted milk balls as the final flavors settle.

Coal Pick Distillery may still sit outside the mainstream conversation, but this release makes a compelling case for broader attention. Within its age range, it stands among the more satisfying higher-proof wheated bourbons currently available. For drinkers seeking a well-crafted example that pushes beyond familiar labels, this bottle offers a rewarding detour. 115.4 proof. A- / $70

Coal Pick Toasted Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon Review

Barrel #234 was filled on January 15, 2021, and emptied on October 24, 2025, reaching an age of 4 years, 9 months, and 9 days. It sports a #1 char with a medium toast and barrel entry at 111.5 proof.

The aroma opens with baked blondies and honey-roasted almonds. With a bit of air, hot cocoa and waffle cone notes round out the presentation. It’s a bouquet that highlights confectionary elements without drifting into excess sweetness.

The palate shifts direction, placing spice firmly at the forefront. Cedarwood leads before pivoting to Tootsie Roll, then sliding into a more refined chocolate note akin to Ferrero Rocher. That progression is interrupted by potent pickled ginger, which becomes the dominant voice through the center of the sip. The mouthfeel sits in a medium-thick range.

On the finish, Lipton Brisk Lemon Iced Tea and corn tortillas take hold, followed by fresh mint and white pepper as the final notes settle in. The toasted barrel influence is evident throughout, particularly in the spice-driven moments, yet it never fully overtakes the bourbon’s core character.

While the standard single barrel expression remains the stronger offering for my palate, this toasted barrel release is an enjoyable and well-executed alternative. It delivers a clear toasted profile without excess, making it a worthwhile bottle for those looking to explore beyond the distillery’s primary expression. 111.8 proof. B+ / $70

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