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Tuesday, April 22nd
Blind Barrels is a whiskey service designed as a subscription. Rather than being a boozy retailer that happens to have a whiskey club, Blind Barrels is built around the whiskey club in the first place. Known for its popularity with journals like Men's Gear, Men's Journal, UrbanDaddy, and Bourbon & Banter, Blind Barrels gets high praise for its quality and variety. Blind Barrels was founded by whiskey fans (both expert and amateur) who have different tastes, ensuring a unique exploration of whiskey that isn't set with one specific type or flavor.
47 American whiskeys to choose from
The online menu for Blind Barrels is 100% whiskey. You can find a range of ryes, bourbons, malts, and more. The whiskeys at Blind Barrels are all sourced from American distilleries, and there are a total of 47 different whiskeys to choose from. You can also find a range of different merch items at Blind Barrels to compliment your home bar. (In our opinion, the best item is the Blind Barrels Glencairn Tasting Glass.) But you can also find Blind Barrels t-shirts and lid hats. However, if you're looking for more than just American whiskey, though, you may be disappointed.
2 subscription commitments
Blind Barrels offers a Quarterly Kit and an Annual Kit. The Quarterly Kit includes a free custom tasting glass (only sent once) and 4 bottles of whiskey every 3 months. This option costs $59.99 per kit, billed at the time of each shipment. The Annual Kit is the same delivery frequency, quarterly, but the total cost per box is lower at $49.99 per kit. However, this cost is billed upfront annually at $199.99 per year. If you're not sure about Blind Barrels and want to test out the boxes before you commit to a quarterly or annual subscription, you can also try the 1 Box Only purchase for $69.99 per kit. The only difference is you don't get a free tasting glass with this purchase.
4 sample sizes in every box
In each box, you can expect 4 samples of a blind whiskey tasting. The descriptions are included on a QR code to check out what you're trying. You'll also get a tasting table that includes aromatics and tasting notes so you can learn more about whiskey tasting while you enjoy the experience. You'll also get access to the full bottles of the flavors you're sent at a discounted price. This way, if you love a flavor of whiskey in your recent shipment, you can pick up the full size without paying the full market price.
Individual bottles from $49.99 to $115.99
If you buy from Blind Barrels' "Bottle Shop” you can expect to find costs per bottle from $49.99 to $249.99. However many of the whiskeys at Blind Barrels are regrettably out of stock. For example, during our research, we found the top five whiskeys were 100% unavailable for purchase. The highest-priced whiskey you can buy is KROBAR Cask Strength Bourbon for $115.99 ($99.99 for whiskey club members). We found the same issue in the lower-cost whiskeys too. Many were totally out of stock. The lowest-cost whiskey at Blind Barrels available is the Casey Jones Distillery - Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey for $49.99. Only 24 of the 47 whiskeys listed at Blind Barrels were actually in stock.
Shipping from $12.50 to $15 per box
The cost of shipping depends on which membership you choose. For the Quarterly Kit, the cost of shipping is a flat rate of $15 per box. For the Annual cost, shipping is also billed annually, and the total shipping is $12.50 per kit, but will cost a total of $50 per year prepaid. For a single box, you'll go back to the $15 per box in shipping costs.
Customers love the variety and value
At the time of our review, Blind Barrels was not rated by the Better Business Bureau. So, instead, we focused our research on third-party reviews from customers who have ordered from Blind Barrels before. On one third-party review site, Blind Barrels held a perfect 5 stars across 220 individual reviews. Customers loved the variety of whiskeys offered by Blind Barrels, saying they were exposed to "whiskeys that we may not have an opportunity to try otherwise.” Reviewers also loved the packaging, the value for the cost, and the impressive flavor profiles.
Best option for American whiskey
Blind Barrels is a standout choice if you're looking for a whiskey club that offers multiple whiskeys per box. It's a perfect choice for those interested in trying new American whiskeys, with a value of around $15 per sample for top whiskeys from choice distilleries. You can even try out the box with a single purchase before you commit. Someone looking for a 100% whiskey-focused experience will love Blind Barrels. For these reasons, it is one of our top picks for trying strictly American whiskey.
When you think of a classic drink, among the favorites like vodka and rum, one of the top picks for mixers and a relaxing boozy beverage on the rocks is whiskey. Whiskey is a versatile drink: whether you like a classic Crown Royal or something a little more exotic, whiskey's various flavors are enhanced by "notes” and scents that will bring out your inner bartender.
Whether you're a whiskey newbie, and you don't know what to try, or a connoisseur who's looking to add a bit more variety to your home bar, joining a whiskey club is the best way to enjoy new whiskeys from around the world. After all, there are so many different whiskeys available today that it's hard to know where to start.
Whiskey originated over 1,000 years ago when the practice of distillation made its way to Scotland and Ireland. Since grapes were scarce at Scottish and Irish monasteries, they decided to ferment grains. The first written record of "whisky” appeared in 1405 in the Irish Annals of Clonmacnoise. You might note the difference in spelling. This is due to the origins (not just an old-timey language quirk), and for modern whiskey, you can still tell where your drink is from by how they spell the word. If you see "whiskey" with an "E," it likely comes from the U.S., while "whisky" without the "E" is typically from Scotland, Canada, or Japan.
Well-known names like Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, and Maker's Mark have built strong reputations for their quality and consistency. But beyond these big names, smaller craft distilleries are also gaining recognition for exceptional whiskey.
If you're worried you might never be able to find them all, don't be! This is the perfect reason to join a whiskey club. This way, you'll have the opportunity to try some of the best whiskeys out there and some unique options you might not find in your local stores. From curated shipments to pick-your-own boxes, there are plenty of ways to try and enjoy whiskey through a new whiskey club.
Whether you prefer your whiskey on the rocks, in a cocktail, or neat, you can definitely find some delicious options at a whiskey club. But given the variety of whiskeys and the range of impressive whiskey clubs out there, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are a few factors to consider that might help you pick:
To help you find the right club to join, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the most popular subscriptions for whiskey out there today. This way you can trust that your next glass of whiskey is on the way, and you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your well-deserved nightcaps in peace!
Select any 2 Whiskey Clubs to compare them head to head