Barreled: March 11, 2016
Proof: 141 (70.5% alc/vol)
Barrel Size: 30 gallons
Availability: Extremely limited
I want you to know the story behind this bourbon, because it’s as much yours as it is mine. BAR #019 came from the only 30-gallon barrel I ever barreled in the very first month of McLaughlin Distillery. It was an experiment at the time—a small barrel, a small batch—but over the years it grew into something extraordinary, a spirit that carries history, care, and the stubborn heart of a small distillery finding its way.
This bourbon is bold, leathery, and woody, with layers that open slowly and invite you in. At 141 proof, it’s unapologetically intense, yet refined, balanced, and complex. The fermented-on-the-grain, distilled-off-the-grain process we use ensures each sip is clean, nuanced, and full of character. You’ll notice deep oak, dark leather, hints of spice, and an earthy warmth that lingers long after the pour. I would put it up against anything else out there today—it’s that bold, that remarkable, and that unapologetically distinctive.
Every bottle of BAR #019 is hand-engraved with its barrel and bottle number, signed by me personally. This isn’t just bourbon—it’s a collector’s piece, a moment of history, and a taste of our beginnings. There are very few bottles in existence, and once they’re gone, they will never be reproduced.
I want to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you for believing in us, for choosing a small distillery over the countless other options out there, and for letting us share a piece of our history with you. Without customers like you, barrels like this would just sit quietly in a warehouse, never fulfilling their purpose.
BAR #019 is for the collector, the connoisseur, the dreamer, or anyone who understands that great bourbon is measured in craft, history, and heart, not just proof. Holding this bottle is holding a story, a legacy, and a passion that has carried us for nearly a decade.
From my hands to yours, I hope this bourbon brings you the same joy, awe, and appreciation that I felt the day I barreled it. It’s rare. It’s audacious. It’s unforgettable. And it’s yours to savor.
—Kim McLaughlin, Owner
