I had planned a four-bourbon face-off for this week, but I’m holding that for Bourbon Cheapskate on Thursday. Instead, I want to introduce you to something memorable.
Last July and August, Scott and I—along with a couple of friends—made our way through the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. We tasted some incredible whiskeys and came home with more bottles than luggage space. A few of them didn’t even make it back with me right away. One, in fact, was illegal to carry on a plane.
A literal hazmat situation.
Let me back up.
On the way home, we routed through Nashville, which was my departure point. Rather than heading straight to the airport, we decided to hit as many stops on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail as we could. One of those stops was a small place called Far Better Distillery.
Located in Nashville’s North Capitol area—close enough to First Horizon Park that a hard-hit foul ball might wander over—Far Better looks more like an old neighborhood drugstore than a whiskey tasting room. But once you step inside, the shelves tell a different story: flavored whiskeys and moonshines that are bold on the nose and genuinely enjoyable on the palate.
What really stopped both Scott and me, though, was their Ultra Small Batch Special Release Bourbon.
The owner shared the backstory. They barreled the whiskey and sampled it when it was hovering around 139 proof. Rather than proofing it down immediately, they decided to let it ride a bit longer, hoping it would soften. Instead, it crept up—to 141.2 proof. At that point, they pulled it and bottled it as-is.
That’s what he poured us.
A quick disclaimer before I go further: Scott and I had already been tasting at several stops that day. Our palates were warmed up and receptive. If you ever try this bourbon, do not make it the first alcohol of the day. Even though I love it, this stuff will peel paint—and possibly the lining of your mouth—if you’re not prepared.
And yet…
After more than a dozen distilleries and tasting rooms that week, here we were in a hole-in-the-wall Nashville shop, sipping a bourbon from a bottle without a UPC code—and it blew us away.
In the glass, it pours a deep, dark copper. The nose brings oak, dark chocolate, and molasses. On the palate, yes, it’s hot—141.2 proof will do that—but the flavor more than carries the heat. Molasses leads the charge, followed by caramel, a hint of chocolate, and an unexpected touch of cardamom. The mouthfeel is thick and full, rolling into a finish where chocolate and spice linger long after the sip.
The 100 ml bottle cost $20. I later had Scott go back and grab me the full 750 ml for $120.
Worth it.
The proof ensures I won’t drink it quickly—but I wouldn’t want to anyway. This is a bourbon that demands attention, rewards patience, and makes you want each sip to last as long as possible. This bottle isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
If this is your first time hearing about Far Better, you’re not alone. The flavored moonshines alone make the stop worthwhile. But if you’re adventurous—and want a whiskey experience you’ll remember—seek out the Ultra Small Batch Special Release.
Just make sure you warm up your whiskey tastebuds first.
