Barrell Craft Spirits Seagrass Rye Whiskey
Barrell Craft Spirits Seagrass Rye Whiskey is one of modern American whiskey's most decorated blends — a cask-strength rye (around 59–60% ABV, roughly 118–120 proof; batches vary) built from American and Canadian straight rye whiskeys, bottled uncut and non-chill filtered in Louisville. The ryes are finished separately in three remarkable cask types — Martinique Rhum Agricole, Malmsey Madeira, and apricot brandy — then married. Barrell calls it an ode to coastal memory: hot sun, brisk air, dry sand, oceanside vegetation. In the glass it is unmistakable — tropical fruit and fresh herbs over rye spice, vegetal rum character, oxidized Madeira fruit and apricot sweetness. Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Platinum at the L.A. Spirits Awards, and Fred Minnick's #2 Top 100 American Whiskey of 2021. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: ~59–60% (~118–120 proof, batch-dependent; commonly 118.4 proof / 59.2%)
- Size: 750mL
- Style: Blend of American and Canadian straight rye whiskeys; uncut, non-chill filtered, cask strength; no age statement
- Finish: Martinique Rhum Agricole + Malmsey Madeira + apricot brandy casks (finished separately, then married)
- Producer: Barrell Craft Spirits, Louisville, Kentucky
- Concept: An ode to coastal memory — sun, brisk air, sand, oceanside vegetation
- Awards: Double Gold SFWSC; Platinum, L.A. Spirits Awards 2021; #2, Fred Minnick's Top 100 American Whiskeys of 2021
An Ode to Coastal Memory
Most finished whiskeys pick one cask and hope. Seagrass picks three, each chosen for a sense of place: grassy, funky rhum agricole for the shore; oxidative Malmsey Madeira for dried fruit and depth; apricot brandy for stone-fruit sweetness. Barrell finishes each rye separately, then marries them — a blender's construction that drinks like a walk down a beach at golden hour. It is a centerpiece of our rye whiskey collection, and the Barrell Craft Spirits page holds the rest of the blending house's range.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Tropical fruit and fresh herbs over rye spice; lychee, pear, apricot, tarragon, fennel. Palate: Full-bodied — vegetal rum character, oxidized Madeira fruit, apricot sweetness; melon, pineapple, citrus. Finish: Long and warming, moving from fruit to flint and camphor minerality.
How to Enjoy
Pour it neat and take your time — Seagrass changes in the glass like weather. Water softens the proof and pushes the apricot forward. A whiskey this aromatic deserves a wide glass and no distractions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called "Seagrass"? Barrell created it as an ode to coastal memory — an attempt to evoke hot sun, brisk air, dry sand and oceanside vegetation in a glass of rye.
What casks finish Seagrass? Three: Martinique Rhum Agricole casks, Malmsey Madeira barrels and apricot brandy casks, finished separately and then married.
Who is Barrell Craft Spirits? An independent Louisville blender known for cask-strength, small-batch whiskeys sourced from multiple distilleries and finished with unusual casks.
Three casks, one coastline — order Barrell Craft Spirits Seagrass Rye Whiskey online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
