Buzzard's Roost Char #1 Bourbon Whiskey
Buzzard's Roost Char #1 Bourbon Whiskey is a study in restraint: 4-year-old high-rye Indiana bourbon (59% corn, 36% rye, 5% malted barley) rested in the brand's proprietary Char #1 barrels — the lightest standard char level, with a custom toast profile — and bottled at 105 proof (52.5% ABV) in a 750mL bottle. Less char means more conversation between wood sugars and spirit: brown sugar, cherry and vanilla with a gentle fade of blackberry. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 105 proof (52.5% ABV)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 4-year-old whiskey, finished in proprietary Char #1 barrels
- Mash bill: 59% corn / 36% rye / 5% malted barley
- Barrels: Char level #1 (lightest char) + custom toast, new 53-gallon
- Origin: Sourced Indiana; finished and bottled in Louisville, Kentucky
- Award: Gold, 2024 Barleycorn Awards
What Char #1 Actually Means
Most bourbon barrels are charred to level 3 or 4 — a deep alligator char. Buzzard's Roost goes the opposite direction with its proprietary cooperage: a very light Char #1 plus a carefully designed toast, so the wood contributes caramelized sugars and spice without the heavy smoke and tannin of a hard char. The 4-year-old, high-rye Indiana base spends just a few weeks in these barrels before bottling — the brand's signature "second barrel" rest — emerging fruit-forward and elegant. Discover the Buzzard's Roost collection and browse more bourbon whiskey at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Nose of brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and vanilla. The palate balances sweet vanilla and brown sugar against woody notes matched with cherry and dark fruit. A long finish with just the right intensity — fruit and vanilla with a pinch of spice, fading to cherry and blackberry.
How to Enjoy
Neat to catch the full arc from brown sugar to blackberry, or over a single large cube. The lighter char profile also makes it a refined choice for a boulevardier or an old fashioned.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Char #1" mean?
The lightest standard barrel-char level; Buzzard's Roost pairs it with a custom toast profile in its proprietary barrels.
What is the mash bill?
59% corn, 36% rye, 5% malted barley — a high-rye recipe.
Is it a single barrel?
No — 4-year-old Indiana bourbon finished in proprietary Char #1 barrels, bottled at 105 proof.
Order Buzzard's Roost Char #1 Bourbon online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA — proof that the lightest touch can leave the deepest impression.