Barber Lee Heirloom Corn Bourbon Whiskey

Barber Lee Heirloom Corn Bourbon Whiskey is a 90 proof (45% ABV), 750mL bourbon from Barber Lee Spirits in Petaluma, California — built on non-GMO Bloody Butcher and Hopi Blue heirloom corn grown in California's Central Valley, with malted barley, malted rye, and non-GMO yellow corn added to round out the spirit and start the enzymatic conversion. It is double distilled in the distillery's custom copper pot still and aged three to four years in new, heavy char American oak barrels per brand copy (a bottle-read check against one partner's 2–4 year figure is requested). About 99% of US corn is commodity yellow dent #2; this bourbon is a heritage-variety revival from before the Prohibition era — the brand describes a drier, more interesting bourbon with full texture and flavors of fruits and spices. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• ABV: 45% (90 proof — verified across retailers; one 49% listing is a retailer typo, not used)
• Size: 750mL
• Mash: Bloody Butcher + Hopi Blue heirloom corn (Central Valley, CA), malted barley, malted rye, yellow corn
• Aging: 3–4 years in new, heavy char American oak (brand copy; 2–4 yr variant exists — bottle-read requested)
• Process: double-distilled in custom copper pot still
• Distillery: Barber Lee Spirits, Petaluma, CA — grain-to-glass

Heritage Corn, Pre-Prohibition Style

The two heirloom corns do different work: Bloody Butcher brings spicy notes of buckwheat, chili peppers, and sweet cherry; Hopi Blue brings sweet, rich, earthy flavors. Together, with malted barley and rye in the mix, they make a bourbon the brand describes as drier and more interesting than commodity-corn whiskey — full texture, fruit, and spice. Three to four years in new heavy-char oak gives it color and structure without taming the grain character. (A note for the shelf: one marketplace listing describes "heirloom white corn grown in Kentucky" — that contradicts all brand copy; the corn is Central Valley, California.) Browse more bourbon whiskey and explore the Barber Lee collection at Del Mesa Liquor.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Sweet cherry and chili-pepper spice over fresh oak (brand-described character).

Palate: Full texture — fruit and spice, drier than commodity-corn bourbon.

Finish: Earthy sweetness with warm oak.

How to Enjoy

Neat or with a splash of water to open the heirloom-corn spice. The drier profile makes a distinctive Old Fashioned and a bourbon Manhattan with real grain character.

Frequently Asked Questions

What corn is in Barber Lee Bourbon?
Non-GMO Bloody Butcher and Hopi Blue heirloom corn from California's Central Valley, plus malted barley, malted rye, and yellow corn.

How long is it aged?
Three to four years in new, heavy char American oak per brand copy (a bottle read is requested to confirm against a 2–4 year variant).

What proof is it?
90 proof (45% ABV).

Where is the corn grown?
California's Central Valley — not Kentucky, despite one marketplace listing's error.

Pre-Prohibition corn, California-grown — order Barber Lee Heirloom Corn Bourbon Whiskey online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.