Jos. A. Magnus & Co. 10 Year Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey The Prime Barrel Pick #166

The Prime Barrel team traveled to the Holland, Michigan home of Joseph A. Magnus & Co. and selected an exceptional 10 1/2 year old high-rye single barrel bourbon—an uncommon, deeply expressive pour shaped by full-term maturation in experimental oak.

The modern Joseph Magnus brand was revived in 2015 by the original namesake's great-grandson. Inspired by the discovery of pre-Prohibition bottles bearing the Magnus name, he uncovered a legacy rooted in 1890’s Cincinnati, where Joseph A. Magnus operated as a blender and rectifier until Prohibition. That heritage continues today through a focus on blending, finishing, and precision-driven whiskey craftsmanship.

This single barrel, however, represents a deliberate departure from Magnus’ finishing tradition. Drawn from a special lot of MGP-distilled bourbon, this whiskey was not finished—by design. Instead, it matured for over a decade in a Seguin Moreau–coopered American oak barrel featuring a Heavy Toast and Char 2 profile. This experimental cooperage emphasizes toast-driven flavor development, allowing caramelized wood sugars and layered oak influence to evolve naturally over time.

The result is a remarkably refined high-rye bourbon (60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley) that defies expectations. The nose opens with crème brûlée, toasted almond, and subtle citrus lift, while the palate delivers a wave of caramelized wood sugars, vanilla custard, toasted marshmallow, and gentle baking spice. The finish is long and composed, revealing vanilla wafer, cinnamon warmth, and softly toasted oak with minimal tannic grip.

This barrel spent its first 8 1/2 years on the lower floor of a Lawrenceburg, Indiana rickhouse—where cooler, steady maturation fostered integration over intensity—before completing its final two years aging in West Michigan. The rickhouse environment reduced proof from 120 to 107.6, contributing to its rounded texture and surprisingly restrained oak influence.

Ten and a half years. One barrel. Start to finish.

The Seguin Moreau Heavy Toast, Char 2 cooperage defines this whiskey’s identity—marking the first release of Joseph Magnus single barrels in over seven years. This is not a typical high-rye bourbon. It’s a study in controlled extraction, toasted complexity and structural balance.

For collectors and enthusiasts seeking something beyond the ordinary, this is a barrel that rewards attention. Quantities are extremely limited—secure your bottle while it’s still available.

Barrel Details:

• Barrel #15177
• Distilled:  5/2/15 by MGP in Lawrenceburg, IN
• Age:  10 1/2 years in Seguin Moreau Heavy Toast, Char 2 barrel crafted in California
• Mashbill: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley
• Barrel Entry Proof: 120 proof
• Proof: 107.6 proof

Tasting Notes:

• Nose:  Crème brûlée, light butterscotch, honey toasted almond, orange zest and toasted oak
• Palate:  Caramelized sugar with vanilla custard, soft caramel, toasted marshmallow, baked cinnamon and sweet toasted oak
• Finish:  Nilla Wafer, honey, cinnamon stick, lingering lightly toasted oak