Rock Town – Column Still Collection – French Oak

Last Updated on October 25, 2023 by 5e2793

Rock Town – Column Still Collection – Single Barrel – Cask Strength Toasted French Oak Barrel Finish

Distillery: Rock Town Distillery
Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Finish: Toasted French Oak Barrel
Proof: 110 (cask strength)

About the Bottle

In March of 2020, head distiller Phil Brandon of Rock Town embarked on a mission to keep up with growing demand while preserving his distinct Arkansas-grain origin and whiskey character. He found his solution through the Collaborative Distilling Program at Bardstown Bourbon Company, which allowed him to apply his own mash bills and Arkansas-grown grains while utilizing Bardstown’s scale and equipment.

“In March of 2020, Head Distiller Phil Brandon set out on a mission to find a way to keep up with the demand for Rock Town bourbon. The search ended when he discovered the Collaborative Distilling Program … which allowed him to use his own bourbon recipes and the same Arkansas-grown grains that have helped produce the quality bourbon Rock Town is known for.” (as quoted by 107 Liquor)

This limited single barrel pick, selected by 107 Liquor in partnership with the whiskey community group The Benevolent Barrel Thief, is part of that very initiative. It’s finished in toasted French oak barrels, bottled at 110 proof, and represents the first of its kind in the market from Rock Town’s design.

Introducing the Column Still Collection

The Column Still Collection is Rock Town’s dedicated line of bourbons produced under this collaborative model — combining Arkansas-grown grain, a Kentucky column still facility, and Arkansas finishing and aging. Here are key details:

• Mash Bill: Approx. 79% Arkansas corn, 8% Arkansas wheat, 13% malted barley.
• Distillation: Column still at Bardstown Bourbon Company, under Rock Town’s mash bill and grain sourcing.
• Aging / Barrel: After distillation in Kentucky, the whiskies are moved back to Little Rock and aged in new charred oak barrels from cooperages such as Kelvin Cooperage and Gibbs Brothers.
• Three core expressions in the Collection:
  • Small Batch Straight Bourbon (approx. 92 proof)
  • Toasted French Oak Finished Straight Bourbon (e.g., the finished style)
  • Single Barrel Cask Strength Straight Bourbon (the higher-proof, barrel-specific version)
• The promotional text from Rock Town states: “Welcome to the Column Still Collection, where every sip takes you on a journey through the heart of Kentucky, and straight into the soul of Arkansas.” Rock Town Distillery
• This collection is both an innovation in production scale and a preservation of origin: Arkansas grains, Arkansas finishing, but utilizing the distillation capacity of Bardstown to meet demand.

In other words: The Column Still Collection bridges Rock Town’s local Arkansas identity with broader production capability — a smart path for scaling while keeping the “grain to glass” story intact.

Why this matters for your pick

By selecting a barrel from the Column Still Collection, 107 Liquor is offering a whiskey that hits several desirable notes for aficionados – the Arkansas-grain origin, a finishing style (toasted French oak), elevated proof (110), and the hand-selected nature of a single barrel. The context of the Column Still line adds another layer: this is not a standard batch expression, but part of a considered strategy by Rock Town to retain quality while expanding production.