Bourbon Club of Arkansas Selects Holladay Distillery Soft Red Wheat Single Barrel

Last Updated on January 6, 2026 by Justin Jones

PUBLISH DATE: January 6, 2026

The Bourbon Club of Arkansas (BCA) has announced its newest single barrel selection, traveling to historic Holladay Distillery in Weston, Missouri, to secure a standout Soft Red Wheat Bourbon chosen directly by club members.

This Bourbon Club of Arkansas Holladay Distillery pick continues BCA’s tradition of hands-on barrel selection, transparency, and collaboration with distilleries that value both heritage and quality.

Inside the BCA Barrel Pick at Holladay Distillery

The BCA selection team—David Chaloupka, Jeff Franzetti, Sam Rad, Tim Payne, and Hunter Thomasson—made the trip to Weston for the pick. From the outset, the visit reflected Holladay’s reputation for hospitality and professionalism.

With the visitor center temporarily closed, Holladay hosted the tasting inside their executive offices, centered around a striking 30-foot bar surrounded by offices on all sides. This setting allowed for an unusually focused and relaxed tasting experience.

During the session, the group sampled multiple variations of Soft Red Wheat Bourbon, guided directly by both Master Distillers, each providing insight into barrel placement, aging conditions, and flavor development. Adding to the experience, Holladay’s CEO personally joined the group, reinforcing the distillery’s commitment to collaboration and transparency.

Jeff Franzetti noted that while the group tasted 7- and 8-year-old barrels, the final BCA selection ultimately outperformed them. He also remarked that although the well-known Bardstown pick—one of his earliest BCA selections—remains a favorite, this Holladay barrel exceeded it in overall balance and character.

BCA Holladay Distillery Pick – Barrel Details

• Distillery: Holladay Distillery
• Age: 6 Years, 1 Month
• Mash Bill:
  • 73% Corn
  • 15% Wheat
  • 12% Malted Barley
• Style: Soft Red Wheat Bourbon
• Rickhouse: B
• Floor: 5th Floor
• Proof: 123.9 (Rickhouse Proof)

Aged on the upper floor of Rickhouse B, this barrel showcases the depth and intensity that higher-floor aging can produce, while retaining the softer, rounded profile characteristic of wheat-forward bourbons.

Pricing, Bottle Size, and Availability

• Bottle Size: 375 mL
• SRP: $59.95
• Retail Location: Five Star Liquor
• Availability: Exclusive to Bourbon Club of Arkansas members

As with all BCA selections, quantities will be limited and distribution will follow the club’s established member process.

Casks & Q Reviews the BCA Holladay Soft Red Wheat Pick

UPDATE — August 20, 2026: Justin with Casks & Q has now tasted and reviewed the Bourbon Club of Arkansas and Five Star Liquor Holladay Soft Red Wheat single barrel. The review confirms the final release at 123.9 proof, aged 6 years, 1 month, with an SRP of $59.95.

Tasting Notes and Score

On the nose, the review found soft wheat sweetness, vanilla cream, honey, warm cornbread, pear or apple, and subtle oak. The palate brought caramel, light baking spice, soft wheat and fruit, with the 123.9 proof becoming more apparent as the tasting progressed while remaining well integrated. The finish was described as strong and long, with sweetness, oak and vanilla fading without harshness.

Casks & Q scored the bourbon 6.5/10 for availability, 9/10 for taste and 9.25/10 for value, resulting in an overall score of 8.25/10. The lower availability score reflected its limited status as an Arkansas club pick rather than a criticism of the whiskey itself.

The History of Holladay Distillery

Founded in 1856 by brothers Ben Holladay and Major David Holladay, Holladay Distillery is the oldest distillery in Missouri and the oldest distillery west of the Mississippi River still operating on its original site. The property’s history reaches even further back: according to Holladay, Lewis and Clark discovered and charted the limestone springs on the property during their 1804 expedition. Ben Holladay purchased the land in 1849, and the brothers distilled their first bourbon there in 1856 under the Blue Springs Distillery name. Ben Holladay later became known as the “Stagecoach King” and even owned the Pony Express for part of its brief history.

Although the distillery changed ownership over the decades and bourbon production paused in the late 20th century, the site experienced a deliberate revival in the 2010s. The return to the Holladay name marked a renewed focus on historically accurate mash bills, traditional production methods, and full in-state bourbon production under modern Missouri bourbon standards.

Today, Holladay Distillery stands as a cornerstone of Missouri bourbon, blending 19th-century heritage with contemporary quality control—making it a natural partner for a Bourbon Club of Arkansas barrel selection.

Why This BCA Holladay Pick Matters

This Bourbon Club of Arkansas Holladay Distillery pick represents everything BCA members value: direct involvement from distillery leadership, clear barrel transparency, historical significance, and a final selection that stood out even against older barrels. With strong endorsements from the selection team and a carefully chosen rickhouse-proof profile, this release is positioned to be one of the most anticipated BCA picks of the year.

For BCA members, this is a bottle worth prioritizing. 🥃