Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon Gets First Known Arkansas Release Through Mash & Vine Market

Last Updated on May 24, 2026 by Justin Jones

PUBLISH DATE: May 24, 2026

Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon is coming to Central Arkansas through Mash & Vine Market, marking what ArkansasLiquor.com considers a historical first whiskey release for the new downtown Little Rock retail concept and the first known Arkansas release of this newer Elliott Brothers expression.

The bottle was announced to Bourbon Club of Arkansas members by Gary Penna in a Facebook post late Saturday night. In the post, Penna described it as “the official in-post for the Mash & Vine Market’s first bottle” and made clear that the release is not a Bourbon Club of Arkansas club pick.

“This is not an club pick, it is a new expression from EB.”

That distinction matters. This is not a BCA single barrel, not a stickered club pick, and not a bottle carrying the Bourbon Club of Arkansas name as an official selection. Instead, it is a newer Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year small batch bourbon expression being introduced locally through Mash & Vine Market, with BCA members receiving early access before any remaining bottles are expected to move through normal store availability.

For Arkansas whiskey drinkers, this release is especially notable because Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon does not yet have the same public review footprint as Elliott Brothers 10 Year. In searches reviewed by ArkansasLiquor.com, there appear to be producer details and retail listings for the 8-year expression, but no dedicated independent written reviews or YouTube reviews focused specifically on Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon.

What Is Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon?

Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon is an 8-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey finished in Malbec wine casks. The official bottle image from Elliott Brothers identifies the front label as Elliott Brothers Reserve, 8 Year Old, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Finished in Malbec Wine Casks, bottled at 54.2% alc./vol. and 108.4 proof.

The official Elliott Brothers technical sheet provides additional details. It lists the mash bill as 75% corn, 15% rye, and 10% malted barley. It also identifies the bottle as Release 003, with production listed at 18 barrels and 651 six-packs.

The bourbon is double-barreled in American and French oak, then finished in toasted French oak ex-Malbec wine casks that previously held Altocedro Malbec Reserva. According to the producer’s technical information, the whiskey is built around a Kentucky bourbon base with an Argentine wine-cask influence.

Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon Specs

Brand: Elliott Brothers
Expression: Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon
Label Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: 8 years old
Proof: 108.4 proof
ABV: 54.2%
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Origin: Kentucky
Mash Bill: 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley
Finish: Malbec wine casks
Specific Finish: Altocedro Reserva Malbec barrels
Oak Treatment: Double-barreled in American and French oak
Release: 003
Production: 18 barrels / 651 six-packs
UPC: 850074253099
Mash & Vine Market Price: About $90 out the door
Pickup Window: Expected within 4 to 6 weeks of the announcement
Release Type: Small batch expression
Club Status: Not a Bourbon Club of Arkansas pick
Arkansas Status: First known Arkansas release of this expression

A Newer Elliott Brothers Release With Almost No Independent Review Footprint

One of the most important facts about Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon is that this appears to be a newer release from Elliott Brothers.

The 10-year Elliott Brothers expression has already received more public attention, including whiskey-community discussion and award recognition. The 8-year expression, by comparison, appears to still be early in its public life cycle.

At the time this article was prepared, ArkansasLiquor.com could not locate a dedicated independent written review or YouTube review focused specifically on Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon. That does not mean no one has tasted it. It means the public review footprint for this specific 8-year expression appears to be extremely limited.

That makes this Mash & Vine Market release more important than a normal bottle drop. For many Arkansas bourbon drinkers, this may be the first opportunity to taste Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon, compare it to the better-known 10-year expression, and decide whether the newer small batch release stands on its own.

Is Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year a Single Barrel?

No. Based on the available information, Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon should not be described as a single barrel.

The official technical sheet lists production as 18 barrels and 651 six-packs, which points to a small batch release rather than a single barrel release. It also identifies the bottle as Release 003, not as a private barrel selection or individual barrel pick.

Penna also made that clear in his announcement.

“Although this is not an official single barrel or pick, we were given the opportunity to offer these to you!”

That means the most accurate description is that this is an Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year small batch bourbon expression being offered locally through Mash & Vine Market, not a Bourbon Club of Arkansas single barrel selection.

Mash & Vine Market’s First Whiskey Release

ArkansasLiquor.com considers this a historical release for Mash & Vine Market because it appears to represent the store’s first publicly committed whiskey release.

That does not mean it is a Mash & Vine barrel pick. It does not mean it is a Bourbon Club of Arkansas pick. It does not mean the bottle carries a private selection sticker. Its significance comes from something different: this appears to be one of the first whiskey bottles Mash & Vine Market is putting its name and buying power behind as it enters the Central Arkansas liquor market.

Penna described the bottle as:

“our first new whiskey M&V Market has committed to”

He also added:

“We will be the first to carry it in our area!!”

For a new store, first releases matter. They help define what kind of whiskey audience the store wants to reach and what kind of bottles consumers can expect it to chase. By starting with Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon, Mash & Vine Market is linking its early identity to a brand that already has history with Bourbon Club of Arkansas and local bourbon buyers.

Gary Penna’s First Notes on Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year

In his announcement, Gary Penna described Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon as a small batch whiskey from Elliott Brothers finished in Malbec casks. While making clear that it is not a BCA club pick or single barrel selection, Penna offered early tasting notes that point toward a cherry-forward, dessert-driven bourbon profile.

For color, Penna described the bottle simply as:

“Dark Honey”

On the nose, he wrote:

“An intoxicating charred oak and deep Luxardo and cherry pie note.”

On the palate, Penna described:

“Cherry jam and pie crust, sweet oak, and an incredible mouthfeel. It hangs, man…it hangs.”

His overall impression was also strongly positive:

“Man, this could be another contender. Get em’ while they last!”

Penna also emphasized that the bottle is not an official BCA pick:

“Although this is not an official single barrel or pick, we were given the opportunity to offer these to you!”

Taken together, Penna’s notes suggest a bourbon built around dark honey color, charred oak, Luxardo cherry, cherry pie, cherry jam, pie crust, sweet oak, and a lingering mouthfeel. That profile lines up with the producer’s own notes, which describe Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year as showing caramel, honey, molasses, dark fruit, leather, baking spice, and hints of Malbec wine.

Penna said the bottle would be:

“right at 90 out the door”

He also said pickup would happen:

“within the next 4-6 weeks”

Penna reminded members that there would be:

“No sticker this time, not a store/club pick”

Opinion: Why BCA’s Name Is Not on This Bottle

This section is opinion and analysis from ArkansasLiquor.com.

The fact that this Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon is not a Bourbon Club of Arkansas pick should not be read as a negative review of the whiskey. Instead, it reflects the way BCA normally handles its highest-profile whiskey releases.

Bourbon Club of Arkansas is best known for single barrel selections and club picks where the club’s name, reputation, and palate are directly attached to a specific barrel. That is not what this bottle is. Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon is a newer small batch expression from Elliott Brothers. It may be very good. Penna’s early notes suggest a rich cherry, oak, pie crust, and dessert-driven profile. But it is not a single barrel, and because it is not a single barrel, it makes sense that BCA is not putting its name on it as an official club pick.

That distinction is important for readers. This is not BCA rejecting the bottle. This is BCA treating the bottle differently because it is not the type of single barrel selection the club usually brands as its own.

In ArkansasLiquor.com’s opinion, this bottle is better understood as a Mash & Vine Market release opportunity with early BCA member access rather than a formal Bourbon Club of Arkansas statement bottle.

Elliott Brothers, BCA, and the Arkansas Whiskey Connection

Elliott Brothers already has a meaningful relationship with Arkansas whiskey drinkers because of Bourbon Club of Arkansas.

While Elliott Brothers is technically available through normal distribution channels and could be ordered by other liquor stores, the brand’s strongest Arkansas visibility has historically been tied to BCA attention. The club’s work with Elliott Brothers 10 Year helped introduce the brand to serious local bourbon drinkers and gave the label credibility inside one of the state’s most active whiskey communities.

That context matters because this 8-year release is arriving in Arkansas with built-in curiosity. Many BCA members already know Elliott Brothers because of the 10-year expression. Now, the newer 8-year bottle gives drinkers a chance to see how a lower-age, Malbec-finished small batch version compares.

Elliott Brothers 8 Year vs. Elliott Brothers 10 Year

The Elliott Brothers 8 Year should not be confused with Elliott Brothers 10 Year.

The 10-year expression has more public recognition and more online discussion. The 8-year expression is a separate bottle with its own age statement, proof, production details, and Malbec wine cask finish. The official technical sheet for the 8-year bottle lists it as 108.4 proof, Release 003, and a production run of 18 barrels / 651 six-packs.

For consumers searching online, that distinction is important. Many search results for Elliott Brothers point to the 10-year bourbon. Far less information exists for Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon, which gives this Mash & Vine Market release added importance as an early Arkansas reference point for the bottle.

Is There an Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon Review Online?

At the time this article was prepared, ArkansasLiquor.com could not locate a dedicated independent written review or YouTube review of Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon.

That does not mean no one has tasted it. It means there does not appear to be a meaningful public review footprint for this specific 8-year expression yet. The available information is mostly producer material, retail listings, and early local comments connected to the Mash & Vine Market release.

For whiskey drinkers searching for “Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year review” or “Elliott Brothers 8 Year Bourbon review,” this release may be one of the first meaningful chances for Arkansas consumers to form and share their own opinions.

What to Expect from the Flavor Profile

Based on the producer’s notes and Penna’s early impressions, Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon appears to lean into a dark fruit and dessert-style profile.

The official Elliott Brothers notes mention caramel, honey, molasses, dark fruit, leather, baking spice, and hints of Malbec wine. Penna’s local notes add charred oak, Luxardo cherry, cherry pie, cherry jam, pie crust, sweet oak, and a lingering mouthfeel.

That combination suggests a bourbon likely to appeal to drinkers who enjoy wine-finished whiskey, cherry-forward bourbon, dark fruit notes, and higher-proof bottles that still aim to remain approachable.

Final Thoughts

Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon is important for several reasons.

First, it is a newer Elliott Brothers expression with an 8-year age statement, 108.4 proof, and a Malbec wine cask finish.

Second, it appears to be the first known Arkansas release of this expression.

Third, it currently has very little independent review coverage online, with no dedicated YouTube review or major written review found by ArkansasLiquor.com at the time of publication.

Fourth, it marks what ArkansasLiquor.com considers a historical first whiskey release for Mash & Vine Market.

This may not be a BCA pick. It may not be a single barrel. It may not come with a sticker.

But for Mash & Vine Market, it may still be one of the most important bottles the store ever releases because it helps define where the store begins.

For Arkansas bourbon drinkers, it also creates a rare opportunity: the chance to get in early on a newer Elliott Brothers expression before the broader whiskey-review world has fully caught up.

Disclosure

This article includes news reporting, direct quotes from Gary Penna’s Facebook announcement, producer information, and opinion analysis from ArkansasLiquor.com. ArkansasLiquor.com is not affiliated with Elliott Brothers, Vino del Sol, Bourbon Club of Arkansas, or Mash & Vine Market. Opinion sections should not be read as official statements from those parties.

FAQ: Elliott Brothers Reserve 8 Year Bourbon