BCA – Bourbon Club of Arkansas

Bourbon Club of Arkansas (BCA)

The Bourbon Club of Arkansas (BCA) is a community of bourbon enthusiasts dedicated to celebrating the art, craft, and culture of fine whiskey in the Natural State. Founded by Gary Penna, BCA has grown into one of Arkansas’s most respected bourbon organizations — known for its exclusive barrel picks, educational tastings, and strong sense of community among local collectors and fans.

About the Club

Established to connect bourbon lovers across Arkansas, the Bourbon Club of Arkansas has become a central hub for whiskey appreciation. The club hosts private tasting events, educational dinners, and collaborative barrel selections with both distilleries and local retailers. These experiences give members an opportunity to deepen their knowledge, discover new flavor profiles, and enjoy rare releases selected specifically for the club.

Founder Gary Penna, who is also recognized by the ASCOT Awards (American Spirits Council of Tasters), leads the club with a focus on education and craftsmanship. Under his guidance, the BCA has earned recognition in national whiskey circles, with several of its barrel selections competing in and winning spirits competitions.

BCA Admin Team

⚠️ DISCLAIMER: The images displayed on this page are generated using Artificial Intelligence. While they are intended to represent specific likenesses, they should not be construed as photographs of actual individuals. ⚠️
Gary Penna
Abe Wyly
Hunter Thomasson
Justin Mills
David Chaloupka
Jeff Franzetti
Dustin Howell
Jeremiah Cotner
Ryan Britton

What They Do

  • Private Barrel Picks:
    Members participate in exclusive barrel selections in partnership with well-known distilleries and Arkansas retailers. Past examples include Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and other limited-edition releases bottled specifically for the BCA community.
  • Tasting Events:
    The club regularly hosts guided tastings and food-pairing events designed to highlight the complexities of bourbon and other American whiskeys. These events often include discussions on mash bills, aging processes, and sensory profiles.
  • Education and Networking:
    BCA serves as both a social network and an educational platform for whiskey lovers. Members exchange insights, share bottles, and enjoy camaraderie through in-person gatherings and online discussions. The club is also active on Facebook and Instagram, where announcements, releases, and community updates are shared.

Recognition

The Bourbon Club of Arkansas has received notable attention from the national whiskey community. Its barrel selections have been featured in respected publications and judged in competitive tasting panels.

Following strong showings at the 2024 ASCOT Awards, BCA continued its momentum into 2025, earning additional recognition for its barrel selections at the 2025 ASCOT Awards. These honors further reinforce BCA’s reputation for consistent, high-quality picks and elevate Arkansas’s presence within the broader American whiskey landscape.

Membership

How Membership Works

As of January 2026, the Bourbon Club of Arkansas has established an official partnership with Arkansas Barrel Heads (ABH). This partnership creates a clear pathway for future BCA membership while maintaining the club’s core values and selective nature.

The Path to Membership:

  • Arkansas Barrel Heads serves as the primary community pool for BCA membership consideration
  • There is no application process and no sign-up form
  • Membership is invitation-only, intentional, and earned
  • BCA admins observe participation, conduct, and contributions within the ABH community

What Admins Look For:
Consideration for BCA membership is based on the totality of who you are within the whiskey community, including:

  • Quality of engagement – How you contribute to discussions and share knowledge
  • Character and conduct – How you treat others and handle disagreements
  • Community support – Your involvement in events, charitable efforts, and building connections
  • Decorum and respect – Your ability to maintain a positive, welcoming environment

In short: how you show up matters.

Membership Philosophy:
BCA has always maintained that membership is earned, not purchased. Whether through demonstrating consistent positive engagement in ABH or being personally vouched for by an existing member (who risks their own standing), the standard remains the same: activity alone is not sufficient — character, decorum, and respectful engagement are essential.

Current Membership:

  • Previous cap: 300 members
  • New cap (as of January 2026): 500 members
  • BCA is actively adding up to 200 new members through this partnership

Platform & Communication:
BCA operates primarily through its private Facebook Group. While the club is working on a dedicated website for the future, all current communications, event announcements, and barrel pick releases happen through Facebook and Instagram.

Important Note:
BCA takes its community standards seriously. Members who “act a fool” or create unnecessary drama will be removed — and if they were invited by another member, both individuals may lose their membership. If you have concerns, contact an admin directly via DM rather than creating public conflict.

BCA News:

A New BCA Private Blend Is Coming

The image shows a bottle of whiskey labeled: - **Special Series** - **BARREL KING** - **Knighted** - **Straight bourbon whiskey finished in rare ex-bourbon barrels** - **750 mL** The bottle is photographed in strong sunlight, casting a sharp shadow on a brushed metal surface.

Last Updated on December 17, 2025 by 5e2793 Arkansas bourbon enthusiasts should pay close attention. The Bourbon Club of Arkansas (BCA) has previewed its first true custom private blend, and based on what has been disclosed so far, this project…

Group Barrel Picks

Connect with BCA

📍 Location: Arkansas (primarily Central Arkansas / Little Rock area)
🔗 Facebook Group: (Talk to Someone who is a member and ask them to invite you on Facebook)
👤 Founder: Gary Penna

Bourbon Club of Arkansas (BCA) – Official Group Rules

1.
This is a bourbon aficionado group. NO SALES OR TRADES or GIFTING on the site. We all know what happened to all those groups. Feel free to post stores that have deals or specials however. They have a liquor license, we do not. All bottles offered in this group are through licensed brick and mortar stores through the 3-tier system. NO PEER-TO-PEER sales!!

2.
Be nice to each other, it’s totally ok to disagree with someones tastes and palate, just don’t be a dk. If you are a dk, you will get the boot.😉 Contact an Admin if you need assistance before reporting to FB!!

3.
If you post an open bottle, please provide a review of it. Then I don’t care if you don’t post where you purchased it. The best way to determine if a bottle is any good is to open it and drink it. Nobody else’s opinion matters except for yours, aftercall its your money. DO NOT ask what a bottles valuation is in attempt to flip it. The admins know when you are fishing! This is grounds for an immediate ban.

4.
If you post an unopened bottle and do not disclose the price and place you purchased it from, DO NOT POST! This includes Crotch Shots from your car 1 minute after you just purchased it!! NO CROTCH SHOTS! This is an immediate ban!! Please be professional in your posts. Remember we do a lot of charity advertisements and store promotions. How we look directly reflects how we are perceived.

5.
The Admin sees nothing good in just posting your finds if it does not benefit the whole group. Remember this is a bourbon aficionado group, Not Pintrest!! If you don’t like it feel free to leave.

6.
If we catch you flipping Arkansas bought bottles you will be removed, remember we see everything and know what is for sale in this state!! What you do outside Arkansas is not this groups concern. This includes burner FB page(s) that are tied to a group members Facebook account. For example if you have a made up name and a avatar for a profile pic and it looks shady its gone.

7.
If you commit to a bottle in our group and then back out you will be removed from the group. Your commitment to a bottle is what helps the group admins determine barrel picks and bottle allotments.

8.
Before posting or sharing any type of charity, raffle, or any other special event, you must contact an admin for approval first.

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