Rare Character Exceptional Series 13 Year 750ML

Rare Character Exceptional Series 13 Year 750ML is a cask-strength, single-barrel Straight Tennessee Whiskey bottled at approximately 77.47% ABV (154.94 proof) in a 750ml bottle. Reserved for the brand's most distinguished barrels aged at least nine years, this 13-year expression represents an ultra-limited release drawn from individually selected casks, with each bottle numbered and non-chill filtered.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~77.47% (varies by barrel)  |  Origin: Tennessee, United States  |  Age: 13 Years  |  Distillery: Undisclosed (NDP)  |  Cask Strength, Single Barrel

Production & Heritage

Rare Character operates as a non-distiller producer (NDP), with co-founder Pablo Moix hand-selecting exceptional barrels from undisclosed Tennessee distilleries. This Gen 3 release — designated Barrel E-TN-98 — was distilled in November 2011 and aged for roughly 13 and a half years in new charred American oak barrels under Tennessee's climate-driven maturation conditions. As required for Straight Tennessee Whiskey classification, the spirit underwent the Lincoln County Process, filtering through charcoal chips before entering the barrel. The Exceptional Series sits above the brand's Single Barrel Series in terms of selectivity; where the Single Barrel Series allows for retailer customization, the Exceptional Series focuses exclusively on uncovering rare barrels that stand apart on their own merit, often yielding only single-digit bottle counts per cask.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dense butterscotch and crème brûlée arrive first, followed by layers of profound oak, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Deeper exploration reveals aged tobacco, burnt citrus, black pepper, charred oak, dark maple, and a bright thread of candied cherry and orange zest.

Taste: The entry is full-bodied and honeyed, with immediate caramel sweetness and toasted spice. At mid-palate, leather, coriander, dark chocolate, and black cherry develop alongside substantial oak tannin. Despite the near-155-proof strength, the ethanol integrates remarkably well, allowing the crème brûlée and vanilla spice notes to persist without harsh burn.

Finish: Exceptionally long and warming, with a subtle smokiness that carries molasses, spiced tobacco, and gentle oak tannins deep into the aftertaste. The finish evolves slowly, rewarding patience with additional waves of dark sweetness and dry spice.

How to Drink Rare Character 13 Year

At nearly 155 proof, this whiskey demands thoughtful dilution for most palates — a few drops of water open the aromatics significantly and tame the heat without diminishing complexity. Neat sipping in a Glencairn allows the full barrel character to present itself, though a single large ice cube provides a gradual dilution that unlocks evolving flavors over time.

• Old Fashioned: The dense butterscotch and oak backbone hold up powerfully against bitters and sugar, creating a rich, barrel-forward cocktail.
• Manhattan: The dark cherry and spice notes in this Tennessee whiskey complement sweet vermouth in a way that recalls classic rye-driven Manhattans with added depth.
• Whiskey Sour: The high proof ensures the whiskey's character punches through citrus and sweetener, delivering a full-bodied sour with lingering oak and caramel.

Best For

• Barrel-proof whiskey collectors seeking ultra-limited single-barrel Tennessee whiskey
• Gifting a serious whiskey enthusiast who values cask-strength, numbered bottles
• Side-by-side tastings comparing high-proof Tennessee whiskey expressions
• Special milestone celebrations that call for something genuinely rare and unrepeatable

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rare Character 13 Year taste like? It delivers a full-bodied profile dominated by dense butterscotch, crème brûlée, oak tannin, leather, and dark chocolate, with a long, smoky finish of molasses and spiced tobacco. Despite its near-155-proof strength, the ethanol integrates well and does not overpower the underlying sweetness and spice.

How does Rare Character 13 Year compare to Jack Daniel's Coy Hill High Proof? Co-founder Pablo Moix has described Rare Character's Tennessee whiskey barrels as "doppelgangers for Jack Daniel's Coy Hill," noting that both reach proofs verging on 140 and higher, near hazmat territory. Both are cask-strength, single-barrel Tennessee whiskeys, though the Rare Character 13 Year carries a stated age of 13 years and comes from individually numbered, ultra-limited barrel picks.

Is Rare Character 13 Year good for sipping neat? It rewards neat sipping for experienced barrel-proof drinkers, though most palates will benefit from a few drops of water to open the aromatics and temper the intensity of its approximately 154.94-proof strength.

Where is Rare Character 13 Year made? This is a Straight Tennessee Whiskey sourced from an undisclosed distillery in Tennessee, United States. Rare Character operates as a non-distiller producer, selecting and bottling exceptional individual barrels rather than distilling its own spirit.

What foods pair well with Rare Character 13 Year? Smoked brisket or pulled pork complements the whiskey's charred oak and tobacco notes. Dark chocolate truffles echo the palate's cocoa and caramel. Aged cheddar or Gruyère balances the tannic oak structure. Pecan pie mirrors the brown sugar and butterscotch sweetness. Crème brûlée creates a direct parallel to the whiskey's dominant dessert-forward aromatics.

What sizes does Rare Character 13 Year come in? The Exceptional Series 13 Year is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Rare Character 13 Year worth the price? This expression positions squarely in the ultra-premium tier — a cask-strength, 13-year-aged, single-barrel Tennessee whiskey with individual bottle numbering and extremely limited yields per barrel. For collectors and enthusiasts who prioritize barrel selection, proof, and scarcity, it represents a serious investment in an unrepeatable single-barrel experience.

Why Rare Character 13 Year?

What separates this release from the broader cask-strength Tennessee whiskey landscape is the convergence of extended aging — over 13 years in new charred American oak — and the extreme proof that only certain warehouse positions and barrel conditions produce. Each bottle comes from a single, individually selected barrel with its own proof point, flavor profile, and numbered identity, meaning no two bottles from different barrels are identical. Whisky Advocate has noted that Rare Character's expressions are each "distinctive, interesting, and becomingly unusual," with "none" missing the mark. In a category where Tennessee whiskey is often associated with approachable, lower-proof offerings, this Exceptional Series bottling stands as evidence of what the state's barrels can achieve when given time, careful selection, and the freedom of cask-strength bottling.