Nulu is the whiskey arm of Prohibition Craft Spirits in Louisville, named for the New Louisville neighbourhood, and the brand has built a genuine cult following on one thing: barrel finishes nobody else is attempting, bottled at full strength and never chill filtered. The Maple Brûlée programme is the clearest example. The barrels used here previously held maple syrup, and rather than filling them straight away, Nulu re toasts them first. That toasting caramelises the maple sugars soaked into the wood, and the whiskey is then laid into those barrels to draw the caramelised sugar back out. Nothing is added to the liquid. It remains Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a protected designation that forbids additives, and the dessert character comes entirely from the wood. This particular bottle is a single barrel, and the numbers on it are worth reading properly. Barrel LX9676 spent eight years maturing before a six month finish in maple brûlée wood, and it came out at 65.6 percent alcohol by volume, or 131.2 proof, considerably older and stronger than most releases in this series. The pick carries the name Nutty Nilla Wafer, which tells you where the barrel landed: toasted nut and vanilla wafer over the maple sweetness rather than pure syrup. Expect buttery maple, brown sugar and caramelised sugar on the nose, then a rich and creamy palate of maple, baking spice and toasted oak, with the proof carrying real intensity behind it. Long, warming and decadent through the finish. One barrel, bottled once, never repeated.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
65.6% |
| Proof |
131.2 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
| Producer |
Nulu Whiskey Co., Prohibition Craft Spirits, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Category |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Expression |
Single Barrel, Maple Brûlée Barrel Finish |
| Barrel Pick |
"Nutty Nilla Wafer" Single Barrel Select |
| Barrel Number |
LX9676 |
| Age |
8 Years |
| Finish |
Maple brûlée barrels, 6 months |
| Finish Detail |
Ex maple syrup barrels, re toasted to caramelise residual sugars |
| Filtration |
Non chill filtered |
| Strength |
Barrel strength, undiluted |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep amber with golden highlights.
Nose: Buttery maple and brown sugar lead, with caramelised sugar, vanilla and toasted oak behind.
Palate: Rich and creamy with a full mouthfeel. Maple syrup and caramelised sugar carry toasted nut and vanilla wafer, with nutmeg and clove building through the middle.
Finish: Long, warming and decadent, with lingering sweet maple, butter and spice.
FAQ
Q: Is maple added to this whiskey?
A: No. The barrels previously held maple syrup and were re toasted to caramelise the residual sugars in the wood. The whiskey is finished in them. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a protected designation that prohibits additives.
Q: What are the specifics of this barrel?
A: Barrel LX9676, aged eight years, finished six months in maple brûlée barrels, bottled at 65.6 percent alcohol by volume, which is 131.2 proof.
Q: Will this exact bourbon be available again?
A: No. It is a single barrel, so once it is gone the specific combination of age, finish and proof cannot be reproduced.
Q: What does the pick name mean?
A: Nutty Nilla Wafer describes where this particular barrel landed on flavour, leaning toasted nut and vanilla wafer rather than pure maple syrup.
Q: Is it chill filtered?
A: No. It is bottled non chill filtered at full barrel strength.
Q: Where can I buy Nulu Maple Brûlée single barrel online?
A: Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
