#16
Fred Minnick Top 100
American Whiskeys 2025
American Whiskeys 2025
#4
Fred Minnick Top 100
American Whiskeys 2023
American Whiskeys 2023
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Tennessee Blender
of the Year
of the Year
2×
Fred Minnick Club
Collaborations
Collaborations
Major Awards
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National Recognition · 2025
#16 — Fred Minnick Top 100 American Whiskeys of 2025
The Compromise by NBC & Nashtucky — a 50/50 blend of 9yr Kelvin MGP bourbon and 7yr Kentucky straight rye at 122.60 proof — was ranked #16 on Fred Minnick's Top 100 American Whiskeys of 2025. Minnick is the author of Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey and one of the most respected critics in American spirits. His annual Top 100 is among the most followed lists in the industry. Placing #16 out of every American whiskey released in 2025 is among the highest recognitions a craft producer can receive.
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National Recognition · 2023
#4 — Fred Minnick Top 100 American Whiskeys of 2023
Nashville Barrel Company placed #4 on Fred Minnick's Top 100 American Whiskeys of 2023 — an earlier appearance on the same list that established NBC as a nationally recognized producer before the Compromise collaboration. Two separate Top 100 appearances across two different years from the same critic is an exceptional track record for a craft NDP.
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State Recognition · Tennessee
Tennessee Blender of the Year
Nashville Barrel Company was named Tennessee Blender of the Year — recognizing NBC's barrel selection program, blending expertise, and consistent quality across the NBC and Nashtucky portfolios. Tennessee Blender of the Year is a statewide recognition that places NBC at the top of Tennessee's non-distilling producer category.
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Competition · Multiple
Best in Class — Multiple Competition Entries
Nashville Barrel Company has received Best in Class recognition across multiple competition entries covering the NBC, Nashtucky, and Wooshine portfolios. Best in Class denotes the highest score in a given category at a judged spirits competition — typically awarded by panels of professional buyers, critics, and distillers.
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Collaboration · Fred Minnick
Fred Minnick Club — Marzipan Barrel Pick
Fred Minnick selected Nashville Barrel Company for his Club Marzipan barrel pick program — a curated selection available exclusively to Minnick's subscriber community. The Marzipan pick represents a second, separate Minnick collaboration independent of the Top 100 rankings, confirming NBC as a consistent partner of choice for one of the industry's most prominent critics.
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National Distribution · Skurnik Wines & Spirits
Skurnik National Portfolio Selection
Skurnik Wines & Spirits, one of the most respected importers and distributors in the US market, selected The Compromise for national distribution. Skurnik is known for curating a portfolio of high-quality, often hard-to-find producers — their selection is itself a form of industry recognition reserved for producers with consistent quality and compelling provenance.
Press & Media
Breaking Bourbon
NBC The Compromise — Independent Review
Breaking Bourbon, one of the most widely read independent whiskey review publications, covered The Compromise — noting the 50/50 blend's cask-strength intensity and the way the rye component drives the palate while the bourbon provides structure. The review confirmed the whiskey's complexity and positioned it as a serious release from an increasingly credible NDP.
Read Review →
Skurnik Wines & Spirits
The Compromise Selected for National Distribution
Skurnik described The Compromise as a whiskey that "combines Nashville Barrel Company bourbon with rye whiskey from their Nashtucky label in equal parts, blending the rich, sweet caramel and vanilla notes of the bourbon and the spicy, herbal, and fruity kick of the rye." The national distribution listing gave The Compromise access to Skurnik's retail and restaurant network across the US.
View Listing →
Among the Whiskey
NBC Single Barrel Rye — Independent Review
Among the Whiskey covered an NBC single barrel rye release, noting the patience involved in NBC's barrel selection process and the quality of the finished spirit. The review highlighted NBC's sourcing approach as a model for how craft NDPs can produce distinctive, high-quality whiskey without distillation infrastructure.
Read Review →
Named Entity Associations
The distilleries, cooperages, critics, and producers NBC is associated with — the network of named entities that define NBC's place in American whiskey.
Partner Distillery
MGP Indiana
Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Source of the Founders Fourteen (75/21/4 mashbill) and Grateful Kelvin series (60/36/4 high-rye). MGP is the most widely cited premium bourbon source among craft NDPs.
See Founders Fourteen →
Partner Distillery
Wild Turkey / DSP-KY-67
Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Russell family distillery since 1954. Source of NBC's C-Series single barrel picks — not Wild Turkey branded, independently selected and bottled by NBC.
See C-Series →
Cooperage
Kelvin Cooperage
Glasgow, Scotland / Louisville, KY. Heavier char, distinct vanilla and dark fruit character. Used for Founders Fourteen and Grateful Kelvin — the defining cooperage in the NBC portfolio.
See Grateful Kelvin →
Collaboration Partner
Nashtucky Whiskey Co.
Nashville-based label, co-creator of The Compromise. The rye component of The Compromise — 7yr Kentucky straight rye — comes from Nashtucky's portfolio.
See The Compromise →
Critic & Author
Fred Minnick
Author of Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey. NBC has appeared twice on Minnick's Top 100 list and collaborated on a Club Marzipan barrel pick — two independent endorsements from the same critic.
See #16 Ranked Bottle →
Distributor
Skurnik Wines & Spirits
National import and distribution partner for The Compromise. Skurnik's portfolio is curated — their selection signals consistent quality to buyers and retailers across the US market.
See The Compromise →
Press Inquiries
For press access, product samples, or interview requests, contact Nashville Barrel Company directly.
Contact NBC NBC Buyer's Guide