Frank August Single Barrel
Overall Score: 7.25/10
Overall Value: 3/5
Distillery: Sourced (Undisclosed)
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Frank August
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 113.6
Age: 7.5 Years
Color: Copper
MSRP: $125 (2025)
Mashbill: Undisclosed (Barrel # 0117)
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose on this Frank August Single Barrel takes a little patience, but it’s worth it. Once it opens up you start getting a really nice mix of honey, caramel, and dark chocolate layered with butterscotch and a touch of peanut brittle. There’s also a sweet fruit side with red apple and dark fig newton, plus a soft cedar note that adds depth. Every now and then the proof peeks through, but it never dominates.
The palate is where this bourbon really shines. It’s rich, buttery, and silky, with a full mouthfeel that fits a Single Barrel of this age. The flavor profile leans into caramel and chocolate, then moves into baked apple turnover, flaky pastry, and cinnamon sugar. There’s a subtle earthy cedar note underneath that keeps things from getting too sweet, and the proof brings everything together without feeling hot.
The finish carries that dessert-like sweetness forward—apple, caramel, and darker baked notes—before easing into oak and a slightly musky, earthy tone. The oak is more noticeable here, but it doesn’t overpower the sip. It lingers long enough to feel satisfying and complete.
At 7.5 Years, this Frank August Single Barrel delivers a well-developed, rich profile that shows real care in barrel selection and proofing. It drinks complex, full, and balanced, and it’s an enjoyable pour from start to finish. The only sticking point is the MSRP. At around $125, it’s a tough sell when bottles in the $70–$80 range can bring similar enjoyment. If you find it on sale, though, this is an easy yes and a very enjoyable Single Barrel to spend time with.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
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Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 7.5/10
Value: 2.5/5
THE NOSE:
I get a bit of a dark fig newton profile, but there is also a sweet fruit, like red apple, and cedar notes present.
At times, I do get a bit of a faint alcohol note.
THE TASTE:
The mouthfeel is buttery and silky. It tastes like a freshly baked apple turnover—a bit of that flaky pie crust and a dusting of cinnamon sugar.
It’s rich and full-bodied. Occasionally, I also get a bit of a cedar woodiness that really draws out some earthy tones.
THE FINISH:
The finish really draws out the sweet and savoriness of the apple turnover profile and develops some of the darker profiles.
It is almost a bit musky, but still rich.
BUY OR PASS?
I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor profiles on this pour. I really enjoyed the tasting notes and the overall experience felt refined.
However, $125 seems a bit much. It would be a knockout at $75.
The Hunter Says
Score: 8/10
Value: 3.5/5
THE NOSE:
This one took a little work to open up. At first, I couldn’t get much, but after taking a sip, it really came alive.
I started getting honey, caramel, dark chocolate, butterscotch, and a bit of nuttiness—kind of like peanut brittle.
There’s also a touch of heat from the proof that shows up every now and then.
THE TASTE:
It’s sweet right from the start. The flavor leans toward those darker, richer notes—caramel and chocolate especially—and the proof gives it a nice, full mouthfeel without being too hot.
It’s got a lot of what I look for in a solid bourbon profile.
THE FINISH:
It keeps that sweet fullness going for a while, then settles into oak.
The oak is a little more than I’d prefer, but it doesn’t ruin it—it just reminds you it’s there.
BUY OR PASS?
This is a very good pour. It feels like the proof was chosen perfectly to show off the best parts of the whiskey.
My only real complaint is the price. At $125 or more, I expect something a bit more special. It’s tasty and well done, but there are bottles around $80 that deliver just as much enjoyment.
