Rare Perfection has always been a fitting name. The idea behind the brand is simple: some barrels are just different. They develop a little better, age a little longer, and eventually become something you don't want to bury inside a larger blend. Founded by Marci Palatella — a veteran of the wine and spirits world who began sourcing and bottling exceptional Kentucky whiskeys in the 1980s — Rare Perfection exists to find those uncommon casks and let them stand on their own.
This release, nicknamed '99 Problems,' is a private single barrel selection drawn from Preservation Distillery's Kentucky (Bardstown) warehouses — a Kentucky-distilled bourbon fully matured for 10 years, from the 2016 vintage. Unlike the brand's standard multi-barrel batches, this is the product of one individual barrel, hand-selected for its exceptional character and bottled uncut and unfiltered at a bold 129 proof.
Crafted from a traditional mash bill of corn, rye, and malted barley, Rare Perfection's 10-year expressions are known for deep caramel, old oak, vanilla, and darker sugars, with rye bringing spice and structure that keeps the whiskey from becoming too oak-heavy despite its extended age. Every barrel that earns the Rare Perfection name passes a meticulous evaluation — and this one, distinctive enough to earn its own nickname, is no exception.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Burnt brown butter, crème brûlée, mint tea, charred oak, brown sugar, and faint cinnamon raisin toast.
Palate: Spiced raisin, spiced caramel, cinnamon stick, brown sugar crumble, rye spice, aged oak, and baking spices.
Finish: Spiced raisin and cinnamon spice give way to rye spice, charred oak, and light leather, with building heat that lingers long after the last sip.
Why This Bottle Is Exceptionally Rare
Single barrel private selection — not part of a larger multi-barrel batch
Fully matured 10 years, Kentucky-distilled, 2016 vintage
Bottled uncut and unfiltered at 129 proof cask strength
Extremely limited yield — this style of barrel pick typically produces under 100 bottles
From Preservation Distillery, known for tiny 1-to-3-barrel batches and highly allocated releases
Traditional high-rye mash bill that keeps a decade of aging balanced rather than over-oaked
Product Details
Type
Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, Single Barrel
Age / Vintage
10 Years — Vintage 2016
Size
750mL
Proof
129 Proof, Cask Strength
Filtration
Uncut, Unfiltered
Barrel Selection
Single Barrel — "99 Problems"
Distillate Origin
Bardstown, Kentucky
Producer
Preservation Distillery + Farm
Please drink responsibly. Must be 21+ to purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "single barrel" mean for this release?
Unlike Rare Perfection's standard 10 Year release — which blends three hand-selected barrels together — this bottling comes from a single individual barrel, hand-picked for its distinctive character. That's what earned it its own nickname, "99 Problems," rather than being folded into a larger batch.
Why is it called "99 Problems"?
Single barrel selections are often given distinctive nicknames tied to their yield or character. This barrel's extremely limited output, reflected on the bottle's private selection labeling, inspired the name.
How does this compare to the standard Rare Perfection 10 Year release?
Preservation Distillery's standard Rare Perfection 10 Year is a three-barrel batch bottled around 130.7 proof. This single barrel selection is bottled at 129 proof and represents the output of just one exceptional barrel, making it even more limited than the standard release.
Where was this bourbon distilled?
This is a Kentucky-distilled bourbon sourced from Bardstown, Kentucky, and matured for 10 full years before being selected and bottled by Preservation Distillery.
What does it taste like?
Expect burnt brown butter, crème brûlée, and mint tea on the nose; spiced raisin, cinnamon, brown sugar crumble, and aged oak on the palate; finishing with rye spice, charred oak, light leather, and building heat that lingers.
Is this bourbon filtered?
No. It's bottled uncut and unfiltered at full cask strength (129 proof), preserving its natural texture and concentrated flavor.
Is this a limited release?
Yes, extremely. As a single barrel selection rather than a multi-barrel batch, this release produced a very small number of bottles. Preservation Distillery's Rare Perfection line is already considered highly allocated, and single barrel picks like this one are rarer still.
