BCA Selects Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon Single Barrel

ByBourbon Club of Arkansas
Bourbon Club of Arkansas Barrel Selection On January 6, 2026, we announced a new Bourbon Club of Arkansas single barrel selection from historic Holladay Distillery in Weston, Missouri: a 123-proof Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon chosen by our members during an on-site barrel pick. The selection reflects what we value in a private barrel experience: direct participation, transparent barrel information, meaningful access to the people behind the whiskey, and a final pour that earns its place on flavor rather than age alone.
Bourbon Club of Arkansas members David Chaloupka and Jeff Franzetti announce the club's Holladay Distillery Soft Red Wheat Bourbon barrel pick in January 2026.
BCA members David Chaloupka and Jeff Franzetti announce our Holladay Distillery Soft Red Wheat Bourbon single barrel selection.

Inside Our Holladay Distillery Barrel Pick

Our selection team—David Chaloupka, Jeff Franzetti, Sam Rad, Tim Payne, and Hunter Thomasson—traveled to Weston, Missouri, for the pick. From the beginning, Holladay created a focused, welcoming setting that allowed our team to evaluate each sample without rushing the process. Because the visitor center was temporarily closed, Holladay hosted our tasting in its executive office area. Our team described the space as being centered around an approximately 30-foot bar, creating an unusually private and relaxed environment for the selection. We sampled multiple expressions of Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon with guidance from Holladay’s distilling leadership, including both master distillers. The conversation covered barrel placement, aging conditions, and flavor development. Holladay’s CEO also joined the group, giving our members direct access to the people responsible for the whiskey and the distillery’s direction. The lineup included 7- and 8-year-old barrels, but the final BCA selection was a younger barrel that stood out on balance and character. In Jeff Franzetti’s assessment, it even surpassed an earlier Bardstown selection that had remained one of his favorite BCA picks. That comparison was personal and subjective, but it captures why our team chose this barrel: the whiskey in the glass mattered more than the number on the age statement.

BCA Holladay Barrel Details

The selected barrel combines Holladay’s wheat-forward mash bill with a 5th-floor rickhouse location and a 123-proof presentation. The higher-floor placement may have contributed to the barrel’s concentration and intensity, although no single aging variable determines a barrel’s final profile.
  • Distillery: Holladay Distillery
  • Bourbon: Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon
  • Age: 6 years, 1 month
  • Mash bill: 73% corn, 15% wheat, 12% malted barley
  • Rickhouse: B
  • Floor: 5th floor
  • Proof: 123, presented at rickhouse proof

Watch the BCA Holladay Barrel Pick Announcement

David Chaloupka and Jeff Franzetti share the initial announcement and explain why this Soft Red Wheat Bourbon earned the club’s selection.
Bourbon Club of Arkansas members announce the club’s Holladay Distillery Soft Red Wheat Bourbon barrel selection.
  • Bottle size: 375 mL
  • Announced estimated price: approximately $40
  • Announced retail partner: Five Star Liquor
  • Distribution: Bourbon Club of Arkansas member process

Pricing, Bottle Size, and Member Availability

At the January 2026 announcement, the release was planned as a 375 mL bottle at an estimated price of about $40 through Five Star Liquor, with access handled through our established BCA member distribution process. This article documents the original announcement. Members should use current BCA communications for final pickup timing, inventory, pricing changes, and eligibility requirements.

Holladay Distillery: Missouri Bourbon History Since 1856

Holladay Distillery traces its founding to 1856, when Ben and David Holladay began distilling at what was then called Blue Springs Distillery. Holladay describes the property as the oldest distillery west of the Mississippi River still operating on its original site. The Weston location offered two important advantages for early whiskey production: active limestone springs and access to the Missouri River, which was central to commerce and westward expansion. After bourbon production later paused for decades, the original stillhouse underwent a major renovation and on-site bourbon distillation returned in the 2010s. Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon uses a mash bill of 73% corn, 15% wheat, and 12% malted barley. Replacing rye with wheat is intended to create a softer, sweeter profile while retaining the structure that comes from extended aging in Missouri. That combination of historic production, modern quality control, and clearly documented whiskey made Holladay a strong fit for the kind of hands-on barrel selection experience we want to provide our members.

Why This BCA Holladay Pick Matters

This Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon barrel pick brings together several qualities our club values: a respected historic distillery, meaningful access to distillery leadership, transparent barrel information, and a selection that won on flavor even when compared with older whiskey. For our members, it is another example of what makes a BCA barrel selection special: we do not simply receive a bottle—we take part in choosing the whiskey behind it.

BCA Holladay Barrel Pick FAQ

What bourbon did the Bourbon Club of Arkansas select at Holladay Distillery?

We selected a single barrel of Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon during an on-site pick in Weston, Missouri.

How old is the BCA Holladay barrel pick?

The selected barrel was 6 years and 1 month old at the time of the selection.

What is the proof of the BCA Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon?

The selection was announced at 123 proof, presented at rickhouse proof.

What is the mash bill for Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon?

The mash bill is 73% corn, 15% wheat, and 12% malted barley.

Where was the BCA Holladay barrel pick planned for release?

The January 2026 announcement listed Five Star Liquor as the retail partner and described distribution through the Bourbon Club of Arkansas member process. Members should consult current BCA communications for final availability.

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