The bourbon world is a crowded place. With heritage brands like Jim Beam and Wild Turkey sharing shelf space with craft distillers and innovative blenders, it’s no small feat for a new name to carve out a niche. Enter Stellum Bourbon, a creation from Barrell Craft Spirits, a company already renowned for its boundary-pushing, cask-strength whiskey blends. Launched in March 2021, Stellum Bourbon arrived with a promise: to bring American whiskey into the modern age with a consistent, approachable, and high-quality offering. But does it deliver? In this review, we’ll dive deep into Stellum Bourbon—its origins, production, flavor profile, and value—to see if it shines as brightly as its starry name suggests.

The Stellum Story: A New Constellation in the Whiskey Sky

Stellum Bourbon is the brainchild of Joe Beatrice, founder of Barrell Craft Spirits, a company that’s earned a devoted following for its limited-release, batch-specific bourbons. Barrell’s offerings are known for their uniqueness—each batch a one-off experiment in blending whiskeys from various distilleries, bottled at cask strength to showcase bold, unfiltered flavors. But where Barrell thrives on variety and exclusivity (often with a price tag to match, hovering around $80-$90+), Stellum takes a different path. It’s designed to be a core, consistent release, available year-round at a more accessible $55 price point.

The name “Stellum” nods to the Latin word “stella,” meaning “star,” and carries an astrological undertone—a stellium is a cluster of planets in a single zodiac house, suggesting a harmonious convergence. For Beatrice and his team, this convergence is the blending of bourbons from Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee into a cohesive, modern whiskey.

Unlike Barrell’s ever-changing batches, Stellum uses a “daisy chain” blending technique, where a large portion of the blend is topped off with the same recipe and adjusted with cask-strength barrels to maintain a steady flavor profile and proof. The goal? A bourbon that’s reliable, drinkable, and appealing to both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

At its core, Stellum Bourbon is built on a foundation of 5- to 6-year-old MGP (Midwest Grain Products) bourbon from Indiana, a distillery famous for its high-quality sourced whiskey. To this, the Stellum team adds older barrels—ranging from 4 to 16 years—from Kentucky and Tennessee, including a touch of George Dickel’s distinctive Tennessee whisky and likely some Barton 1792 from Kentucky. The mash bill is a blend of three Indiana recipes: two high-rye variants and one that’s nearly all corn (99% corn, 1% barley). This mix is then fine-tuned to hit a cask-strength proof of 114.98 (57.49% ABV), a sweet spot that balances intensity with accessibility.

The Bottle and the Pour: First Impressions

Stellum Bourbon arrives in a sleek, minimalist bottle that stands out for its simplicity. The design is a departure from the ornate labels and wax-dipped tops of many premium bourbons. Its wine-bottle shape, topped with a wooden cork, exudes a quiet elegance, while the blue label with clean typography signals modernity over tradition. In the glass, it pours a rich amber gold, with a viscosity that promises a robust mouthfeel. Swirling it reveals oily legs that cling to the sides—a hint of the cask-strength heft within.

Tasting Notes: A Journey Through the Glass

Let’s get to the heart of this review: the tasting. I approached Stellum Bourbon with a Glencairn glass, a notebook, and an open mind, letting it breathe for a few minutes before diving in. Here’s what I found.

Nose:
The aroma greets you with a warm, inviting wave of classic bourbon notes. Up front, there’s a burst of baking spices—clove, allspice, and a whisper of cinnamon—mingled with creamy macadamia nuts and a faint whiff of pipe tobacco. As it opens up, sweeter tones emerge: honeysuckle, green apple, and a touch of nectarine, rounded out by toasted rye bread and seasoned oak. For a 115-proof bourbon, the alcohol heat is surprisingly restrained, letting the scents weave together harmoniously. It’s not the most complex nose I’ve encountered, but it’s balanced and pleasing, with that unmistakable MGP high-rye character shining through.

Palate:
The first sip is a revelation. It starts soft and sweet on the tip of the tongue—vanilla, marshmallow, and a fleeting hint of cotton candy—before unfolding into a spicier, more dynamic profile. Black pepper, cayenne, and cinnamon-spiced baked apples take center stage, joined by clove and anise for depth. There’s a savory edge too, with seasoned oak, leather, and a touch of tobacco, balanced by fruitier notes like baked apple and orange zest. A subtle minty freshness weaves through, keeping the heat in check. At 114.98 proof, it’s bold but not overwhelming, with just enough kick to keep your taste buds engaged. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied, coating the tongue without feeling syrupy.

Finish:
The finish is medium-length and satisfying, carrying forward the palate’s sweeter side with brown sugar and a hint of milk chocolate. Charred oak and pipe tobacco linger, but they’re tempered by a menthol cooling sensation and a faint citrus acidity. It’s not overly tannic or dry, striking a nice balance between sweetness and spice. Each sip leaves you wanting more—not because it’s lacking, but because it’s so darn drinkable.

With Water:
Adding a few drops of water softens the spice and amplifies the sweetness. The nose gains a bit more caramel and fruit, while the palate leans into honeyed apple and vanilla, with the peppery bite dialed back. It’s still flavorful, but the cask-strength edge mellows, making it an even easier sipper. This versatility is a big plus for those who like to tinker with their pour.

How Does It Compare?

Stellum Bourbon invites comparison to its Barrell siblings and other cask-strength contenders. Against Barrell Bourbon Batch 022—a blend of 5-year-old MGP and Barton—it shares a similar DNA but lacks the higher proof (around 130 in that batch) and layered complexity. Barrell’s batches often feel like a wild ride; Stellum is a smoother, more predictable journey. That’s by design, of course—consistency is Stellum’s calling card.

In the broader market, it sits alongside heavyweights like Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength, and Knob Creek Single Barrel. At $55, it’s priced competitively, undercutting Elijah Craig ($60-$70) and Stagg Jr. ($60+ when you can find it) while offering a comparable proof point. Flavor-wise, it’s less oak-driven than Knob Creek and sweeter than Elijah Craig, with a profile that skews traditional yet approachable. It doesn’t have the bombastic uniqueness of Stagg Jr., but its balance and drinkability make it a strong contender.

The Verdict: Who’s It For?

Stellum Bourbon succeeds in its mission to appeal to the “modern whiskey drinker.” It’s high-proof enough to satisfy enthusiasts who crave intensity, yet smooth enough to welcome newcomers who might shy away from the 130-proof firebreathers. The $55 price tag is a sweet spot—affordable for regular enjoyment, yet reflective of its cask-strength quality. It’s not the most intricate bourbon on the shelf, and some might find the nose a tad simple or the finish a bit short. But what it lacks in fireworks, it makes up for in polish and reliability.

This is a bourbon for sharing—with friends who know their whiskey, with a boss you want to impress, or with someone just dipping their toes into the cask-strength pool. It’s a weeknight sipper that doesn’t demand your full attention but rewards it if you give it. And for fans of MGP’s high-rye profile, it’s a refined take that blends in just enough Kentucky and Tennessee character to keep things interesting.

Beyond the Core: Stellum’s Broader Lineup

Stellum Bourbon is just the beginning. The brand also offers a Stellum Rye (116.25 proof, $55), built on a 95% rye Indiana mash bill with Kentucky and Tennessee accents, and a robust single barrel program for both bourbon and rye.

There’s also Stellum Black Bourbon, a limited-release premium blend that ups the ante with reserve barrels and a $100 price tag, trading some spice for a rounder mouthfeel. These extensions show Stellum’s ambition to be more than a one-trick pony, catering to a range of tastes while staying true to its modern ethos.

Final Thoughts

Stellum Bourbon isn’t here to reinvent the wheel—it’s here to refine it. Barrell Craft Spirits has taken its blending expertise and applied it to a bourbon that’s consistent, flavorful, and fairly priced. It’s not the dusty, rare unicorn that collectors chase, nor is it the budget bottle you grab in a pinch. It’s something in between: a well-crafted, cask-strength bourbon that feels both contemporary and timeless.

As of March 5, 2025, Stellum Bourbon remains a solid pick in a sea of options. Whether you’re a Barrell devotee looking for a more accessible entry or a bourbon explorer seeking a reliable high-proof pour, it’s worth a spot on your shelf. Pour a glass, let it breathe, and see if this starry blend lights up your night. For me, it’s a quiet winner—simple in its ambitions, stellar in its execution.